PDT vs VYM
John Hancock Premium Dividend Fund vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, PDT or VYM?
Equity-oriented Balanced against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM 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 | PDT | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 2.41% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $690M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 6.95% | 2.24% |
| Holdings | 144 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +2.99% | +14.82%Best |
| 1Y Return | +0.79% | +20.84%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +16.66% | +18.64%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +1.67% | +12.28%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.5% | 14.5%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -62.6% | -58.8%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $10,863 | $17,845Best |
| Fund Family | John Hancock Investment Management | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Equity-oriented Balanced | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Dec 21, 1989 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 16, 2006 to Sep 4, 2026 (19.8 years).
PDT vs VYM 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 19.8 years both funds cover.
PDT vs VYM Performance
John Hancock Premium Dividend Fund (PDT) is an ETF from John Hancock Investment Management and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year PDT returned +0.79% while VYM returned +20.84%. Year to date, PDT is up 2.99% versus a gain of 14.82% for VYM.
Over three years, PDT compounded at +16.66% per year against +18.64% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are +1.67% and +12.28% respectively. Across the full 20-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +7.00% annualized vs +2.86%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
PDT has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.5% compared with 14.5% for VYM. 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 -62.6% for PDT and -58.8% for VYM. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.62. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PDT charges 2.41% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $241 vs $4 annually, a gap of $237 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PDT currently yields 6.95% against 2.24% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
At least 13.8% of VYM's money is in holdings PDT also owns.
Only one direction is shown: for PDT, our book for it lists positions totalling 119.6% of the fund, which is what a leveraged book looks like and is not a denominator we can divide by.
VYM and PDT share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 150 days apart, PDT as of Jan 31, 2026 and VYM as of Jun 30, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
48 positions in common, counted across the 99 positions we hold weights for in PDT and 603 in VYM, against full books of 144 and 613.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in PDT | Weight in VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| VZVerizon Communic | 3.96% | 0.74% | 3.22% |
| WFCWells Fargo & Co. | 2.44% | 1.05% | 1.39% |
| DUKDuke Energy Corp | 2.87% | 0.41% | 2.46% |
| TAT&T Inc | 2.69% | 0.58% | 2.11% |
| BACBank Of America Corp | 1.58% | 1.56% | 0.02% |
| KMIKinder Morgan Inc./de | 2.65% | 0.26% | 2.39% |
| PMPhilip Morris International Inc. | 1.53% | 1.17% | 0.36% |
| FEFirstenergy Corp Sr Unsec | 2.58% | 0.11% | 2.47% |
| AEPAmerican Electric Power Co Inc | 2.37% | 0.31% | 2.06% |
| ETREntergy Corp. | 2.37% | 0.22% | 2.15% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of PDT and VYM 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, PDT or VYM?
PDT has an expense ratio of 2.41% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $237 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, PDT or VYM?
Over the past year PDT returned +0.79% vs +20.84% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (20 years), PDT annualized +2.86% vs +7.00% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PDT or VYM?
PDT has been the more volatile fund at 18.5% annualized versus 14.5% for VYM. Worst drawdown: PDT -62.6% vs VYM -58.8%.
Should I hold both PDT and VYM?
PDT and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.62, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between PDT and VYM?
At least 13.8% of VYM's money is in holdings PDT also owns. Our book for PDT is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 48 positions in common, counted across the 99 positions we hold weights for in PDT and 603 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, PDT or VYM?
PDT yields 6.95% while VYM yields 2.24%, so PDT currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than PDT?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM 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.