At a glance
HQGO charges 0.34% a year, above the 0.07% average of the 8 funds most like it (the most expensive of 9). It has $49.2M in assets, the 9th largest of that group; it paid 0.52% of its price in distributions over the past 12 months, quarterly. Over the past year it returned +12.2% with distributions reinvested (S&P 500: +11.5%), 5th of those 9 funds. Its ten largest positions make up 37.7% of the fund, out of 162 in all.
The short version
Hartford US Quality Growth ETF (HQGO) is an index fund. It tracks the Hartford US Quality Growth Index, a rules-based mix of large US companies with high profitability and strong sales growth, designed by the fund's adviser, Lattice Strategies. Its 0.34% expense ratio is well above the 0.07% average of similar funds. With about $49 million in net assets as of July 31, 2026, it is the smallest fund in its peer group.
Price history
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HQGO +12.2% over the year to Oct 27, 2026, total return with distributions reinvested.
How it has behaved
| YTD | 1 yr | 3 yr | 5 yr | 10 yr | Since start | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HQGO official prospectus, to Dec 31, 2024 | — | +29.66% | — | — | — | — |
| HQGO price data to Oct 27, 2026 | +13.0% | +12.2% | — | — | — | +20.8% |
- Over the year to Oct 27, 2026, HQGO returned +12.2%, 5th of 9 among similar funds.
- Its worst full calendar year was 2025 (+15.2%); its best was 2024 (+25.1%).
- The deepest fall in its price history was 20.9% (Feb 13, 2025 to Apr 8, 2025), recovered by Jul 3, 2025.
Show as a table
| Year | Price data | Prospectus (official) |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (to date) | +13.0% | — |
| 2025 | +15.2% | — |
| 2024 | +25.1% | +25.13% |
| 2008 financial crisis stocks fell Oct 9, 2007 – Mar 9, 2009 | Before this security existed |
|---|---|
| 2020 COVID crash stocks fell Feb 19, 2020 – Mar 23, 2020 | Before this security existed |
| 2022 bear market stocks fell Jan 3, 2022 – Oct 12, 2022 | Before this security existed |
Dividends and income
Show as a table
| Year | Per share | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (to date) | $0.2300 | |
| 2025 | $0.3100 | +14.8% |
| 2024 | $0.2700 |
What's inside
As of Jul 31, 2026, the fund held 162 securities; the ten largest made up 37.71% of assets.
| Holding | Weight | |
|---|---|---|
| NVIDIA Corp | 5.34% | |
| Amazon.com Inc | 5.24% | |
| Apple Inc | 5.16% | |
| Alphabet Inc | 5.05% | |
| Microsoft Corp | 4.56% | |
| Broadcom Inc | 3.59% | |
| Meta Platforms Inc | 2.61% | |
| JPMorgan Chase & Co | 2.12% | |
| Visa Inc | 2.06% | |
| Eli Lilly & Co | 1.97% | |
| Johnson & Johnson | 1.83% | |
| Berkshire Hathaway Inc | 1.83% | |
| ExxonMobil Holdings Corp | 1.80% | |
| Tesla Inc | 1.78% | |
| Seagate Technology Holdings PLC | 1.70% |
By country
United States 96.94%Ireland 3%By asset type
Stocks 99.93%By sector
Sectors of the companies held, for the 77.4% of the fund in companies that have a stock page here; other holdings and cash aren't classified. Source: N-PORT holdings report as of Jul 31, 2026. Cash, money-market funds and derivatives are shown separately from the securities list.What changed recently
- Over the three months to Jul 31, 2026, investors withdrew a net $1.6M (creations minus redemptions, per the N-PORT report).
- Monthly total returns reported for that quarter: +6.46%, -1.09%, +0.18%.
How it works
HQGO is passively managed. It tries to match the Hartford US Quality Growth Index, not beat it, and it does not move to cash when markets fall. Lattice Strategies, the fund's adviser, designed the index. S&P Dow Jones Indices calculates and maintains it. The fund generally keeps at least 80% of its assets in the index's stocks.
The index starts with the 1,000 largest US companies by free-float market value, meaning the shares the public can actually trade. It gives each company one combined score that weighs two measures equally: gross profit divided by total assets, its test of quality, and five-year sales growth. Companies in the top half count as quality growth stocks. An optimization process then builds a portfolio of typically 100 to 300 stocks. It aims for as much quality as possible while avoiding a tilt away from value (cheaper stocks) or momentum (recent winners). The qualifying companies' market values set targets for sector weights and company size, which the index keeps in check.
The index is rebuilt and rebalanced twice a year, in March and September. Turnover was 34% in the latest prospectus. As of July 31, 2026, the fund held 162 stocks. The five largest were NVIDIA, Amazon, Apple, Alphabet and Microsoft, each at roughly 5%. The top 10 made up about 38% of assets.
What it really costs
- HQGO charges 0.34% a year, versus an average of 0.07% for the similar funds below (9th of 9, cheapest first).
