HQGO vs VTI
Hartford US Quality Growth ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, HQGO 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 0.97. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.7%.
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 | HQGO | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.34% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $50M | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.45% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 164 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | +10.42% | +11.53%Best |
| 1Y Return | +13.14% | +15.74%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +20.67% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +11.59% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 12.9% | 12.2%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -20.9% | -19.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 2.8 years | $16,931 | $17,180Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 37.7% | 33.3%Best |
| Fund Family | Hartford Funds | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Dec 5, 2023 | May 24, 2001 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2.8 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 6, 2023 to Sep 15, 2026 (2.8 years).
HQGO 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 2.8 years both funds cover.
HQGO vs VTI Performance
Hartford US Quality Growth ETF (HQGO) is an ETF from Hartford Funds and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year HQGO returned +13.14% while VTI returned +15.74%. Year to date, HQGO is up 10.42% versus a gain of 11.53% for VTI.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
HQGO has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 12.9% compared with 12.2% 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 -20.9% for HQGO and -19.3% 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 0.97. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
HQGO charges 0.34% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $34 vs $3 annually, a gap of $31 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, HQGO currently yields 0.45% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
99.6% of HQGO's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 54.1% of VTI's money is in holdings HQGO also owns.
Most of HQGO is already inside VTI. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
160 positions in common, counted across the 161 positions we hold weights for in HQGO and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 164 and 3,543.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 991 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for HQGO (43.4% of the fund), and 1 for HQGO that do not appear in VTI (0.3%).
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 HQGO | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 5.65% | 6.40% | 0.75% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 5.22% | 6.29% | 1.07% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 4.88% | 4.79% | 0.09% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 5.01% | 3.65% | 1.36% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc,class A | 4.80% | 2.90% | 1.90% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 3.33% | 2.56% | 0.77% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 2.62% | 1.70% | 0.92% |
| JPMJpmorgan Chase | 2.09% | 1.31% | 0.78% |
| LLYEli Lilly & Co. | 1.95% | 1.35% | 0.60% |
| TSLATesla Inc | 1.96% | 1.22% | 0.74% |
99.6% of HQGO is already inside VTI.
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, HQGO or VTI?
HQGO has an expense ratio of 0.34% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $31 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, HQGO or VTI?
Over the past year HQGO returned +13.14% vs +15.74% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, HQGO or VTI?
HQGO has been the more volatile fund at 12.9% annualized versus 12.2% for VTI. Worst drawdown: HQGO -20.9% vs VTI -19.3%.
Should I hold both HQGO and VTI?
HQGO and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.97, 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.
What is the holdings overlap between HQGO and VTI?
99.6% of HQGO's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 54.1% of VTI's is in holdings HQGO also owns. They hold 160 positions in common, counted across the 161 positions we hold weights for in HQGO and 3,463 in VTI.
Which pays a higher dividend, HQGO or VTI?
HQGO yields 0.45% while VTI yields 1.03%, so VTI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than HQGO?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.97. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.7%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.