HFGO vs SPY
Hartford Large Cap Growth ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, HFGO or SPY?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. HFGO led over 3Y, SPY over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.91. SPY is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 61.3%.
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 | HFGO | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.59% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $199M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.00% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 49 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +6.86% | +11.97%Best |
| 1Y Return | +6.98% | +16.40%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +24.31%Best | +21.10% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.88% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 22.4% | 15.7%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -44.6% | -24.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 4.8 years | $14,787 | $17,414Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 61.3% | 37.8%Best |
| Fund Family | Hartford Funds | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Nov 9, 2021 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 4.8 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 10, 2021 to Sep 14, 2026 (4.8 years).
HFGO vs SPY 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 4.8 years both funds cover.
HFGO vs SPY Performance
Hartford Large Cap Growth ETF (HFGO) is an ETF from Hartford Funds and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year HFGO returned +6.98% while SPY returned +16.40%. Year to date, HFGO is up 6.86% versus a gain of 11.97% for SPY.
Over three years, HFGO compounded at +24.31% per year against +21.10% for SPY.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
HFGO has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 22.4% compared with 15.7% for SPY. 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 -44.6% for HFGO and -24.5% for SPY. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.91. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
HFGO charges 0.59% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $59 vs $9 annually, a gap of $50 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, HFGO currently yields 0.00% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
80.6% of HFGO's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 42.4% of SPY's money is in holdings HFGO also owns.
Most of HFGO is already inside SPY. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
27 positions in common, counted across the 46 positions we hold weights for in HFGO and 504 in SPY, against full books of 49 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 470 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for HFGO (56.9% of the fund), and 13 for HFGO that do not appear in SPY (11.2%).
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 HFGO | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 16.57% | 8.01% | 8.56% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc,class A | 10.16% | 2.99% | 7.17% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 4.65% | 7.26% | 2.61% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 5.55% | 5.66% | 0.11% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 4.69% | 3.79% | 0.90% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 5.54% | 2.66% | 2.88% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 4.07% | 1.93% | 2.14% |
| LLYEli Lilly & Co. | 4.04% | 1.40% | 2.64% |
| SNDKSandisk Corp/De | 3.19% | 0.35% | 2.84% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc | 1.03% | 2.39% | 1.36% |
80.6% of HFGO is already inside SPY.
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, HFGO or SPY?
HFGO has an expense ratio of 0.59% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $50 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, HFGO or SPY?
Over the past year HFGO returned +6.98% vs +16.40% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, HFGO or SPY?
HFGO has been the more volatile fund at 22.4% annualized versus 15.7% for SPY. Worst drawdown: HFGO -44.6% vs SPY -24.5%.
Should I hold both HFGO and SPY?
HFGO and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.91, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between HFGO and SPY?
80.6% of HFGO's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 42.4% of SPY's is in holdings HFGO also owns. They hold 27 positions in common, counted across the 46 positions we hold weights for in HFGO and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, HFGO or SPY?
HFGO yields 0.00% while SPY yields 0.98%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than HFGO?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. HFGO led over 3Y, SPY over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.91. SPY is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 61.3%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.