JHS vs VOO
John Hancock Income Securities Trust vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, JHS or VOO?
Long Term High Quality against Large Cap Blend.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y, 3Y, 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 | JHS | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.66% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $144M | $997.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 5.15% | 1.04% |
| Holdings | 881 | 509 |
| YTD Return | -6.10% | +12.37%Best |
| 1Y Return | -5.02% | +16.61%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +5.39% | +21.37%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -3.07% | +13.49%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 9.7%Best | 14.1% |
| Max Drawdown | -39.5% | -34.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $8,556 | $18,827Best |
| Fund Family | John Hancock Investment Management | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | Long Term High Quality | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Feb 14, 1973 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 9, 2010 to Sep 18, 2026 (16 years).
JHS vs VOO 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 is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.
JHS vs VOO Performance
John Hancock Income Securities Trust (JHS) is an ETF from John Hancock Investment Management and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year JHS returned -5.02% while VOO returned +16.61%. Year to date, JHS is down 6.10% versus a gain of 12.37% for VOO.
Over three years, JHS compounded at +5.39% per year against +21.37% for VOO; over five years the annualized figures are -3.07% and +13.49% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, VOO has the edge at +13.39% annualized vs -0.35%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VOO has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.1% compared with 9.7% for JHS. 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 -39.5% for JHS and -34.3% for VOO. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.45. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
JHS charges 1.66% per year while VOO charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $166 vs $3 annually, a gap of $163 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, JHS currently yields 5.15% against 1.04% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.2% of VOO's money is in holdings JHS also owns.
Stated as a floor: for JHS, our book for it covers 87.2% 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.
The two holdings books were reported 181 days apart, JHS as of Jan 31, 2026 and VOO as of Jul 31, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
2 positions in common, counted across the 518 positions we hold weights for in JHS and 494 in VOO, against full books of 881 and 509.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of JHS and VOO 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, JHS or VOO?
JHS has an expense ratio of 1.66% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $163 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, JHS or VOO?
Over the past year JHS returned -5.02% vs +16.61% for VOO, so VOO leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), JHS annualized -0.35% vs +13.39% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, JHS or VOO?
VOO has been the more volatile fund at 14.1% annualized versus 9.7% for JHS. Worst drawdown: JHS -39.5% vs VOO -34.3%.
Should I hold both JHS and VOO?
JHS and VOO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.45, 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, JHS or VOO?
JHS yields 5.15% while VOO yields 1.04%, so JHS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than JHS?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.