HPI vs VTI
John Hancock Preferred Income Fund vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, HPI or VTI?
Preferred Stock against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI 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 | HPI | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 2.31% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $371M | $689.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 10.68% | 1.06% |
| Holdings | 209 | 3,542 |
| YTD Return | -12.40% | +8.54%Best |
| 1Y Return | -15.61% | +11.14%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +6.63% | +20.29%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -1.07% | +9.84%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 19.7% | 15.2%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -75.0% | -56.6%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $9,476 | $15,988Best |
| Fund Family | John Hancock Investment Management | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Preferred Stock | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Aug 27, 2002 | May 24, 2001 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Aug 23, 2002 to Nov 6, 2026 (24.2 years).
HPI 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 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.
HPI vs VTI Performance
John Hancock Preferred Income Fund (HPI) is an ETF from John Hancock Investment Management and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year HPI returned -15.61% while VTI returned +11.14%. Year to date, HPI is down 12.40% versus a gain of 8.54% for VTI.
Over three years, HPI compounded at +6.63% per year against +20.29% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are -1.07% and +9.84% respectively. Across the full 24-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +9.44% annualized vs -0.53%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
HPI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.7% compared with 15.2% 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 -75.0% for HPI and -56.6% 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 0.44. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
HPI charges 2.31% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $231 vs $3 annually, a gap of $228 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, HPI currently yields 10.68% against 1.06% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
At least 4.9% of VTI's money is in holdings HPI also owns.
Stated as a floor: for HPI, our book for it covers 60.2% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
VTI and HPI share little of their money.
32 positions in common, counted across the 133 positions we hold weights for in HPI and 3,464 in VTI, against full books of 209 and 3,542.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in HPI | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc | 0.13% | 2.76% | 2.63% |
| DUKDuke Energy Corp | 0.87% | 0.12% | 0.75% |
| SCHWSchwab Strategic T | 0.67% | 0.22% | 0.45% |
| XELXcel Energy Inc. | 0.80% | 0.06% | 0.74% |
| ETREntergy Corp. | 0.78% | 0.06% | 0.72% |
| DDominion Energy Inc | 0.76% | 0.07% | 0.69% |
| SRESempra Common Stock | 0.75% | 0.07% | 0.68% |
| NRGNrg Energy | 0.75% | 0.03% | 0.72% |
| VSTVistra Energy Corp. | 0.71% | 0.06% | 0.65% |
| ORCLOracle Corp - Common | 0.45% | 0.32% | 0.13% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of HPI 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, HPI or VTI?
HPI has an expense ratio of 2.31% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $228 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, HPI or VTI?
Over the past year HPI returned -15.61% vs +11.14% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (24 years), HPI annualized -0.53% vs +9.44% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, HPI or VTI?
HPI has been the more volatile fund at 19.7% annualized versus 15.2% for VTI. Worst drawdown: HPI -75.0% vs VTI -56.6%.
Should I hold both HPI and VTI?
HPI and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.44, 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 HPI and VTI?
At least 4.9% of VTI's money is in holdings HPI also owns. Our book for HPI is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 32 positions in common, counted across the 133 positions we hold weights for in HPI and 3,464 in VTI.
Which pays a higher dividend, HPI or VTI?
HPI yields 10.68% while VTI yields 1.06%, so HPI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than HPI?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI 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.