EQAL vs HLGE

EQAL vs HLGE

Which is better, EQAL or HLGE?

Nearly the same fund. EQAL costs less.

EQAL has a lower expense ratio. EQAL led over 1Y, HLGE over the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.95.

Lower Fees: EQALHigher Returns: split

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

MetricEQALHLGE
Expense Ratio0.20%Best0.44%
AUM$810M$13M
Dividend Yield1.77%1.34%
Holdings2,024342
Volatility (annualized)17.2%16.4%Best
Max Drawdown-21.8%Best-23.9%
$10,000 over 4.3 years$11,955$13,387Best
Fund FamilyInvesco (US)Hartford Funds
CategoryEquityEquity
StyleMid Cap BlendMid Cap Blend
InceptionDec 23, 2014Mar 16, 2021

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

The two price series end 478 days apart, so a return over any period would be measuring two different stretches of market. Those rows are withheld. EQAL has data through Oct 14, 2026 and HLGE through Jun 23, 2025.

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).

Compare EQAL against instead:EQAL vs SPYEQAL vs QQQEQAL vs VOOEQAL vs VTIHLGE against:HLGE vs VXUS

Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns

EQAL has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.2% compared with 16.4% for HLGE. 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 -21.8% for EQAL and -23.9% for HLGE. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.

The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.95. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.

Fees and Cost Over Time

EQAL charges 0.20% per year while HLGE charges 0.44%. On a $10,000 position that is $20 vs $44 annually, a gap of $24 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, EQAL currently yields 1.77% against 1.34% for HLGE.

You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.

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

EQALHLGE

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, EQAL or HLGE?

EQAL has an expense ratio of 0.20% while HLGE charges 0.44%. EQAL is the cheaper option, by $24 a year on a $10,000 investment.

Which is riskier, EQAL or HLGE?

EQAL has been the more volatile fund at 17.2% annualized versus 16.4% for HLGE. Worst drawdown: EQAL -21.8% vs HLGE -23.9%.

Should I hold both EQAL and HLGE?

EQAL and HLGE have a monthly-return correlation of 0.95, 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, EQAL or HLGE?

EQAL yields 1.77% while HLGE yields 1.34%, so EQAL currently pays the higher dividend yield.

Is HLGE better than EQAL?

EQAL has a lower expense ratio. EQAL led over 1Y, HLGE over the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.95. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.