HDUS vs MSLC
Hartford Disciplined US Equity ETF vs Morgan Stanley Pathway Large Cap Equity ETF
Which is better, HDUS or MSLC?
Nearly the same fund. HDUS costs less.
HDUS has a lower expense ratio. HDUS led over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.99. HDUS is less concentrated, with 34.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 35.6%.
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 | HDUS | MSLC |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.19%Best | 0.39% |
| AUM | $111M | $4.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.42% | 1.95% |
| Holdings | 242 | 793 |
| YTD Return | +13.28%Best | +10.97% |
| 1Y Return | +16.53%Best | +14.08% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +21.04% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 11.5%Best | 11.9% |
| Max Drawdown | -17.9%Tie | -17.9%Tie |
| $10,000 over 1.8 years | $12,714Best | $12,375 |
| Top 10 Weight | 34.4%Best | 35.6% |
| Fund Family | Hartford Funds | Morgan Stanley |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Nov 16, 2022 | Dec 9, 2024 |
Not shown on this pair: 5Y Return (annualized).
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.8 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 9, 2024 to Oct 14, 2026 (1.8 years).
HDUS vs MSLC 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 1.8 years both funds cover.
HDUS vs MSLC Performance
Hartford Disciplined US Equity ETF (HDUS) is an ETF from Hartford Funds and Morgan Stanley Pathway Large Cap Equity ETF (MSLC) is an ETF from Morgan Stanley. Over the past year HDUS returned +16.53% while MSLC returned +14.08%. Year to date, HDUS is up 13.28% versus a gain of 10.97% for MSLC.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
MSLC has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 11.9% compared with 11.5% for HDUS. 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 -17.9% for HDUS and -17.9% for MSLC. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.99. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
HDUS charges 0.19% per year while MSLC charges 0.39%. On a $10,000 position that is $19 vs $39 annually, a gap of $20 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, HDUS currently yields 1.42% against 1.95% for MSLC.
Holdings Overlap
94.3% of HDUS's money is in holdings MSLC also owns. 68.6% of MSLC's money is in holdings HDUS also owns.
Most of HDUS is already inside MSLC. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
207 positions in common, counted across the 239 positions we hold weights for in HDUS and 789 in MSLC, against full books of 242 and 793.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 490 positions for MSLC that do not appear in our book for HDUS (28.5% of the fund), and 32 for HDUS that do not appear in MSLC (5.5%).
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 HDUS | Weight in MSLC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 6.67% | 7.04% | 0.37% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 5.91% | 5.80% | 0.11% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 5.54% | 5.55% | 0.01% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc | 4.84% | 3.23% | 1.61% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 3.19% | 4.07% | 0.88% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 2.28% | 2.49% | 0.21% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 2.04% | 2.31% | 0.27% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 1.39% | 1.60% | 0.21% |
| JPMJpmorgan Chase | 1.00% | 1.61% | 0.61% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc | 1.31% | 0.88% | 0.43% |
94.3% of HDUS is already inside MSLC.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, HDUS or MSLC?
HDUS has an expense ratio of 0.19% while MSLC charges 0.39%. HDUS is the cheaper option, by $20 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, HDUS or MSLC?
Over the past year HDUS returned +16.53% vs +14.08% for MSLC, so HDUS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), HDUS annualized +14.27% vs +12.57% for MSLC. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, HDUS or MSLC?
MSLC has been the more volatile fund at 11.9% annualized versus 11.5% for HDUS. Worst drawdown: HDUS -17.9% vs MSLC -17.9%.
Should I hold both HDUS and MSLC?
HDUS and MSLC have a monthly-return correlation of 0.99, 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.
What is the holdings overlap between HDUS and MSLC?
94.3% of HDUS's money is in holdings MSLC also owns. 68.6% of MSLC's is in holdings HDUS also owns. They hold 207 positions in common, counted across the 239 positions we hold weights for in HDUS and 789 in MSLC.
Which pays a higher dividend, HDUS or MSLC?
HDUS yields 1.42% while MSLC yields 1.95%, so MSLC currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is MSLC better than HDUS?
HDUS has a lower expense ratio. HDUS led over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.99. HDUS is less concentrated, with 34.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 35.6%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.