Fund Evaluator:
Polen Global Growth Institutional (PGIIX)
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Best Performing in Global Large-Stock Growth Over the Last Year
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Fund Details
Polen Global Growth Institutional Overview
Polen Global Growth Institutional (PGIIX) is an actively managed International Equity Global Large-Stock Growth fund. Polen Capital launched the fund in 2014.
The investment seeks to achieve long-term growth of capital. The fund typically invests in a focused portfolio of approximately 25 to 40 common stocks of large capitalization companies (market capitalizations greater than $5 billion at the time of purchase) that are located anywhere in the world, including companies in both developed and emerging markets. It will invest in at least three different countries and will typically invest at least 40% of its net assets in non-U.S. equity securities, or, if conditions are not favorable, invest at least 30% of its assets in non-U.S. equity securities. The fund is non-diversified.
About Polen Global Growth Institutional (PGIIX)
There are 2 members of the management team with an average tenure of 5.05 years: Damon Ficklin (2017), Stephen Atkins (2025). Management tenure is more important for actively managed funds than passive index funds.
The fund has 1 primary benchmark: MSCI ACWI NR USD index with a weighting of 100%. Polen Global Growth Institutional has 37 securities in its portfolio. The top 10 holdings constitute 51.5% of the fund’s assets. The fund meets the SEC requirement of being classified as a nondiversified fund. The fund is not considered to have an ESG focus with its investment selection and management.
Polen Global Growth Institutional is part of the Equity global asset class and is within the International Equity fund group. Polen Global Growth Institutional has 30.5% of its portfolio invested in foreign issues. The overall assets allocated to domestic stock is 68.5%. There is 30.5% allocated to foreign stock, and 0.0% is allocated to preferred stocks. The bond allocation as a percentage of total assets is 0.0% (0.0% domestic bond, 0.0% foreign bond and 0.0% convertible bond). Polen Global Growth Institutional has 1.0% of the portfolio in cash.
Assets Under Management
The fund has $96 million in total assets, which is below the $964 million average for the Global Large-Stock Growth category. Normally, lower assets under management translates to higher average expense ratios, and greater total assets are desired. However, for some investment categories, such as small-cap investing, it may be difficult for the manager to fully employ the desired active strategy if assets grow too large or too quickly.
PGIIX Performance and Fees
The expense ratio measures how much of a fund’s assets are used for administrative expenses and operating expenses, including adviser fees and fees for the transfer agent and custodial services. The Polen Global Growth Institutional expense ratio is high compared to funds in the Global Large-Stock Growth category. Polen Global Growth Institutional has an expense ratio of 1.01%, which is 9% lower than its category average, making the fund expense ratio grade a C. While it is difficult to predict returns, it is known that high annual expense ratios reduce your rate of return, and excessive fees are difficult to overcome. Active management normally comes with higher expense ratios than passive index management. Certain investment categories such as small company and foreign also normally have higher expense ratios. It is best to compare fund expense ratios against the category averages for meaningful assessments.
High portfolio turnover can translate to higher expenses and lower aftertax returns. Polen Global Growth Institutional has a portfolio turnover rate of 55%, indicating that holds its assets around 0.0 years. By way of comparison, the average portfolio turnover is 46% for the Global Large-Stock Growth category.
Recently, in the month of August 2026, Polen Global Growth Institutional returned 2.3%, which earned it a grade of C, as the Global Large-Stock Growth category had an average return of 2.2%. The letter grades of A, B, C, D and F are based upon relative rankings within the investment category. A grade of A, for example, would indicate that the return is in the highest 20% for that time period compared to all funds in that category.
Polen Global Growth Institutional has a trailing yield of 0.00%, which is below the 0.25% category average. The fund normally distributes its income annually and its capital gains annually.
It’s natural to seek the best-performing investments, but you must consider the relationship between risk and return and the impact of costs and taxes on your realized returns.
Polen Global Growth Institutional Grades
Year to date, the fund has returned -3.5%, 11.9 percentage points worse than the category, which translates into a grade of F. The fund has returned -5.6% over the past year (grade of F), 4.9% over the past three years (grade of F) and -0.1% per year over the past five years (grade of F) and 9.9% per year over the past 10 years (grade of F).