- Using the prospectus's standard example, $10,000 invested would cost about $35 in the first year and $431 over 10 years (assuming a 5% annual return).
| Cost of $10,000 (SEC example) | 1 yr | 3 yrs | 5 yrs | 10 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HQGO | $35 | $109 | $191 | $431 |
In a retirement portfolio
HQGO is a factor tilt toward profitable growth stocks with a short record and a high fee, so it fits better alongside a broad, low-cost core holding than as the core itself.
HQGO could add a tilt toward profitable, faster-growing large US companies. It launched on December 5, 2023, so it has no record from the 2008, 2020 or 2022 downturns. Its weakest calendar year so far was 2025, and it still gained about 15% that year. Its deepest drop was 20.9%, from February 13 to April 8, 2025. It got back to its old high by July 3, 2025, about 2.8 months later. A retiree forced to sell in April 2025 would have sold near the bottom. The trailing 12-month yield was 0.52% as of October 27, 2026, paid quarterly, so it offers little income. Under the SEC's standard example, $10,000 would cost $35 in fees in the first year and $431 over 10 years. Past results don't predict future ones, and a plan should weigh the whole portfolio, not one fund.
Who it may suit — and who should look elsewhere
May suit
- Investors who want a rules-based tilt toward profitable, faster-growing US large companies such as NVIDIA, Amazon and Apple, without picking stocks themselves.
- Holders comfortable with market-like swings: one-year beta was 1.06, and the deepest drop was 20.9% in early 2025.
- Long-term investors who don't need income from this holding, since the yield was 0.52% as of October 27, 2026.
Look elsewhere if
- Cost-focused investors: the 0.34% expense ratio ranks 9th of 9 similar funds, against 0.03% for IVV and 0.07% for MGC.
- Anyone wanting a long track record: the fund launched in December 2023 and has no history from the 2020 or 2022 downturns.
- Investors wary of small funds: net assets were about $49 million as of July 31, 2026, the smallest among similar funds.
Close alternatives
Matched by holdings overlap from the latest N-PORT reports.
| Fund | Overlap | Cost | Net assets | 1 yr | 3 yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HQGO this fund | — | 0.34% | $49.2M | +12.2% | — |
| MGC Vanguard Mega Cap ETF | 53% | 0.07% | $10.90B | +13.5% | +26.0% |
| IWL iShares Russell Top 200 ETF | 52% | 0.15% | $2.19B | +12.5% | +25.5% |
| BKLC BNY Mellon US Large Cap Core Equity ETF | 51% | 0% | $5.47B | +13.4% | +25.4% |
| VOOG Vanguard S&P 500 Growth ETF | 51% | 0.07% | $27.12B | +9.4% | +27.5% |
| USCL iShares Climate Conscious & Transition MSCI… | 51% | 0.08% | $2.87B | +9.2% | +23.1% |
| SPY SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust | 51% | 0.0945% | $781.19B | +11.5% | +21.9% |
| IVV iShares Core S&P 500 ETF | 51% | 0.03% | $888.13B | +11.5% | +22.0% |
Questions investors ask
What does HQGO invest in?
HQGO holds large US companies that score well on profitability (gross profit divided by total assets) and five-year sales growth. It tracks the Hartford US Quality Growth Index. As of July 31, 2026, it held 162 stocks. The largest were NVIDIA, Amazon, Apple, Alphabet and Microsoft, each near 5% of assets, and the top 10 made up about 38%. Technology was the biggest sector.
What is the expense ratio of HQGO?
HQGO charges 0.34% a year, according to its prospectus filed November 26, 2025. That is well above the 0.07% average of similar funds and ranks last of nine on cost. Under the SEC's standard example ($10,000 invested, 5% annual return), fees would total about $35 after one year, $191 after five years and $431 after 10 years.
Does HQGO pay dividends?
Yes. HQGO pays dividends quarterly, but they are small. Its trailing 12-month yield was 0.52% as of October 27, 2026, or about $0.35 per share. That low payout reflects its focus on growth companies, which tend to reinvest profits rather than pay them out. Investors looking for meaningful income from a stock fund would need to look at funds built for dividends.
HQGO vs MGC: what's the difference?
Vanguard Mega Cap ETF (MGC) has the most holdings in common with HQGO, at 53% overlap. MGC costs 0.07% a year against HQGO's 0.34%. MGC is also far larger, with about $10.9 billion in net assets as of August 31, 2026. Over the year to October 27, 2026, MGC returned 13.5% and HQGO returned 12.2%. HQGO adds rules that favor profitability and sales growth.
How has HQGO performed since launch?
HQGO has gained every calendar year since its December 2023 launch. It returned 25.13% in 2024, according to its prospectus, and 15.16% in 2025 based on price. Through October 27, 2026, it was up 13.02% year to date. Its deepest drop was 20.9%, from February to April 2025, and it recovered by July 3, 2025. Its short history doesn't include a long bear market.