HLGE vs VTI

HLGE vs VTI

Which is better, HLGE or VTI?

Mid Cap Blend 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 0.96.

Lower Fees: VTIHigher Returns: VTI

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

MetricHLGEVTI
Expense Ratio0.44%0.03%Best
AUM$13M$666.9B
Dividend Yield1.34%1.03%
Holdings3423,543
Volatility (annualized)16.4%Tie16.4%Tie
Max Drawdown-23.9%Best-25.4%
$10,000 over 4.3 years$13,387$15,142Best
Fund FamilyHartford FundsVanguard (US)
CategoryEquityEquity
StyleMid Cap BlendLarge Cap Blend
InceptionMar 16, 2021May 24, 2001

Not shown on this pair: YTD Return, 1Y Return, 3Y Return (annualized), 5Y Return (annualized), Top 10 Weight.

The two price series end 459 days apart, so a return over any period would be measuring two different stretches of market. Those rows are withheld. HLGE has data through Jun 23, 2025 and VTI through Sep 25, 2026.

Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 4.3 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Mar 17, 2021 to Jun 23, 2025 (4.3 years).

Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns

HLGE and VTI have been equally volatile, both at 16.4% annualized.

The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -23.9% for HLGE and -25.4% 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 0.96. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.

Fees and Cost Over Time

HLGE charges 0.44% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $44 vs $3 annually, a gap of $41 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, HLGE currently yields 1.34% against 1.03% for VTI.

You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.

Whichever of HLGE and VTI you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.

HLGEVTI

Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, HLGE or VTI?

HLGE has an expense ratio of 0.44% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $41 a year on a $10,000 investment.

Which is riskier, HLGE or VTI?

HLGE and VTI have been equally volatile, both at 16.4% annualized. Worst drawdown: HLGE -23.9% vs VTI -25.4%.

Should I hold both HLGE and VTI?

HLGE and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.96, 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, HLGE or VTI?

HLGE yields 1.34% while VTI yields 1.03%, so HLGE currently pays the higher dividend yield.

Is VTI better than HLGE?

VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.96. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.