HGLB vs VTI
Highland Global Allocation Fund vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, HGLB or VTI?
Mid Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y 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 | HGLB | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 2.67% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $270M | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 9.03% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 69 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | -11.87% | +12.30%Best |
| 1Y Return | -8.26% | +16.08%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +7.58% | +21.01%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +6.05% | +12.36%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 31.4% | 16.9%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -74.1% | -35.0%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $13,414 | $17,908Best |
| Fund Family | NexPoint | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jan 5, 1998 | May 24, 2001 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 19, 2019 to Sep 18, 2026 (7.6 years).
HGLB 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 7.6 years both funds cover.
HGLB vs VTI Performance
Highland Global Allocation Fund (HGLB) is an ETF from NexPoint and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year HGLB returned -8.26% while VTI returned +16.08%. Year to date, HGLB is down 11.87% versus a gain of 12.30% for VTI.
Over three years, HGLB compounded at +7.58% per year against +21.01% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +6.05% and +12.36% respectively. Across the full 8-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +14.73% annualized vs -1.25%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
HGLB has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 31.4% compared with 16.9% 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 -74.1% for HGLB and -35.0% 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 0.64. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
HGLB charges 2.67% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $267 vs $3 annually, a gap of $264 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, HGLB currently yields 9.03% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.1% of VTI's money is in holdings HGLB also owns.
Stated as a floor: for HGLB, our book for it covers 51.6% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
17 positions in common, counted across the 40 positions we hold weights for in HGLB and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 69 and 3,543.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in HGLB | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| FRMIFermi Inc | 6.54% | 0.00% | 6.54% |
| NREFNexpoint Real Estate Finance Inc | 4.85% | 0.00% | 4.85% |
| NXRTNexpoint Residential Reit | 1.89% | 0.00% | 1.89% |
| TALOTalos Energy Inc | 1.60% | 0.00% | 1.60% |
| NRGNrg Energy | 1.34% | 0.04% | 1.30% |
| NXDTNexpoint Diversified Real Estate Trust | 1.24% | 0.00% | 1.24% |
| PRIMPrimoris Services Corpcommon Stock | 0.83% | 0.01% | 0.82% |
| SRGSeritage Growth Properties | 0.38% | 0.00% | 0.38% |
| RCReady Capital Corp | 0.07% | 0.00% | 0.07% |
| HRTXHeron Therapeutics Inc Common Stock | 0.03% | 0.00% | 0.03% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of HGLB 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, HGLB or VTI?
HGLB has an expense ratio of 2.67% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $264 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, HGLB or VTI?
Over the past year HGLB returned -8.26% vs +16.08% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (8 years), HGLB annualized -1.25% vs +14.73% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, HGLB or VTI?
HGLB has been the more volatile fund at 31.4% annualized versus 16.9% for VTI. Worst drawdown: HGLB -74.1% vs VTI -35.0%.
Should I hold both HGLB and VTI?
HGLB and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.64, 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, HGLB or VTI?
HGLB yields 9.03% while VTI yields 1.03%, so HGLB currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than HGLB?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.