JHLN vs SPY
John Hancock Global Senior Loan ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, JHLN or SPY?
Bank Loan 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 | JHLN | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.62% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $640M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 5.46% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 466 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +2.29% | +12.47%Best |
| 1Y Return | +3.44% | +17.51%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +21.18% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.88% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 2.4%Best | 12.8% |
| Max Drawdown | -1.5%Best | -8.9% |
| $10,000 over 1.1 years | $10,366 | $12,200Best |
| Fund Family | John Hancock Investment Management | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | Bank Loan | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Aug 20, 2025 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.1 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Aug 20, 2025 to Sep 11, 2026 (1.1 years).
JHLN 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 1.1 years both funds cover.
JHLN vs SPY Performance
John Hancock Global Senior Loan ETF (JHLN) 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 JHLN returned +3.44% while SPY returned +17.51%. Year to date, JHLN is up 2.29% versus a gain of 12.47% 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 12.8% compared with 2.4% for JHLN. 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 -1.5% for JHLN and -8.9% 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 0.76. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
JHLN charges 0.62% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $62 vs $9 annually, a gap of $53 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, JHLN currently yields 5.46% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 124 holdings in JHLN and 504 in SPY, totalling 72.8% and 100.0% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
The two holdings books were reported 126 days apart, JHLN as of Mar 31, 2026 and SPY as of Aug 4, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
0 positions in common, counted across the 124 positions we hold weights for in JHLN and 504 in SPY, against full books of 466 and 505.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of JHLN 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, JHLN or SPY?
JHLN has an expense ratio of 0.62% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $53 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, JHLN or SPY?
Over the past year JHLN returned +3.44% vs +17.51% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), JHLN annualized +3.32% vs +19.81% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, JHLN or SPY?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 12.8% annualized versus 2.4% for JHLN. Worst drawdown: JHLN -1.5% vs SPY -8.9%.
Should I hold both JHLN and SPY?
JHLN and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.76, 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, JHLN or SPY?
JHLN yields 5.46% while SPY yields 0.98%, so JHLN currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than JHLN?
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.