BAI vs PCLG
iShares AI Innovation and Tech Active ETF vs Polen Focus Growth ETF
Which is better, BAI or PCLG?
BAI has been ahead.
PCLG has a lower expense ratio. BAI led over 1Y and the full window. BAI is less concentrated, with 42.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 62.6%.
MarketXLS is not an investment adviser. This comparison is generated automatically from market data and is for information only. A Best mark means the better reading on that one measure, not a recommendation to buy.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | BAI | PCLG |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.55% | 0.49%Best |
| AUM | $14.2B | $92M |
| Dividend Yield | 1.26% | 0.04% |
| Holdings | 55 | 27 |
| YTD Return | +30.13%Best | -5.60% |
| 1Y Return | +30.79%Best | -8.10% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 44.0% | 17.7%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -30.9% | -23.8%Best |
| $10,000 over 1 years | $12,988Best | $9,249 |
| Top 10 Weight | 42.0%Best | 62.6% |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Polen Capital |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Oct 21, 2024 | Sep 30, 2025 |
Not shown on this pair: 3Y Return (annualized), 5Y Return (annualized).
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 30, 2025 to Oct 14, 2026 (1 years).
BAI vs PCLG growth
Month-end closes. Both lines start at 0% in the first month shown, so the gap between them is the difference in growth across that window. The full view covers the 1 years both funds cover.
BAI vs PCLG Performance
iShares AI Innovation and Tech Active ETF (BAI) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and Polen Focus Growth ETF (PCLG) is an ETF from Polen Capital. Over the past year BAI returned +30.79% while PCLG returned -8.10%. Year to date, BAI is up 30.13% versus a loss of 5.60% for PCLG.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
BAI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 44.0% compared with 17.7% for PCLG. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -30.9% for BAI and -23.8% for PCLG. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.44. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
BAI charges 0.55% per year while PCLG charges 0.49%. On a $10,000 position that is $55 vs $49 annually, a gap of $6 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BAI currently yields 1.26% against 0.04% for PCLG.
Holdings Overlap
23.0% of BAI's money is in holdings PCLG also owns. 33.8% of PCLG's money is in holdings BAI also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
6 positions in common, counted across the 50 positions we hold weights for in BAI and 29 in PCLG, against full books of 55 and 27.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 19 positions for PCLG that do not appear in our book for BAI (59.0% of the fund), and 31 for BAI that do not appear in PCLG (55.7%).
Some of those will be the same company recorded under a different code in one of the two books, so the real difference in what you would own is no larger than this and may be smaller. We do not name the individual positions here for that reason.
33.8% of PCLG is already inside BAI.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, BAI or PCLG?
BAI has an expense ratio of 0.55% while PCLG charges 0.49%. PCLG is the cheaper option, by $6 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, BAI or PCLG?
Over the past year BAI returned +30.79% vs -8.10% for PCLG, so BAI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), BAI annualized +29.88% vs -7.51% for PCLG. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, BAI or PCLG?
BAI has been the more volatile fund at 44.0% annualized versus 17.7% for PCLG. Worst drawdown: BAI -30.9% vs PCLG -23.8%.
Should I hold both BAI and PCLG?
BAI and PCLG have a monthly-return correlation of 0.44, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between BAI and PCLG?
33.8% of PCLG's money is in holdings BAI also owns. 33.8% of PCLG's is in holdings BAI also owns. They hold 6 positions in common, counted across the 50 positions we hold weights for in BAI and 29 in PCLG.
Which pays a higher dividend, BAI or PCLG?
BAI yields 1.26% while PCLG yields 0.04%, so BAI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is PCLG better than BAI?
PCLG has a lower expense ratio. BAI led over 1Y and the full window. BAI is less concentrated, with 42.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 62.6%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.