HPF vs SCHD
John Hancock Preferred Income Fund II vs Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF
Which is better, HPF or SCHD?
Preferred Stock against Large Cap Value.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window.
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 | HPF | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.82% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $355M | $112.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 9.88% | 3.13% |
| Holdings | 169 | 103 |
| YTD Return | +0.72% | +27.56%Best |
| 1Y Return | +3.07% | +30.29%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +10.12% | +16.37%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +1.25% | +10.23%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.3% | 13.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -57.8% | -33.4%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $10,641 | $16,274Best |
| Fund Family | John Hancock Investment Management | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Preferred Stock | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Nov 29, 2002 | Oct 20, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 20, 2011 to Sep 4, 2026 (14.9 years).
HPF vs SCHD 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 is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.
HPF vs SCHD Performance
John Hancock Preferred Income Fund II (HPF) is an ETF from John Hancock Investment Management and Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management. Over the past year HPF returned +3.07% while SCHD returned +30.29%. Year to date, HPF is up 0.72% versus a gain of 27.56% for SCHD.
Over three years, HPF compounded at +10.12% per year against +16.37% for SCHD; over five years the annualized figures are +1.25% and +10.23% respectively. Across the full 15-year window we track, SCHD has the edge at +11.53% annualized vs +1.36%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
HPF has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.3% compared with 13.6% for SCHD. 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 -57.8% for HPF and -33.4% for SCHD. 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
HPF charges 1.82% per year while SCHD charges 0.06%. On a $10,000 position that is $182 vs $6 annually, a gap of $176 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, HPF currently yields 9.88% against 3.13% for SCHD.
Holdings Overlap
At least 2.0% of SCHD's money is in holdings HPF also owns.
Stated as a floor: for HPF, our book for it covers 50.3% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
SCHD and HPF share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 219 days apart, HPF as of Dec 31, 2025 and SCHD as of Aug 7, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
2 positions in common, counted across the 51 positions we hold weights for in HPF and 100 in SCHD, against full books of 169 and 103.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of HPF and SCHD 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, HPF or SCHD?
HPF has an expense ratio of 1.82% while SCHD charges 0.06%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $176 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, HPF or SCHD?
Over the past year HPF returned +3.07% vs +30.29% for SCHD, so SCHD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (15 years), HPF annualized +1.36% vs +11.53% for SCHD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, HPF or SCHD?
HPF has been the more volatile fund at 15.3% annualized versus 13.6% for SCHD. Worst drawdown: HPF -57.8% vs SCHD -33.4%.
Should I hold both HPF and SCHD?
HPF and SCHD 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.
What is the holdings overlap between HPF and SCHD?
At least 2.0% of SCHD's money is in holdings HPF also owns. Our book for HPF is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 2 positions in common, counted across the 51 positions we hold weights for in HPF and 100 in SCHD.
Which pays a higher dividend, HPF or SCHD?
HPF yields 9.88% while SCHD yields 3.13%, so HPF currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHD better than HPF?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.