FGSI vs HELO

FGSI vs HELO

Which is better, FGSI or HELO?

Each has led over a different period.

HELO has a lower expense ratio. FGSI led over the full window, HELO over 1Y. FGSI is less concentrated, with 24.2% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 40.1%.

Lower Fees: HELOHigher Returns: splitLess Concentrated: FGSI

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

MetricFGSIHELO
Expense Ratio0.85%0.50%Best
AUM$2M$4.9B
Dividend Yield8.42%0.57%
Holdings104156
YTD Return+8.87%Best+5.28%
1Y Return+5.98%+8.07%Best
3Y Return (annualized)-+12.00%
Volatility (annualized)8.8%6.5%Best
Max Drawdown-8.6%-5.8%Best
$10,000 over 1.3 years$11,279Best$11,256
Top 10 Weight24.2%Best40.1%
Fund FamilyFirst Trust Portfolios (US)J.P. Morgan Asset Management
CategoryEquityEquity
StyleLarge Cap BlendLarge Cap Blend
InceptionJun 25, 2025Sep 28, 2023

Not shown on this pair: 5Y Return (annualized).

Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.3 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 26, 2025 to Oct 15, 2026 (1.3 years).

FGSI vs HELO 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 1.3 years both funds cover.

Compare FGSI against instead:FGSI vs SPYFGSI vs QQQFGSI vs VOOFGSI vs VTIHELO against:HELO vs VXUS

FGSI vs HELO Performance

FT Vest Growth Strength & Target Income ETF (FGSI) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US) and JPMorgan Hedged Equity Laddered Overlay ETF (HELO) is an ETF from J.P. Morgan Asset Management. Over the past year FGSI returned +5.98% while HELO returned +8.07%. Year to date, FGSI is up 8.87% versus a gain of 5.28% for HELO.

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns

FGSI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 8.8% compared with 6.5% for HELO. 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 -8.6% for FGSI and -5.8% for HELO. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.

The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.79. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.

Fees and Cost Over Time

FGSI charges 0.85% per year while HELO charges 0.50%. On a $10,000 position that is $85 vs $50 annually, a gap of $35 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, FGSI currently yields 8.42% against 0.57% for HELO.

Holdings Overlap

FGSI already in HELO50.8%
HELO already in FGSI29.1%

50.8% of FGSI's money is in holdings HELO also owns. 29.1% of HELO's money is in holdings FGSI also owns.

The two portfolios partly overlap.

25 positions in common, counted across the 50 positions we hold weights for in FGSI and 146 in HELO, against full books of 104 and 156.

What only one of them owns

Our book lists 118 positions for HELO that do not appear in our book for FGSI (69.5% of the fund), and 25 for FGSI that do not appear in HELO (48.6%).

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

StockWeight in FGSIWeight in HELODifference
NVDANvidia Corp2.25%8.17%5.92%
MSFTMicrosoft Corp2.57%6.29%3.72%
METAMeta Platforms Inc2.22%2.31%0.09%
AVGOBroadcom Inc1.87%2.64%0.77%
PLTRPalantir Technologies Inc2.78%0.52%2.26%
MAMastercard Inc1.98%1.24%0.74%
LLYEli Lilly & Co.1.91%1.14%0.77%
APHAmphenol Corp. Class A2.25%0.63%1.62%
ANETArista Networks Inc Common Stock2.40%0.40%2.00%
TTTrane Technologies PLC|1251.94%0.83%1.11%

50.8% of FGSI is already inside HELO.

You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.

FGSIHELO

Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, FGSI or HELO?

FGSI has an expense ratio of 0.85% while HELO charges 0.50%. HELO is the cheaper option, by $35 a year on a $10,000 investment.

Which performed better, FGSI or HELO?

Over the past year FGSI returned +5.98% vs +8.07% for HELO, so HELO leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), FGSI annualized +9.70% vs +9.53% for HELO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.

Which is riskier, FGSI or HELO?

FGSI has been the more volatile fund at 8.8% annualized versus 6.5% for HELO. Worst drawdown: FGSI -8.6% vs HELO -5.8%.

Should I hold both FGSI and HELO?

FGSI and HELO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.79, 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 FGSI and HELO?

50.8% of FGSI's money is in holdings HELO also owns. 29.1% of HELO's is in holdings FGSI also owns. They hold 25 positions in common, counted across the 50 positions we hold weights for in FGSI and 146 in HELO.

Which pays a higher dividend, FGSI or HELO?

FGSI yields 8.42% while HELO yields 0.57%, so FGSI currently pays the higher dividend yield.

Is HELO better than FGSI?

HELO has a lower expense ratio. FGSI led over the full window, HELO over 1Y. FGSI is less concentrated, with 24.2% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 40.1%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.