CRAK vs HEQ
VanEck Oil Refiners ETF vs John Hancock Hedged Equity & Income Fund
Which is better, CRAK or HEQ?
CRAK has been ahead.
CRAK has a lower expense ratio. CRAK led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. HEQ is less concentrated, with 48.2% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 59.8%.
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 | CRAK | HEQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.61%Best | 1.16% |
| AUM | $183M | $148M |
| Dividend Yield | 1.19% | 8.10% |
| Holdings | 52 | 659 |
| YTD Return | +79.72%Best | +10.91% |
| 1Y Return | +92.04%Best | +15.19% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +28.82%Best | +15.69% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +19.55%Best | +6.94% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 23.8% | 15.7%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -58.8% | -53.8%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $24,420Best | $13,986 |
| Top 10 Weight | 59.8% | 48.2%Best |
| Fund Family | VanEck | John Hancock Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Aug 18, 2015 | May 26, 2011 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Aug 19, 2015 to Oct 14, 2026 (11.2 years).
CRAK vs HEQ 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 11.2 years both funds cover.
CRAK vs HEQ Performance
VanEck Oil Refiners ETF (CRAK) is an ETF from VanEck and John Hancock Hedged Equity & Income Fund (HEQ) is an ETF from John Hancock Investment Management. Over the past year CRAK returned +92.04% while HEQ returned +15.19%. Year to date, CRAK is up 79.72% versus a gain of 10.91% for HEQ.
Over three years, CRAK compounded at +28.82% per year against +15.69% for HEQ; over five years the annualized figures are +19.55% and +6.94% respectively. Across the full 11-year window we track, CRAK has the edge at +14.10% annualized vs +1.89%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
CRAK has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 23.8% compared with 15.7% for HEQ. 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 -58.8% for CRAK and -53.8% for HEQ. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.65. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
CRAK charges 0.61% per year while HEQ charges 1.16%. On a $10,000 position that is $61 vs $116 annually, a gap of $55 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, CRAK currently yields 1.19% against 8.10% for HEQ.
Holdings Overlap
8.3% of CRAK's money is in holdings HEQ also owns. 2.0% of HEQ's money is in holdings CRAK also owns.
CRAK and HEQ share little of their money.
1 positions in common, counted across the 26 positions we hold weights for in CRAK and 54 in HEQ, against full books of 52 and 659.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 41 positions for HEQ that do not appear in our book for CRAK (87.8% of the fund), and 7 for CRAK that do not appear in HEQ (27.1%).
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 CRAK | Weight in HEQ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| VLOValero Energy Corp | 8.30% | 2.04% | 6.26% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of CRAK and HEQ 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, CRAK or HEQ?
CRAK has an expense ratio of 0.61% while HEQ charges 1.16%. CRAK is the cheaper option, by $55 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, CRAK or HEQ?
Over the past year CRAK returned +92.04% vs +15.19% for HEQ, so CRAK leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (11 years), CRAK annualized +14.10% vs +1.89% for HEQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, CRAK or HEQ?
CRAK has been the more volatile fund at 23.8% annualized versus 15.7% for HEQ. Worst drawdown: CRAK -58.8% vs HEQ -53.8%.
Should I hold both CRAK and HEQ?
CRAK and HEQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.65, 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 CRAK and HEQ?
8.3% of CRAK's money is in holdings HEQ also owns. 2.0% of HEQ's is in holdings CRAK also owns. They hold 1 positions in common, counted across the 26 positions we hold weights for in CRAK and 54 in HEQ.
Which pays a higher dividend, CRAK or HEQ?
CRAK yields 1.19% while HEQ yields 8.10%, so HEQ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is HEQ better than CRAK?
CRAK has a lower expense ratio. CRAK led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. HEQ is less concentrated, with 48.2% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 59.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.