HECA vs VTI
Hedgeye Capital Allocation ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, HECA or VTI?
Allocation/Balanced against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI 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 | HECA | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.81% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $280M | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.00% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 51 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | -1.34% | +12.30%Best |
| 1Y Return | +5.96% | +16.08%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +21.01% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.36% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 12.3% | 12.2%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -12.8% | -8.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.2 years | $11,153 | $12,461Best |
| Fund Family | Hedgeye Asset Management | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Allocation/Balanced | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jun 30, 2025 | May 24, 2001 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.2 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 1, 2025 to Sep 18, 2026 (1.2 years).
HECA vs VTI 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 1.2 years both funds cover.
HECA vs VTI Performance
Hedgeye Capital Allocation ETF (HECA) is an ETF from Hedgeye Asset Management and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year HECA returned +5.96% while VTI returned +16.08%. Year to date, HECA is down 1.34% versus a gain of 12.30% for VTI.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
HECA has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 12.3% compared with 12.2% for VTI. 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 -12.8% for HECA and -8.9% for VTI. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.12. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
HECA charges 0.81% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $81 vs $3 annually, a gap of $78 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, HECA currently yields 2.00% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 21 holdings in HECA and 3,463 in VTI, totalling 89.4% and 98.1% 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 21 positions we hold weights for in HECA and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 51 and 3,543.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of HECA and VTI 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, HECA or VTI?
HECA has an expense ratio of 0.81% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $78 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, HECA or VTI?
Over the past year HECA returned +5.96% vs +16.08% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), HECA annualized +9.52% vs +20.12% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, HECA or VTI?
HECA has been the more volatile fund at 12.3% annualized versus 12.2% for VTI. Worst drawdown: HECA -12.8% vs VTI -8.9%.
Should I hold both HECA and VTI?
HECA and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.12, 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, HECA or VTI?
HECA yields 2.00% while VTI yields 1.03%, so HECA currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than HECA?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI 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.