MMAX vs PCLG
iShares Large Cap Max Buffer Mar ETF vs Polen Focus Growth ETF
Which is better, MMAX or PCLG?
MMAX has been ahead.
PCLG has a lower expense ratio. MMAX led over 1Y and the full window.
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 | MMAX | PCLG |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.50% | 0.49%Best |
| AUM | $74M | $92M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.76% | 0.04% |
| Holdings | 7 | 27 |
| YTD Return | +4.90%Best | -5.60% |
| 1Y Return | +5.24%Best | -8.10% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 1.4%Best | 17.7% |
| Max Drawdown | -1.3%Best | -23.8% |
| $10,000 over 1 years | $10,516Best | $9,249 |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Polen Capital |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Mar 31, 2025 | Sep 30, 2025 |
Not shown on this pair: 3Y Return (annualized), 5Y Return (annualized), Top 10 Weight.
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).
MMAX 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.
MMAX vs PCLG Performance
iShares Large Cap Max Buffer Mar ETF (MMAX) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and Polen Focus Growth ETF (PCLG) is an ETF from Polen Capital. Over the past year MMAX returned +5.24% while PCLG returned -8.10%. Year to date, MMAX is up 4.90% versus a loss of 5.60% for PCLG.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
PCLG has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.7% compared with 1.4% for MMAX. 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 -1.3% for MMAX 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 0.47. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
MMAX charges 0.50% per year while PCLG charges 0.49%. On a $10,000 position that is $50 vs $49 annually, a gap of $1 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, MMAX currently yields 0.76% against 0.04% for PCLG.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 3 holdings in MMAX and 29 in PCLG, totalling 112.5% and 100.0% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 3 positions we hold weights for in MMAX and 29 in PCLG, against full books of 7 and 27.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of MMAX and PCLG you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, MMAX or PCLG?
MMAX has an expense ratio of 0.50% while PCLG charges 0.49%. PCLG is the cheaper option, by $1 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, MMAX or PCLG?
Over the past year MMAX returned +5.24% vs -8.10% for PCLG, so MMAX leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), MMAX annualized +5.16% vs -7.51% for PCLG. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, MMAX or PCLG?
PCLG has been the more volatile fund at 17.7% annualized versus 1.4% for MMAX. Worst drawdown: MMAX -1.3% vs PCLG -23.8%.
Should I hold both MMAX and PCLG?
MMAX and PCLG have a monthly-return correlation of 0.47, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, MMAX or PCLG?
MMAX yields 0.76% while PCLG yields 0.04%, so MMAX currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is PCLG better than MMAX?
PCLG has a lower expense ratio. MMAX led over 1Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.