HTD vs VTI
John Hancock Tax-Advantaged Dividend Income Fund vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, HTD or VTI?
Equity-oriented Balanced 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 | HTD | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.96% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $917M | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 7.17% | 1.07% |
| Holdings | 124 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | +11.11% | +13.59%Best |
| 1Y Return | +10.93% | +20.00%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +18.98% | +20.95%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +8.31% | +11.81%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 19.2% | 15.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -75.5% | -56.6%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $14,905 | $17,474Best |
| Fund Family | John Hancock Investment Management | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Equity-oriented Balanced | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Feb 27, 2004 | May 24, 2001 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Mar 31, 2004 to Sep 4, 2026 (22.4 years).
HTD 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 covers the 22.4 years both funds cover.
HTD vs VTI Performance
John Hancock Tax-Advantaged Dividend Income Fund (HTD) 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 HTD returned +10.93% while VTI returned +20.00%. Year to date, HTD is up 11.11% versus a gain of 13.59% for VTI.
Over three years, HTD compounded at +18.98% per year against +20.95% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +8.31% and +11.81% respectively. Across the full 22-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +9.40% annualized vs +2.94%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
HTD has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.2% compared with 15.1% 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 -75.5% for HTD 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 0.64. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
HTD charges 1.96% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $196 vs $3 annually, a gap of $193 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, HTD currently yields 7.17% against 1.07% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 73 holdings in HTD and 2,788 in VTI, totalling 109.3% and 92.3% of the two funds. Neither is a share of a fund we can divide by, so no overlap percentage is shown here. Within what we can see, 47 positions appear in both.
The two holdings books were reported 181 days apart, HTD as of Dec 31, 2025 and VTI as of Jun 30, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
47 positions in common, counted across the 73 positions we hold weights for in HTD and 2,788 in VTI, against full books of 124 and 3,543.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in HTD | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| VZVerizon Communications Inc Com Usd1 | 3.27% | 0.22% | 3.05% |
| AEPAmerican Electric Power Co Inc | 3.32% | 0.10% | 3.22% |
| DUKDuke Energy Corp. | 3.12% | 0.14% | 2.98% |
| KMIKinder Morgan Inc./de | 2.94% | 0.08% | 2.86% |
| AEEAmeren Corp. | 2.93% | 0.04% | 2.89% |
| ETREntergy Corp. | 2.89% | 0.08% | 2.81% |
| SOSouthern Co. | 2.80% | 0.15% | 2.65% |
| PPLPpl Corp. | 2.72% | 0.04% | 2.68% |
| TAt&t, Inc. | 2.55% | 0.20% | 2.35% |
| LNTAlliant Energy Corp. | 2.31% | 0.03% | 2.28% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of HTD 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, HTD or VTI?
HTD has an expense ratio of 1.96% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $193 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, HTD or VTI?
Over the past year HTD returned +10.93% vs +20.00% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (22 years), HTD annualized +2.94% vs +9.40% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, HTD or VTI?
HTD has been the more volatile fund at 19.2% annualized versus 15.1% for VTI. Worst drawdown: HTD -75.5% vs VTI -56.6%.
Should I hold both HTD and VTI?
HTD and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.64, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, HTD or VTI?
HTD yields 7.17% while VTI yields 1.07%, so HTD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than HTD?
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.