HELS vs VTI

HELS vs VTI

Which is better, HELS or VTI?

VTI costs less.

VTI has a lower expense ratio.

Lower Fees: VTI

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

MetricHELSVTI
Expense Ratio0.70%0.03%Best
AUM$19M$666.9B
Dividend Yield0.02%1.03%
Holdings513,543
YTD Return-5.74%+12.57%Best
1Y Return-+17.22%
3Y Return (annualized)-+20.87%
5Y Return (annualized)-+11.86%
Fund FamilyHedgeye Asset ManagementVanguard (US)
CategoryEquityEquity
StyleLarge Cap BlendLarge Cap Blend
InceptionDec 10, 2025May 24, 2001

Not shown on this pair: Volatility (annualized), Max Drawdown, $10,000 over the window, Top 10 Weight.

HELS 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 is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.

HELS vs VTI Performance

Hedgeye 130/30 Equity ETF (HELS) is an ETF from Hedgeye Asset Management and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Year to date, HELS is down 5.74% versus a gain of 12.57% for VTI.

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

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 1.03% for VTI.

Holdings Overlap

HELS already in VTI88.8%

At least 88.8% of HELS's money is in holdings VTI also owns.

Stated as a floor: for VTI, our book for it covers 90.6% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.

Most of HELS is already inside VTI. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.

45 positions in common, counted across the 48 positions we hold weights for in HELS and 2,787 in VTI, against full books of 51 and 3,543.

Top Shared Holdings

StockWeight in HELSWeight in VTIDifference
AAPLApple, Inc9.50%5.84%3.66%
NVDANvidia Corp.6.67%6.32%0.35%
AMZNAmazon.Com Inc4.18%3.17%1.01%
MSFTMicrosoft Corp 4.100 Feb 06 373.09%3.81%0.72%
GOOGLAlphabet A Usd 0.0012.99%2.88%0.11%
LLYEli Lilly & Co.3.15%1.40%1.75%
JPMJpmorgan Chase & Co.2.96%1.11%1.85%
AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc.2.55%1.30%1.25%
VVisa Inc2.49%0.77%1.72%
MUMicron Technology, Inc.1.37%1.79%0.42%

88.8% 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.

HELSVTI

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?

At least 88.8% of HELS's money is in holdings VTI also owns. Our book for VTI is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 45 positions in common, counted across the 48 positions we hold weights for in HELS and 2,787 in VTI.

Which pays a higher dividend, HELS or VTI?

HELS yields 0.02% while VTI yields 1.03%, so VTI currently pays the higher dividend yield.

Is VTI better than HELS?

VTI has a lower expense ratio. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.