PCLG vs QQQ
Polen Focus Growth ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, PCLG or QQQ?
QQQ has been ahead.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y and the full window. QQQ is less concentrated, with 46.7% 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 | PCLG | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.49% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $92M | $506.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.04% | 0.42% |
| Holdings | 27 | 321 |
| YTD Return | -5.60% | +19.30%Best |
| 1Y Return | -8.10% | +22.47%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +26.18% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +15.42% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.7%Best | 21.2% |
| Max Drawdown | -23.8% | -12.0%Best |
| $10,000 over 1 years | $9,249 | $12,111Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 62.6% | 46.7%Best |
| Fund Family | Polen Capital | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Sep 30, 2025 | Mar 10, 1999 |
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).
PCLG vs QQQ 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.
PCLG vs QQQ Performance
Polen Focus Growth ETF (PCLG) is an ETF from Polen Capital and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year PCLG returned -8.10% while QQQ returned +22.47%. Year to date, PCLG is down 5.60% versus a gain of 19.30% for QQQ.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 21.2% 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 -23.8% for PCLG and -12.0% for QQQ. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.69. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PCLG charges 0.49% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $49 vs $18 annually, a gap of $31 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PCLG currently yields 0.04% against 0.42% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
57.1% of PCLG's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 31.6% of QQQ's money is in holdings PCLG also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
13 positions in common, counted across the 29 positions we hold weights for in PCLG and 101 in QQQ, against full books of 27 and 321.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 81 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for PCLG (65.4% of the fund), and 12 for PCLG that do not appear in QQQ (38.3%).
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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in PCLG | Weight in QQQ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 7.82% | 8.33% | 0.51% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 9.35% | 5.76% | 3.59% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 5.98% | 4.07% | 1.91% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc. C | 6.16% | 2.85% | 3.31% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 6.13% | 2.53% | 3.60% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 4.38% | 3.26% | 1.12% |
| SHOP:CAShopify Inc | 4.49% | 0.75% | 3.74% |
| LRCXLrcx Uw Equity | 2.56% | 1.72% | 0.84% |
| ABNBAirbnb Inc | 2.51% | 0.28% | 2.23% |
| STXSeagate Technolo | 1.70% | 0.87% | 0.83% |
57.1% of PCLG is already inside QQQ.
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, PCLG or QQQ?
PCLG has an expense ratio of 0.49% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $31 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, PCLG or QQQ?
Over the past year PCLG returned -8.10% vs +22.47% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), PCLG annualized -7.51% vs +21.11% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PCLG or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 21.2% annualized versus 17.7% for PCLG. Worst drawdown: PCLG -23.8% vs QQQ -12.0%.
Should I hold both PCLG and QQQ?
PCLG and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.69, 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 PCLG and QQQ?
57.1% of PCLG's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 31.6% of QQQ's is in holdings PCLG also owns. They hold 13 positions in common, counted across the 29 positions we hold weights for in PCLG and 101 in QQQ.
Which pays a higher dividend, PCLG or QQQ?
PCLG yields 0.04% while QQQ yields 0.42%, so QQQ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than PCLG?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y and the full window. QQQ is less concentrated, with 46.7% 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.