HGRO vs VTI
Hedgeye Quality Growth ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, HGRO or VTI?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.90.
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 | HGRO | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.70% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $125M | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.07% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 51 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | +4.63% | +12.34%Best |
| 1Y Return | +11.10% | +18.37%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +20.62% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +11.68% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 10.7%Best | 11.8% |
| Max Drawdown | -7.6%Best | -8.9% |
| $10,000 over 1.2 years | $11,838 | $12,750Best |
| Fund Family | Hedgeye Asset Management | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jun 10, 2025 | May 24, 2001 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.2 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 11, 2025 to Sep 9, 2026 (1.2 years).
HGRO 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 1.2 years both funds cover.
HGRO vs VTI Performance
Hedgeye Quality Growth ETF (HGRO) is an ETF from Hedgeye Asset Management and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year HGRO returned +11.10% while VTI returned +18.37%. Year to date, HGRO is up 4.63% versus a gain of 12.34% for VTI.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VTI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 11.8% compared with 10.7% for HGRO. 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 -7.6% for HGRO and -8.9% 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 0.90. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
HGRO 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, HGRO currently yields 0.07% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 39 holdings in HGRO and 2,787 in VTI, totalling 88.0% and 90.6% of the two funds. Neither is a share of a fund we can divide by, so no overlap percentage is shown here. Within what we can see, 36 positions appear in both.
The two holdings books were reported 65 days apart, HGRO as of Sep 3, 2026 and VTI as of Jun 30, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
36 positions in common, counted across the 39 positions we hold weights for in HGRO and 2,787 in VTI, against full books of 51 and 3,543.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in HGRO | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AAPLApple, Inc | 8.42% | 5.84% | 2.58% |
| PHParker-Hannifin Corp. | 8.20% | 0.17% | 8.03% |
| NEMNewmont Corp. | 8.01% | 0.14% | 7.87% |
| NVDANvidia Corp. | 1.06% | 6.32% | 5.26% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp 4.100 Feb 06 37 | 2.11% | 3.81% | 1.70% |
| ATIAti Inc | 5.58% | 0.04% | 5.54% |
| JPMJpmorgan Chase & Co. | 2.96% | 1.11% | 1.85% |
| VLOValero Energy Corp. | 2.81% | 0.11% | 2.70% |
| LLYEli Lilly & Co. | 1.50% | 1.40% | 0.10% |
| VRTXVertex Pharmaceuticals Inc | 2.45% | 0.17% | 2.28% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of HGRO 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, HGRO or VTI?
HGRO 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.
Which performed better, HGRO or VTI?
Over the past year HGRO returned +11.10% vs +18.37% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), HGRO annualized +15.10% vs +22.44% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, HGRO or VTI?
VTI has been the more volatile fund at 11.8% annualized versus 10.7% for HGRO. Worst drawdown: HGRO -7.6% vs VTI -8.9%.
Should I hold both HGRO and VTI?
HGRO and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.90, 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.
Which pays a higher dividend, HGRO or VTI?
HGRO yields 0.07% while VTI yields 1.03%, so VTI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than HGRO?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.90. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.