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PGIIX Trailing NAV Total Returns Data as of 8/31/26
| Last Month |
Last Quarter |
Ann'l. 1Yr |
Ann'l. 3Yr |
Ann'l. 5Yr |
Ann'l. 10Yr |
|
| PGIIX Return (NAV) | 2.3% | 1.2% | -5.6% | 4.9% | -0.1% | 9.9% |
| PGIIX Grade | C | C | F | F | F | F |
| +/- Category | 0.1% | 0.7% | -18.4% | -11.6% | -6.2% | -2.5% |
| Global Large-Stock Growth Avg | 2.2% | 0.5% | 12.8% | 16.5% | 6.1% | 12.3% |
| PGIIX Tax Cost Ratio | na | na | 4.2% | 1.7% | 1.2% | 0.7% |
PGIIX Annual NAV Total ReturnsData as of 8/31/26
| 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |
| PGIIX Return (NAV) | -3.5% | 1.9% | 12.2% | 31.1% | -31.2% | 17.4% | 23.7% | 35.5% | 2.5% | 31.5% | 0.5% |
| PGIIX Grade | F | F | D | B | D | C | D | A | A | C | D |
| +/- Category | -11.9% | -14.4% | -5.5% | 5.7% | -4.4% | 2.7% | -9.4% | 4.7% | 9.6% | 0.7% | -1.0% |
| Global Large-Stock Growth Avg | 8.4% | 16.3% | 17.6% | 25.4% | -26.8% | 14.8% | 33.0% | 30.7% | -7.1% | 30.8% | 1.5% |
| Risk Measures | |
| Standard Deviation: | 14.9% |
| Total Risk Index: | 1.23 - Above Average |
| Category Risk Index: | 0.98 - Average |
| Category Risk Grade: | C (54% Rank) |
| Beta: | 1.02 |
| R-Squared: | 72% |
| Leveraged Fund: | No |
| Inverse Fund: | No |
| Portfolio Characteristics | |
| Equity Investment Style: | Large-Cap Growth |
| Bond Investment Style: | na |
| Yield: | 0.0% |
| Dividend Distribution: | Annually |
| Cap Gains Distribution: | Annually |
| Total Assets: | $103 Mil |
| Fund Total Assets: | $ 97 Mil |
| Share Class Type: | Inst |
| Portfolio Turnover: | 55% |
Management Team
| Number of Managers: 2 | |||
| Longest Tenure: 8.8 years | |||
| Average Tenure: 5.1 years | |||
| Managers (Year): Ficklin Damon (2017), Atkins Stephen (2025) | |||
Portfolio Composition (as of 6/30/26)
| # of Holdings: | 37 |
| % in Top 10 Holdings: | 51.5% |
| Fund is Non-Diversified: | Yes |
| % in Foreign Issues: | 30.5% |
Portfolio Allocation |
|
| Domestic Stock: | 68.5% |
| Foreign Stock: | 30.5% |
| Preferred Stock: | 0.0% |
| Domestic Bond: | 0.0% |
| Foreign Bond: | 0.0% |
| Convertible Bond: | 0.0% |
| Other: | 0.0% |
| Cash: | 1.0% |
Purchase Information
| Fund Family: | Polen Capital |
| Phone Number: | 888-678-6024 |
| Website: | www.polencapital.com |
| Status: | Open |
| Inception Date: | December 30, 2014 |
| Min. Initial Purchase: | $100,000 |
| Min. Initial IRA Purchase: | $100,000 |
| True No-Load: | Yes |
| Front Load Maximum: | 0.00% |
| Deferred Charge Maximum: | 0.00% |
| Redemption Charge Maximum: | 0.00% |
| 12b-1 Fee: | na |
Expenses and Fees | |
| Expense Ratio (%): | 1.01% ( Rating : High ) |
| Category Average Expense Ratio (%): | 1.12% |
| Share Class: | Polen Global Growth Institutional |
| Min. Subsequent Purchase: | $ 0 |
| Min. Subsequent IRA Purchase: | $ 0 |
