HPS vs VXUS
John Hancock Preferred Income Fund III vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, HPS or VXUS?
Preferred Stock against Large Cap Blend.
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. VXUS 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 | HPS | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.81% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $404M | $163.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 10.43% | 2.34% |
| Holdings | 175 | 8,844 |
| YTD Return | -15.13% | +10.00%Best |
| 1Y Return | -18.20% | +17.01%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +6.21% | +19.55%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -1.79% | +8.55%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.2% | 15.0%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -53.9% | -39.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $9,136 | $15,071Best |
| Fund Family | John Hancock Investment Management | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Preferred Stock | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jun 18, 2003 | Jan 26, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 28, 2011 to Oct 14, 2026 (15.7 years).
HPS vs VXUS 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 15.7 years both funds cover.
HPS vs VXUS Performance
John Hancock Preferred Income Fund III (HPS) is an ETF from John Hancock Investment Management and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year HPS returned -18.20% while VXUS returned +17.01%. Year to date, HPS is down 15.13% versus a gain of 10.00% for VXUS.
Over three years, HPS compounded at +6.21% per year against +19.55% for VXUS; over five years the annualized figures are -1.79% and +8.55% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, VXUS has the edge at +4.53% annualized vs +0.99%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
HPS has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.2% compared with 15.0% for VXUS. 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 -53.9% for HPS and -39.9% for VXUS. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.57. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
HPS charges 1.81% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $181 vs $5 annually, a gap of $176 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, HPS currently yields 10.43% against 2.34% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
At least 7.0% of HPS's money is in holdings VXUS also owns.
Stated as a floor: for VXUS, our book for it covers 91.3% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
HPS and VXUS share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 185 days apart, HPS as of Feb 27, 2026 and VXUS as of Aug 31, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
7 positions in common, counted across the 95 positions we hold weights for in HPS and 8,425 in VXUS, against full books of 175 and 8,844.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in HPS | Weight in VXUS | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| DTE:FFDeutsche Telekom AG Deutsche Telekom Agnamens Aktien O N | 1.29% | 0.25% | 1.04% |
| TPG:AUVodafone Hutchison Finance Pty Ltd | 1.39% | 0.00% | 1.39% |
| HBANHuntington Bancshares Inc./Oh | 1.08% | 0.04% | 1.04% |
| STX:IESeagate Technolo | 1.10% | 0.00% | 1.10% |
| UBSG:SMUbs Group Ag Ordinary Shares | 0.68% | 0.37% | 0.31% |
| CM:CACanadian Imperial Bank Of Commerce | 0.67% | 0.23% | 0.44% |
| OFSS:MBOracle Financial Services | 0.78% | 0.01% | 0.77% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of HPS and VXUS 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, HPS or VXUS?
HPS has an expense ratio of 1.81% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $176 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, HPS or VXUS?
Over the past year HPS returned -18.20% vs +17.01% for VXUS, so VXUS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), HPS annualized +0.99% vs +4.53% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, HPS or VXUS?
HPS has been the more volatile fund at 15.2% annualized versus 15.0% for VXUS. Worst drawdown: HPS -53.9% vs VXUS -39.9%.
Should I hold both HPS and VXUS?
HPS and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.57, 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 HPS and VXUS?
At least 7.0% of HPS's money is in holdings VXUS also owns. Our book for VXUS is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 7 positions in common, counted across the 95 positions we hold weights for in HPS and 8,425 in VXUS.
Which pays a higher dividend, HPS or VXUS?
HPS yields 10.43% while VXUS yields 2.34%, so HPS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than HPS?
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. VXUS 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.