PCLG vs THRO
Polen Focus Growth ETF vs iShares US Thematic Rotation Active ETF
Which is better, PCLG or THRO?
THRO has been ahead.
PCLG has a lower expense ratio. THRO led over 1Y and the full window. THRO is less concentrated, with 43.5% 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 | THRO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.49%Best | 0.57% |
| AUM | $92M | $7.5B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.04% | 0.30% |
| Holdings | 27 | 251 |
| YTD Return | -5.60% | +14.55%Best |
| 1Y Return | -8.10% | +18.23%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +23.72% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.7% | 14.9%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -23.8% | -10.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 1 years | $9,249 | $11,632Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 62.6% | 43.5%Best |
| Fund Family | Polen Capital | BlackRock, Inc. (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Sep 30, 2025 | Dec 14, 2021 |
Not shown on this pair: 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).
PCLG vs THRO 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 THRO Performance
Polen Focus Growth ETF (PCLG) is an ETF from Polen Capital and iShares US Thematic Rotation Active ETF (THRO) is an ETF from BlackRock, Inc. (US). Over the past year PCLG returned -8.10% while THRO returned +18.23%. Year to date, PCLG is down 5.60% versus a gain of 14.55% for THRO.
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 14.9% for THRO. 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 -10.9% for THRO. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.80. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PCLG charges 0.49% per year while THRO charges 0.57%. On a $10,000 position that is $49 vs $57 annually, a gap of $8 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PCLG currently yields 0.04% against 0.30% for THRO.
Holdings Overlap
70.2% of PCLG's money is in holdings THRO also owns. 30.0% of THRO's money is in holdings PCLG also owns.
Most of PCLG is already inside THRO. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
15 positions in common, counted across the 29 positions we hold weights for in PCLG and 247 in THRO, against full books of 27 and 251.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 146 positions for THRO that do not appear in our book for PCLG (68.9% of the fund), and 9 for PCLG that do not appear in THRO (20.7%).
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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in PCLG | Weight in THRO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 7.82% | 8.58% | 0.76% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 9.35% | 6.24% | 3.11% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 5.98% | 4.47% | 1.51% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 6.13% | 2.11% | 4.02% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc. C | 6.16% | 1.87% | 4.29% |
| VVisa Inc Class A | 5.67% | 1.90% | 3.77% |
| NOWServicenow, Inc. | 6.62% | 0.12% | 6.50% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 4.38% | 1.97% | 2.41% |
| LLYEli Lilly & Co. | 4.80% | 0.80% | 4.00% |
| ORCLOracle Corp - Common | 4.43% | 0.02% | 4.41% |
70.2% of PCLG is already inside THRO.
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 THRO?
PCLG has an expense ratio of 0.49% while THRO charges 0.57%. PCLG is the cheaper option, by $8 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, PCLG or THRO?
Over the past year PCLG returned -8.10% vs +18.23% for THRO, so THRO leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), PCLG annualized -7.51% vs +16.32% for THRO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PCLG or THRO?
PCLG has been the more volatile fund at 17.7% annualized versus 14.9% for THRO. Worst drawdown: PCLG -23.8% vs THRO -10.9%.
Should I hold both PCLG and THRO?
PCLG and THRO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.80, 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 THRO?
70.2% of PCLG's money is in holdings THRO also owns. 30.0% of THRO's is in holdings PCLG also owns. They hold 15 positions in common, counted across the 29 positions we hold weights for in PCLG and 247 in THRO.
Which pays a higher dividend, PCLG or THRO?
PCLG yields 0.04% while THRO yields 0.30%, so THRO currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is THRO better than PCLG?
PCLG has a lower expense ratio. THRO led over 1Y and the full window. THRO is less concentrated, with 43.5% 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.