HELS vs VTI
Hedgeye 130/30 Equity ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, HELS or VTI?
VTI costs less.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI is less concentrated, with 34.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 39.8%.
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 | HELS | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.70% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $17M | $689.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.02% | 1.06% |
| Holdings | 51 | 3,542 |
| Top 10 Weight | 39.8% | 34.6%Best |
| Fund Family | Hedgeye Asset Management | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Dec 10, 2025 | May 24, 2001 |
Not shown on this pair: YTD Return, 1Y Return, 3Y Return (annualized), 5Y Return (annualized), Volatility (annualized), Max Drawdown, $10,000 over the window.
The two price series end 22 days apart, so a return over any period would be measuring two different stretches of market. Those rows are withheld. HELS has data through Oct 20, 2026 and VTI through Nov 11, 2026.
Fees and Cost Over Time
HELS charges 0.70% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $70 vs $3 annually, a gap of $67 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, HELS currently yields 0.02% against 1.06% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
86.3% of HELS's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 33.8% of VTI's money is in holdings HELS also owns.
Most of HELS is already inside VTI. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
80 positions in common, counted across the 88 positions we hold weights for in HELS and 3,464 in VTI, against full books of 51 and 3,542.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1,066 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for HELS (63.1% of the fund), and 3 for HELS that do not appear in VTI (15.0%).
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 HELS | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AAPLApple Inc | 4.63% | 6.63% | 2.00% |
| NVDANvidia Corp | 2.99% | 7.13% | 4.14% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 3.67% | 5.19% | 1.52% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 1.99% | 3.30% | 1.31% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 2.95% | 2.18% | 0.77% |
| LLYEli Lilly & Co | 2.93% | 1.34% | 1.59% |
| XOMExxonmobil Corp. | 3.04% | 0.92% | 2.12% |
| PMPhilip Morris International Inc. | 3.11% | 0.41% | 2.70% |
| PLTRPalantir Technologies Inc. | 2.22% | 0.56% | 1.66% |
| INTCIntel Corp. | 1.82% | 0.74% | 1.08% |
86.3% of HELS is already inside VTI.
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, HELS or VTI?
HELS has an expense ratio of 0.70% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $67 a year on a $10,000 investment.
What is the holdings overlap between HELS and VTI?
86.3% of HELS's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 33.8% of VTI's is in holdings HELS also owns. They hold 80 positions in common, counted across the 88 positions we hold weights for in HELS and 3,464 in VTI.
Which pays a higher dividend, HELS or VTI?
HELS yields 0.02% while VTI yields 1.06%, so VTI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than HELS?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI is less concentrated, with 34.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 39.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.