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.
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 | $125M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.07% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 51 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +3.84% | +13.15%Best |
| 1Y Return | +9.61% | +17.82%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +17.99% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.16% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 10.8% | 8.9%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -7.6% | -6.7%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.2 years | $11,747 | $12,601Best |
| Fund Family | Hedgeye Asset Management | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Jun 10, 2025 | Nov 10, 2006 |
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 10, 2026 (1.2 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 1.2 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 +9.61% while VYM returned +17.82%. Year to date, HGRO is up 3.84% versus a gain of 13.15% 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 10.8% compared with 8.9% 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 0.61. 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
At least 12.6% of VYM's money is in holdings HGRO also owns.
Stated as a floor: for HGRO, our book for it covers 88.0% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
VYM and HGRO share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 65 days apart, HGRO as of Sep 3, 2026 and VYM as of Jun 30, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
11 positions in common, counted across the 39 positions we hold weights for in HGRO and 603 in VYM, against full books of 51 and 613.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in HGRO | Weight in VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NEMNewmont Corp. | 8.01% | 0.41% | 7.60% |
| JPMJpmorgan Chase & Co. | 2.96% | 3.38% | 0.42% |
| JNJJohnson & Johnson | 0.97% | 2.54% | 1.57% |
| VLOValero Energy Corp. | 2.81% | 0.32% | 2.49% |
| WFCWells Fargo & Co. | 1.72% | 1.05% | 0.67% |
| SBUXStarbucks Corp | 2.20% | 0.48% | 1.72% |
| MRKMerck & Co. Inc. | 1.28% | 1.32% | 0.04% |
| KOCoca Cola Co. | 1.00% | 1.31% | 0.31% |
| COFCapital One Financial Corp. | 1.76% | 0.52% | 1.24% |
| PMPhilip Morris International Inc. | 1.01% | 1.17% | 0.16% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of HGRO and VYM 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 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 +9.61% vs +17.82% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), HGRO annualized +14.36% vs +21.25% 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 10.8% annualized versus 8.9% 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 0.61, 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?
At least 12.6% of VYM's money is in holdings HGRO also owns. Our book for HGRO is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 11 positions in common, counted across the 39 positions we hold weights for in HGRO and 603 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. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.