HTD vs VYM
John Hancock Tax-Advantaged Dividend Income Fund vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, HTD or VYM?
Equity-oriented Balanced against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. HTD led over 3Y, VYM over 1Y, 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 | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.96% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $917M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 7.17% | 2.24% |
| Holdings | 124 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +11.11% | +14.82%Best |
| 1Y Return | +10.93% | +20.84%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +18.98%Best | +18.64% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +8.31% | +12.28%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 19.9% | 14.5%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -75.5% | -58.8%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $14,905 | $17,845Best |
| Fund Family | John Hancock Investment Management | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Equity-oriented Balanced | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Feb 27, 2004 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 16, 2006 to Sep 4, 2026 (19.8 years).
HTD vs VYM 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 19.8 years both funds cover.
HTD vs VYM Performance
John Hancock Tax-Advantaged Dividend Income Fund (HTD) is an ETF from John Hancock Investment Management and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year HTD returned +10.93% while VYM returned +20.84%. Year to date, HTD is up 11.11% versus a gain of 14.82% for VYM.
Over three years, HTD compounded at +18.98% per year against +18.64% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are +8.31% and +12.28% respectively. Across the full 20-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +7.00% annualized vs +3.46%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
HTD has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.9% compared with 14.5% for VYM. 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 -58.8% for VYM. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.70. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
HTD charges 1.96% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $196 vs $4 annually, a gap of $192 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, HTD currently yields 7.17% against 2.24% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
At least 12.8% of VYM's money is in holdings HTD also owns.
Only one direction is shown: for HTD, our book for it lists positions totalling 109.3% of the fund, which is what a leveraged book looks like and is not a denominator we can divide by.
VYM and HTD share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 181 days apart, HTD as of Dec 31, 2025 and VYM as of Jun 30, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
49 positions in common, counted across the 73 positions we hold weights for in HTD and 603 in VYM, against full books of 124 and 613.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in HTD | Weight in VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| BACBank Of America Corp | 4.16% | 1.56% | 2.60% |
| VZVerizon Communic | 3.27% | 0.74% | 2.53% |
| AEPAmerican Electric Power Co Inc | 3.32% | 0.31% | 3.01% |
| DUKDuke Energy Corp | 3.12% | 0.41% | 2.71% |
| SOSouthern Co. | 2.80% | 0.45% | 2.35% |
| KMIKinder Morgan Inc./de | 2.94% | 0.26% | 2.68% |
| TAT&T Inc | 2.55% | 0.58% | 1.97% |
| ETREntergy Corp. | 2.89% | 0.22% | 2.67% |
| AEEAmeren Corp. | 2.93% | 0.13% | 2.80% |
| PPLPpl Corp (Utilities) | 2.72% | 0.11% | 2.61% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of HTD and VYM 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 VYM?
HTD has an expense ratio of 1.96% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $192 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, HTD or VYM?
Over the past year HTD returned +10.93% vs +20.84% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (20 years), HTD annualized +3.46% vs +7.00% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, HTD or VYM?
HTD has been the more volatile fund at 19.9% annualized versus 14.5% for VYM. Worst drawdown: HTD -75.5% vs VYM -58.8%.
Should I hold both HTD and VYM?
HTD and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.70, 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 HTD and VYM?
At least 12.8% of VYM's money is in holdings HTD also owns. Our book for HTD is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 49 positions in common, counted across the 73 positions we hold weights for in HTD and 603 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, HTD or VYM?
HTD yields 7.17% while VYM yields 2.24%, so HTD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than HTD?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. HTD led over 3Y, VYM over 1Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.