HIPS vs VTI
GraniteShares HIPS US High Income ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, HIPS or VTI?
Equity-oriented Balanced against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 51.0%.
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 | HIPS | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.17% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $95M | $689.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 12.00% | 1.06% |
| Holdings | 40 | 3,524 |
| YTD Return | -3.27% | +13.02%Best |
| 1Y Return | +0.89% | +16.63%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +6.17% | +21.97%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +2.14% | +11.99%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.5% | 15.4%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -61.6% | -35.0%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $11,117 | $17,616Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 51.0% | 33.5%Best |
| Fund Family | GraniteShares | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Equity-oriented Balanced | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jan 7, 2015 | May 24, 2001 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 7, 2015 to Oct 14, 2026 (11.8 years).
HIPS 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 covers the 11.8 years both funds cover.
HIPS vs VTI Performance
GraniteShares HIPS US High Income ETF (HIPS) is an ETF from GraniteShares and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year HIPS returned +0.89% while VTI returned +16.63%. Year to date, HIPS is down 3.27% versus a gain of 13.02% for VTI.
Over three years, HIPS compounded at +6.17% per year against +21.97% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +2.14% and +11.99% respectively. Across the full 12-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +12.29% annualized vs -0.68%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
HIPS has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.5% compared with 15.4% for VTI. 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 -61.6% for HIPS and -35.0% 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 0.80. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
HIPS charges 1.17% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $117 vs $3 annually, a gap of $114 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, HIPS currently yields 12.00% against 1.06% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 105 holdings in HIPS and 3,441 in VTI, totalling 99.3% and 98.1% 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 105 positions we hold weights for in HIPS and 3,441 in VTI, against full books of 40 and 3,524.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1,156 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for HIPS (97.6% of the fund), and 1 for HIPS that do not appear in VTI (0.3%).
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 HIPS 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, HIPS or VTI?
HIPS has an expense ratio of 1.17% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $114 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, HIPS or VTI?
Over the past year HIPS returned +0.89% vs +16.63% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (12 years), HIPS annualized -0.68% vs +12.29% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, HIPS or VTI?
HIPS has been the more volatile fund at 18.5% annualized versus 15.4% for VTI. Worst drawdown: HIPS -61.6% vs VTI -35.0%.
Should I hold both HIPS and VTI?
HIPS and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.80, 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, HIPS or VTI?
HIPS yields 12.00% while VTI yields 1.06%, so HIPS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than HIPS?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 51.0%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.