HCRB vs VTI
Hartford Core Bond ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, HCRB or VTI?
VTI has been ahead.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window.
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 | HCRB | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.29% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $437M | $689.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 4.22% | 1.06% |
| Holdings | 1,642 | 3,524 |
| YTD Return | -5.38% | +13.02%Best |
| 1Y Return | -5.81% | +16.63%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +3.63% | +21.97%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -1.26% | +11.99%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 6.3%Best | 17.1% |
| Max Drawdown | -19.9%Best | -34.8% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $9,386 | $17,616Best |
| Fund Family | Hartford Funds | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | - | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Feb 19, 2020 | May 24, 2001 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 20, 2020 to Oct 14, 2026 (6.6 years).
HCRB 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 is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.
HCRB vs VTI Performance
Hartford Core Bond ETF (HCRB) is an ETF from Hartford Funds and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year HCRB returned -5.81% while VTI returned +16.63%. Year to date, HCRB is down 5.38% versus a gain of 13.02% for VTI.
Over three years, HCRB compounded at +3.63% per year against +21.97% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are -1.26% and +11.99% respectively. Across the full 7-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +13.91% annualized vs -0.21%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VTI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.1% compared with 6.3% for HCRB. 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 -19.9% for HCRB and -34.8% 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 0.60. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
HCRB charges 0.29% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $29 vs $3 annually, a gap of $26 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, HCRB currently yields 4.22% against 1.06% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.1% of VTI's money is in holdings HCRB also owns.
Stated as a floor: for HCRB, our book for it covers 65.2% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
1 positions in common, counted across the 493 positions we hold weights for in HCRB and 3,441 in VTI, against full books of 1,642 and 3,524.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in HCRB | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| KDPKeurig Dr Pepper Inc 3.95 04/15/2029 | 0.01% | 0.06% | 0.05% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of HCRB and VTI 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, HCRB or VTI?
HCRB has an expense ratio of 0.29% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $26 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, HCRB or VTI?
Over the past year HCRB returned -5.81% vs +16.63% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (7 years), HCRB annualized -0.21% vs +13.91% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, HCRB or VTI?
VTI has been the more volatile fund at 17.1% annualized versus 6.3% for HCRB. Worst drawdown: HCRB -19.9% vs VTI -34.8%.
Should I hold both HCRB and VTI?
HCRB and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.60, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, HCRB or VTI?
HCRB yields 4.22% while VTI yields 1.06%, so HCRB currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than HCRB?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.