JHCP vs VXUS
John Hancock Core Plus Bond ETF vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, JHCP or VXUS?
Investment Grade Bond against Large Cap Blend.
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. VXUS led over 1Y 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 | JHCP | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.36% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $280M | $158.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 4.56% | 2.59% |
| Holdings | 1,810 | 8,747 |
| YTD Return | -0.45% | +15.71%Best |
| 1Y Return | +0.45% | +25.07%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +20.30% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +9.21% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 3.3%Best | 11.2% |
| Max Drawdown | -3.1%Best | -13.6% |
| $10,000 over 1.7 years | $10,663 | $15,482Best |
| Fund Family | John Hancock Investment Management | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | Investment Grade Bond | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Dec 18, 2024 | Jan 26, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.7 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 18, 2024 to Sep 8, 2026 (1.7 years).
JHCP 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 1.7 years both funds cover.
JHCP vs VXUS Performance
John Hancock Core Plus Bond ETF (JHCP) 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 JHCP returned +0.45% while VXUS returned +25.07%. Year to date, JHCP is down 0.45% versus a gain of 15.71% for VXUS.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VXUS has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 11.2% compared with 3.3% for JHCP. 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 -3.1% for JHCP and -13.6% 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 0.57. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
JHCP charges 0.36% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $36 vs $5 annually, a gap of $31 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, JHCP currently yields 4.56% against 2.59% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 412 holdings in JHCP and 8,092 in VXUS, totalling 40.4% 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, 1 positions appear in both.
The two holdings books were reported 49 days apart, JHCP as of Aug 18, 2026 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.
1 positions in common, counted across the 412 positions we hold weights for in JHCP and 8,092 in VXUS, against full books of 1,810 and 8,747.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in JHCP | Weight in VXUS | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| BNP:PABnp Paribas Sa | 0.12% | 0.25% | 0.13% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of JHCP 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, JHCP or VXUS?
JHCP has an expense ratio of 0.36% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $31 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, JHCP or VXUS?
Over the past year JHCP returned +0.45% vs +25.07% for VXUS, so VXUS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), JHCP annualized +3.85% vs +29.32% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, JHCP or VXUS?
VXUS has been the more volatile fund at 11.2% annualized versus 3.3% for JHCP. Worst drawdown: JHCP -3.1% vs VXUS -13.6%.
Should I hold both JHCP and VXUS?
JHCP and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.57, 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, JHCP or VXUS?
JHCP yields 4.56% while VXUS yields 2.59%, so JHCP currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than JHCP?
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. VXUS led over 1Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.