PCLG vs SPYT
Polen Focus Growth ETF vs Defiance S&P 500 Income Target ETF
Which is better, PCLG or SPYT?
SPYT has been ahead.
PCLG has a lower expense ratio. SPYT 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 | PCLG | SPYT |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.49%Best | 0.92% |
| AUM | $92M | $170M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.04% | 20.83% |
| Holdings | 27 | 10 |
| YTD Return | -5.60% | +12.99%Best |
| 1Y Return | -8.10% | +15.90%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.7% | 11.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -23.8% | -8.0%Best |
| $10,000 over 1 years | $9,249 | $11,443Best |
| Fund Family | Polen Capital | Defiance ETFs, LLC |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Sep 30, 2025 | Mar 7, 2024 |
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).
PCLG vs SPYT 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 SPYT Performance
Polen Focus Growth ETF (PCLG) is an ETF from Polen Capital and Defiance S&P 500 Income Target ETF (SPYT) is an ETF from Defiance ETFs, LLC. Over the past year PCLG returned -8.10% while SPYT returned +15.90%. Year to date, PCLG is down 5.60% versus a gain of 12.99% for SPYT.
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 11.3% for SPYT. 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 -8.0% for SPYT. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.81. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PCLG charges 0.49% per year while SPYT charges 0.92%. On a $10,000 position that is $49 vs $92 annually, a gap of $43 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PCLG currently yields 0.04% against 20.83% for SPYT.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 29 holdings in PCLG and 1 in SPYT, totalling 100.0% and 99.7% 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 29 positions we hold weights for in PCLG and 1 in SPYT, against full books of 27 and 10.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of PCLG and SPYT 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, PCLG or SPYT?
PCLG has an expense ratio of 0.49% while SPYT charges 0.92%. PCLG is the cheaper option, by $43 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, PCLG or SPYT?
Over the past year PCLG returned -8.10% vs +15.90% for SPYT, so SPYT leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), PCLG annualized -7.51% vs +14.43% for SPYT. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PCLG or SPYT?
PCLG has been the more volatile fund at 17.7% annualized versus 11.3% for SPYT. Worst drawdown: PCLG -23.8% vs SPYT -8.0%.
Should I hold both PCLG and SPYT?
PCLG and SPYT have a monthly-return correlation of 0.81, 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, PCLG or SPYT?
PCLG yields 0.04% while SPYT yields 20.83%, so SPYT currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPYT better than PCLG?
PCLG has a lower expense ratio. SPYT 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.