HELS vs VXUS

HELS vs VXUS

Which is better, HELS or VXUS?

VXUS costs less.

VXUS has a lower expense ratio.

Lower Fees: VXUS

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

MetricHELSVXUS
Expense Ratio0.70%0.05%Best
AUM$19M$158.1B
Dividend Yield0.02%2.51%
Holdings518,747
YTD Return-6.26%+13.35%Best
1Y Return-+22.44%
3Y Return (annualized)-+19.44%
5Y Return (annualized)-+8.82%
Fund FamilyHedgeye Asset ManagementVanguard (US)
CategoryEquityEquity
StyleLarge Cap BlendLarge Cap Blend
InceptionDec 10, 2025Jan 26, 2011

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

HELS vs VXUS 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 VXUS Performance

Hedgeye 130/30 Equity ETF (HELS) is an ETF from Hedgeye Asset Management and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Year to date, HELS is down 6.26% versus a gain of 13.35% for VXUS.

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Fees and Cost Over Time

HELS charges 0.70% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $70 vs $5 annually, a gap of $65 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, HELS currently yields 0.02% against 2.51% for VXUS.

Holdings Overlap

HELS already in VXUS1.5%

At least 1.5% of HELS's money is in holdings VXUS also owns.

Stated as a floor: for VXUS, our book for it covers 87.7% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.

HELS and VXUS share little of their money.

1 positions in common, counted across the 48 positions we hold weights for in HELS and 8,091 in VXUS, against full books of 51 and 8,747.

Top Shared Holdings

StockWeight in HELSWeight in VXUSDifference
WCN:CAWaste Connections Inc1.49%0.09%1.40%

You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.

Whichever of HELS and VXUS you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.

HELSVXUS

Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, HELS or VXUS?

HELS has an expense ratio of 0.70% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $65 a year on a $10,000 investment.

What is the holdings overlap between HELS and VXUS?

At least 1.5% of HELS's money is in holdings VXUS also owns. Our book for VXUS is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 1 positions in common, counted across the 48 positions we hold weights for in HELS and 8,091 in VXUS.

Which pays a higher dividend, HELS or VXUS?

HELS yields 0.02% while VXUS yields 2.51%, so VXUS currently pays the higher dividend yield.

Is VXUS better than HELS?

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