GAST vs HELO
Gabelli Automation ETF vs JPMorgan Hedged Equity Laddered Overlay ETF
Which is better, GAST or HELO?
GAST has been ahead.
GAST has a lower expense ratio. GAST led over 1Y and the full window. HELO is less concentrated, with 40.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 44.1%.
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 | GAST | HELO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.00%Best | 0.50% |
| AUM | $5M | $4.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.63% | 0.57% |
| Holdings | 49 | 156 |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.6% | 7.0%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -21.5% | -10.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 2.2 years | $14,425Best | $13,465 |
| Top 10 Weight | 44.1% | 40.1%Best |
| Fund Family | Gabelli Funds | J.P. Morgan Asset Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jan 5, 2022 | Sep 28, 2023 |
Not shown on this pair: YTD Return, 1Y Return, 3Y Return (annualized), 5Y Return (annualized).
The two price series end 306 days apart, so a return over any period would be measuring two different stretches of market. Those rows are withheld. GAST has data through Dec 12, 2025 and HELO through Oct 14, 2026.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2.2 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 29, 2023 to Dec 12, 2025 (2.2 years).
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
GAST has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.6% compared with 7.0% 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 -21.5% for GAST and -10.9% 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 0.69. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
GAST charges 0.00% per year while HELO charges 0.50%. On a $10,000 position that is $0 vs $50 annually, a gap of $50 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, GAST currently yields 0.63% against 0.57% for HELO.
Holdings Overlap
12.5% of GAST's money is in holdings HELO also owns. 8.7% of HELO's money is in holdings GAST also owns.
GAST and HELO share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 350 days apart, GAST as of Sep 30, 2025 and HELO as of Sep 15, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
5 positions in common, counted across the 49 positions we hold weights for in GAST and 146 in HELO, against full books of 49 and 156.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 138 positions for HELO that do not appear in our book for GAST (89.7% of the fund), and 37 for GAST that do not appear in HELO (71.8%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of GAST and HELO 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, GAST or HELO?
GAST has an expense ratio of 0.00% while HELO charges 0.50%. GAST is the cheaper option, by $50 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which is riskier, GAST or HELO?
GAST has been the more volatile fund at 16.6% annualized versus 7.0% for HELO. Worst drawdown: GAST -21.5% vs HELO -10.9%.
Should I hold both GAST and HELO?
GAST and HELO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.69, 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 GAST and HELO?
12.5% of GAST's money is in holdings HELO also owns. 8.7% of HELO's is in holdings GAST also owns. They hold 5 positions in common, counted across the 49 positions we hold weights for in GAST and 146 in HELO.
Which pays a higher dividend, GAST or HELO?
GAST yields 0.63% while HELO yields 0.57%, so GAST currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is HELO better than GAST?
GAST has a lower expense ratio. GAST led over 1Y and the full window. HELO is less concentrated, with 40.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 44.1%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.