JHS vs VTI
John Hancock Income Securities Trust vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, JHS or VTI?
Long Term High Quality against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI 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 | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.66% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $144M | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 5.16% | 1.07% |
| Holdings | 881 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | -3.93% | +13.95%Best |
| 1Y Return | -0.42% | +21.44%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +5.82% | +21.10%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -2.39% | +11.77%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 10.9%Best | 15.3% |
| Max Drawdown | -47.8%Best | -56.6% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $8,861 | $17,443Best |
| Fund Family | John Hancock Investment Management | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | Long Term High Quality | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Feb 14, 1973 | May 24, 2001 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: May 31, 2001 to Sep 3, 2026 (25.3 years).
JHS vs VTI 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 VTI Performance
John Hancock Income Securities Trust (JHS) is an ETF from John Hancock Investment Management and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year JHS returned -0.42% while VTI returned +21.44%. Year to date, JHS is down 3.93% versus a gain of 13.95% for VTI.
Over three years, JHS compounded at +5.82% per year against +21.10% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are -2.39% and +11.77% respectively. Across the full 25-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +8.11% annualized vs -0.02%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VTI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.3% compared with 10.9% 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 -47.8% for JHS and -56.6% for VTI. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.35. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
JHS charges 1.66% per year while VTI 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 5.16% against 1.07% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 518 holdings in JHS and 2,787 in VTI, totalling 87.2% and 92.3% 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, 3 positions appear in both.
The two holdings books were reported 150 days apart, JHS as of Jan 31, 2026 and VTI as of Jun 30, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
3 positions in common, counted across the 518 positions we hold weights for in JHS and 2,787 in VTI, against full books of 881 and 3,543.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of JHS and VTI 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 VTI?
JHS has an expense ratio of 1.66% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $163 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, JHS or VTI?
Over the past year JHS returned -0.42% vs +21.44% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (25 years), JHS annualized -0.02% vs +8.11% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, JHS or VTI?
VTI has been the more volatile fund at 15.3% annualized versus 10.9% for JHS. Worst drawdown: JHS -47.8% vs VTI -56.6%.
Should I hold both JHS and VTI?
JHS and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.35, 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 VTI?
JHS yields 5.16% while VTI yields 1.07%, so JHS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than JHS?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI 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.