HTD vs VXUS
John Hancock Tax-Advantaged Dividend Income Fund vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, HTD or VXUS?
Equity-oriented Balanced against Large Cap Blend.
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. HTD led over the full window, VXUS over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y.
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 | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.96% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $917M | $158.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 7.17% | 2.59% |
| Holdings | 124 | 8,747 |
| YTD Return | +11.11% | +16.15%Best |
| 1Y Return | +10.93% | +27.58%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +18.98% | +20.48%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +8.31% | +9.09%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.8% | 15.0%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -57.6% | -39.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $14,905 | $15,450Best |
| Fund Family | John Hancock Investment Management | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Equity-oriented Balanced | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Feb 27, 2004 | Jan 26, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 28, 2011 to Sep 4, 2026 (15.6 years).
HTD vs VXUS 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 15.6 years both funds cover.
HTD vs VXUS Performance
John Hancock Tax-Advantaged Dividend Income Fund (HTD) is an ETF from John Hancock Investment Management and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year HTD returned +10.93% while VXUS returned +27.58%. Year to date, HTD is up 11.11% versus a gain of 16.15% for VXUS.
Over three years, HTD compounded at +18.98% per year against +20.48% for VXUS; over five years the annualized figures are +8.31% and +9.09% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, HTD has the edge at +6.02% annualized vs +4.93%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
HTD has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.8% compared with 15.0% for VXUS. 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 -57.6% for HTD and -39.9% for VXUS. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.61. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
HTD charges 1.96% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $196 vs $5 annually, a gap of $191 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, HTD currently yields 7.17% against 2.59% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 73 holdings in HTD and 8,092 in VXUS, totalling 109.3% and 87.5% 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, 5 positions appear in both.
The two holdings books were reported 181 days apart, HTD as of Dec 31, 2025 and VXUS as of Jun 30, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
5 positions in common, counted across the 73 positions we hold weights for in HTD and 8,092 in VXUS, against full books of 124 and 8,747.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of HTD and VXUS 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 VXUS?
HTD has an expense ratio of 1.96% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $191 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, HTD or VXUS?
Over the past year HTD returned +10.93% vs +27.58% for VXUS, so VXUS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), HTD annualized +6.02% vs +4.93% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, HTD or VXUS?
HTD has been the more volatile fund at 16.8% annualized versus 15.0% for VXUS. Worst drawdown: HTD -57.6% vs VXUS -39.9%.
Should I hold both HTD and VXUS?
HTD and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.61, 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 VXUS?
HTD yields 7.17% while VXUS yields 2.59%, so HTD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than HTD?
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. HTD led over the full window, VXUS over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.