HGRO vs VYM
Hedgeye Quality Growth ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, HGRO or VYM?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 26.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 54.4%.
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 | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.70% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $116M | $83.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.07% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 97 | 608 |
| YTD Return | +6.17% | +9.22%Best |
| 1Y Return | +9.64% | +12.81%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +18.21% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +11.39% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 10.1% | 10.0%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -7.6% | -6.7%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.3 years | $12,079 | $12,267Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 54.4% | 26.1%Best |
| Fund Family | Hedgeye Asset Management | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Jun 10, 2025 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.3 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 11, 2025 to Oct 1, 2026 (1.3 years).
HGRO vs VYM 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 1.3 years both funds cover.
HGRO vs VYM Performance
Hedgeye Quality Growth ETF (HGRO) is an ETF from Hedgeye Asset Management and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year HGRO returned +9.64% while VYM returned +12.81%. Year to date, HGRO is up 6.17% versus a gain of 9.22% for VYM.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
HGRO has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 10.1% compared with 10.0% for VYM. 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 -6.7% for VYM. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.55. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
HGRO charges 0.70% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $70 vs $4 annually, a gap of $66 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, HGRO currently yields 0.07% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
22.4% of HGRO's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 12.9% of VYM's money is in holdings HGRO also owns.
HGRO and VYM share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 46 days apart, HGRO as of Sep 15, 2026 and VYM as of Jul 31, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
13 positions in common, counted across the 50 positions we hold weights for in HGRO and 557 in VYM, against full books of 97 and 608.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 515 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for HGRO (84.2% of the fund), and 33 for HGRO that do not appear in VYM (77.4%).
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 HGRO | Weight in VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| JPMJpmorgan Chase | 2.99% | 3.82% | 0.83% |
| JNJJohnson & Johnson - Common | 2.41% | 2.51% | 0.10% |
| KOCoca Cola Co. | 2.37% | 1.38% | 0.99% |
| MRKMerck & Company Inc | 2.05% | 1.31% | 0.74% |
| WFCWells Fargo & Co. | 2.08% | 1.07% | 1.01% |
| VLOValero Energy | 2.62% | 0.38% | 2.24% |
| BKBank Of New York Mellon Corp | 1.79% | 0.44% | 1.35% |
| NEMNewmont Corp Common | 1.65% | 0.41% | 1.24% |
| COFCapital One Financial Corp. | 1.17% | 0.53% | 0.64% |
| SLBSchlumberger Nv. | 1.19% | 0.30% | 0.89% |
22.4% of HGRO is already inside VYM.
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, HGRO or VYM?
HGRO has an expense ratio of 0.70% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $66 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, HGRO or VYM?
Over the past year HGRO returned +9.64% vs +12.81% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), HGRO annualized +15.64% vs +17.02% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, HGRO or VYM?
HGRO has been the more volatile fund at 10.1% annualized versus 10.0% for VYM. Worst drawdown: HGRO -7.6% vs VYM -6.7%.
Should I hold both HGRO and VYM?
HGRO and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.55, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between HGRO and VYM?
22.4% of HGRO's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 12.9% of VYM's is in holdings HGRO also owns. They hold 13 positions in common, counted across the 50 positions we hold weights for in HGRO and 557 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, HGRO or VYM?
HGRO yields 0.07% while VYM yields 2.22%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than HGRO?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 26.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 54.4%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.