JHCR vs SPY
John Hancock Core Bond ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, JHCR or SPY?
Investment Grade Bond against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY 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 | JHCR | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.29% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $2.5B | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 4.26% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 986 | 505 |
| YTD Return | -1.98% | +13.51%Best |
| 1Y Return | -0.87% | +18.19%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +23.29% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +13.21% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 3.8%Best | 12.6% |
| Max Drawdown | -4.1%Best | -18.8% |
| $10,000 over 1.8 years | $10,517 | $13,497Best |
| Fund Family | John Hancock Investment Management | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | Investment Grade Bond | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Dec 18, 2024 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.8 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 18, 2024 to Sep 25, 2026 (1.8 years).
JHCR vs SPY 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 1.8 years both funds cover.
JHCR vs SPY Performance
John Hancock Core Bond ETF (JHCR) is an ETF from John Hancock Investment Management and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year JHCR returned -0.87% while SPY returned +18.19%. Year to date, JHCR is down 1.98% versus a gain of 13.51% for SPY.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 12.6% compared with 3.8% for JHCR. 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 -4.1% for JHCR and -18.8% for SPY. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.19. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
JHCR charges 0.29% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $29 vs $9 annually, a gap of $20 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, JHCR currently yields 4.26% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.2% of SPY's money is in holdings JHCR also owns.
Stated as a floor: for JHCR, our book for it covers 38.6% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
2 positions in common, counted across the 379 positions we hold weights for in JHCR and 504 in SPY, against full books of 986 and 505.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of JHCR and SPY 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, JHCR or SPY?
JHCR has an expense ratio of 0.29% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $20 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, JHCR or SPY?
Over the past year JHCR returned -0.87% vs +18.19% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), JHCR annualized +2.84% vs +18.13% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, JHCR or SPY?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 12.6% annualized versus 3.8% for JHCR. Worst drawdown: JHCR -4.1% vs SPY -18.8%.
Should I hold both JHCR and SPY?
JHCR and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.19, 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, JHCR or SPY?
JHCR yields 4.26% while SPY yields 0.98%, so JHCR currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than JHCR?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY 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.