diff --git a/source/expectations/data_values/ut_compound_data_helper.pkb b/source/expectations/data_values/ut_compound_data_helper.pkb
index ee01819d6..e6665bd10 100644
--- a/source/expectations/data_values/ut_compound_data_helper.pkb
+++ b/source/expectations/data_values/ut_compound_data_helper.pkb
@@ -91,41 +91,44 @@ create or replace package body ut_compound_data_helper is
     l_results        tt_column_diffs;
   begin
     l_column_filter := get_columns_row_filter(a_exclude_xpath, a_include_xpath);
+    --CARDINALITY hints added to address issue: https://github.com/utPLSQL/utPLSQL/issues/752
     l_sql := q'[
       with
         expected_cols as ( select :a_expected as item_data from dual ),
         actual_cols as ( select :a_actual as item_data from dual ),
-  expected_cols_info as (
+        expected_cols_info as (
           select e.*,
                  replace(expected_type,'VARCHAR2','CHAR') expected_type_compare
             from (
-                   SELECT rownum expected_pos,
-                   xt.name expected_name,
-                   xt.type expected_type
-         FROM   (select ]'||l_column_filter||q'[ from expected_cols ucd) x,
-           XMLTABLE('/ROW/*'
-             PASSING x.item_data
-             COLUMNS 
-               name     VARCHAR2(4000)  PATH '@xml_valid_name',
-               type      VARCHAR2(4000) PATH '/' 
-             ) xt
-            ) e
+                  select /*+ CARDINALITY(xt 100) */
+                         rownum expected_pos,
+                         xt.name expected_name,
+                         xt.type expected_type
+                    from (select ]'||l_column_filter||q'[ from expected_cols ucd) x,
+                         xmltable(
+                           '/ROW/*'
+                           passing x.item_data
+                           columns
+                             name     varchar2(4000)  PATH '@xml_valid_name',
+                             type     varchar2(4000) PATH '/'
+                         ) xt
+                 ) e
         ),
         actual_cols_info as (
           select a.*,
                  replace(actual_type,'VARCHAR2','CHAR') actual_type_compare
-            from (
-                   SELECT rownum actual_pos,
-                   xt.name actual_name,
-                   xt.type actual_type
-         FROM    (select ]'||l_column_filter||q'[ from actual_cols ucd) x,
-           XMLTABLE('/ROW/*'
-             PASSING x.item_data
-             COLUMNS 
-               name     VARCHAR2(4000)  PATH '@xml_valid_name',
-               type      VARCHAR2(4000) PATH '/' 
-             ) xt
-            ) a
+            from (select /*+ CARDINALITY(xt 100) */
+                         rownum actual_pos,
+                         xt.name actual_name,
+                         xt.type actual_type
+                    from (select ]'||l_column_filter||q'[ from actual_cols ucd) x,
+                         xmltable('/ROW/*'
+                           passing x.item_data
+                           columns
+                             name     varchar2(4000)  path '@xml_valid_name',
+                             type      varchar2(4000) path '/'
+                         ) xt
+                 ) a
         ),
         joined_cols as (
          select e.*, a.*,