HELO vs XLFI

HELO vs XLFI

Which is better, HELO or XLFI?

HELO has been ahead.

XLFI has a lower expense ratio. HELO led over 1Y and the full window.

Lower Fees: XLFIHigher Returns: HELO

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

MetricHELOXLFI
Expense Ratio0.50%0.35%Best
AUM$4.9B$9M
Dividend Yield0.57%11.99%
Holdings1564
YTD Return+4.91%Best+1.07%
1Y Return+7.68%Best+3.90%
3Y Return (annualized)+11.88%-
Volatility (annualized)6.8%Best11.1%
Max Drawdown-5.8%Best-11.9%
$10,000 over 1.2 years$11,043Best$10,679
Fund FamilyJ.P. Morgan Asset ManagementState Street Investment Management
CategoryEquityEquity
StyleLarge Cap BlendLarge Cap Blend
InceptionSep 28, 2023Jul 29, 2025

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

Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.2 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 30, 2025 to Oct 14, 2026 (1.2 years).

HELO vs XLFI 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 1.2 years both funds cover.

Compare HELO against instead:HELO vs SPYHELO vs QQQHELO vs VOOHELO vs VTIXLFI against:XLFI vs VXUS

HELO vs XLFI Performance

JPMorgan Hedged Equity Laddered Overlay ETF (HELO) is an ETF from J.P. Morgan Asset Management and State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR Premium Income ETF (XLFI) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year HELO returned +7.68% while XLFI returned +3.90%. Year to date, HELO is up 4.91% versus a gain of 1.07% for XLFI.

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns

XLFI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 11.1% compared with 6.8% 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 -5.8% for HELO and -11.9% for XLFI. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.

The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.59. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.

Fees and Cost Over Time

HELO charges 0.50% per year while XLFI charges 0.35%. On a $10,000 position that is $50 vs $35 annually, a gap of $15 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, HELO currently yields 0.57% against 11.99% for XLFI.

Holdings Overlap

We hold position weights for 146 holdings in HELO and 2 in XLFI, totalling 99.8% and 100.1% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.

0 positions in common, counted across the 146 positions we hold weights for in HELO and 2 in XLFI, against full books of 156 and 4.

You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.

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

HELOXLFI

Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, HELO or XLFI?

HELO has an expense ratio of 0.50% while XLFI charges 0.35%. XLFI is the cheaper option, by $15 a year on a $10,000 investment.

Which performed better, HELO or XLFI?

Over the past year HELO returned +7.68% vs +3.90% for XLFI, so HELO leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), HELO annualized +8.62% vs +5.63% for XLFI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.

Which is riskier, HELO or XLFI?

XLFI has been the more volatile fund at 11.1% annualized versus 6.8% for HELO. Worst drawdown: HELO -5.8% vs XLFI -11.9%.

Should I hold both HELO and XLFI?

HELO and XLFI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.59, 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, HELO or XLFI?

HELO yields 0.57% while XLFI yields 11.99%, so XLFI currently pays the higher dividend yield.

Is XLFI better than HELO?

XLFI has a lower expense ratio. HELO led over 1Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.