Data as of .
HEQQ vs ZHDG: which moved less with stocks?
Over the year to Sep 18, 2026, HEQQ moved less with the S&P 500 than ZHDG: correlation +0.90 against +0.96.
ETFIQ Diversifier Score: HEQQ scores higher
How much does it diversify a stock portfolio?
A percentile among the 63 alternatives ETFs with a full year. It is a position in a set, not a rating, and neither end of it is a recommendation. All alternatives ETFs ranked by it · How it is computed
One strategy, two funds
HEQQ and ZHDG both run a hedged equity strategy. Over the same 52 weeks to Sep 18, 2026, HEQQ’s weekly returns had a correlation of +0.90 with the S&P 500 and ZHDG’s +0.96. In the 22 weeks the index fell, by 1.24% a week on average, HEQQ averaged −0.89% and ZHDG −1.12%. Over the same weeks, HEQQ finished 4.7 percentage points ahead of cash and ZHDG finished 3.9 points ahead of cash.
Performance, window by window
| Window | Total return | vs the S&P 500 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HEQQ | ZHDG | HEQQ | ZHDG | |
| 3 months | +0.6% | +1.0% | −1.7 pts | −1.2 pts |
| 6 months | +9.3% | +11.9% | −8.7 pts | −6.1 pts |
| 1 year | +8.6% | +8.2% | −7.9 pts | −8.4 pts |
| 3 years | not published | +44.9% | not published | −33.5 pts |
| Since launch | +23.8% | +33.0% | −12.7 pts | −55.0 pts |
| HEQQ JPMorgan Nasdaq Hedged Equity Laddered Overlay ETF Hedged equity fund: owns stocks and pays for protection against a fall, most often with put options | ZHDG ZEGA Buy and Hedge ETF Hedged equity fund: owns stocks and pays for protection against a fall, most often with put options | |
|---|---|---|
| Issuer | JPMorgan | Zega |
| Strategy | Hedged equity | Hedged equity |
| Correlation with the S&P 500 | +0.90 | +0.96 |
| Beta to the S&P 500 | +0.65 | +0.79 |
| Down-week capture | 71.5% | 90.0% |
| Average week when the S&P 500 fell | −0.89% | −1.12% |
| The S&P 500 in those weeks | −1.24% | −1.24% |
| Total return, same 52 weeks | +8.3% | +7.6% |
| Against T-bills, percentage points | +4.7 pts | +3.9 pts |
| Expense ratio | 0.50% | 0.95% |
| Listed | Mar 27, 2025 | Jul 7, 2021 |
| Net assets | $31m | $35m |
HEQQ in plain words
HEQQ is a hedged equity fund. ETFIQ measures what every alternatives fund is sold on: whether it moves differently from the stock market. Over the year to Sep 18, 2026, its weekly returns had a correlation of +0.90 with the S&P 500’s and a beta of +0.65, so for each 1% the index moved it moved about 0.65% the same way. The S&P 500 fell in 22 of those 52 weeks, by 1.24% on average. In the same weeks HEQQ fell 0.89% on average, a down-week capture of 71.5%. Over the same 52 weeks HEQQ returned +8.3% and a Treasury bill fund +3.6%, so it finished 4.7 percentage points ahead of cash.
ZHDG in plain words
ZHDG is a hedged equity fund. Over the year to Sep 18, 2026, its weekly returns had a correlation of +0.96 with the S&P 500’s and a beta of +0.79, so for each 1% the index moved it moved about 0.79% the same way. In the same weeks ZHDG fell 1.12% on average, a down-week capture of 90.0%. Over the same 52 weeks ZHDG returned +7.6% and a Treasury bill fund +3.6%, so it finished 3.9 percentage points ahead of cash.
Questions people ask
- Which moved less with the S&P 500, HEQQ or ZHDG?
- Over the 52 weeks to Sep 18, 2026, HEQQ’s weekly returns had a correlation of +0.90 with the S&P 500 and ZHDG’s +0.96, so HEQQ moved less with the index.
- Which did better when the S&P 500 fell, HEQQ or ZHDG?
- In the 22 weeks the S&P 500 fell, by 1.24% a week on average, HEQQ averaged −0.89% and ZHDG −1.12%, so HEQQ returned more in those weeks.
- Which earned more than cash, HEQQ or ZHDG?
- Over the same weeks, HEQQ finished 4.7 percentage points ahead of cash and ZHDG finished 3.9 percentage points ahead of cash. Cash here is BIL, a fund of Treasury bills.
- Which is cheaper, HEQQ or ZHDG?
- HEQQ charges 0.50% a year and ZHDG charges 0.95%, so HEQQ is cheaper. Fees come from each fund's prospectus.
Other comparisons
Where these figures came from
ETFIQ links to the documents behind every figure. It is not affiliated with any issuer, and a link is not an endorsement.
Cite this page. ETFIQ, HEQQ against ZHDG, data as of Sep 18, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/alternatives/heqq-vs-zhdg Free to use with attribution; the underlying files are at Open data.