JHML vs SPY
John Hancock Multifactor Large Cap ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, JHML or SPY?
Nearly the same fund. SPY costs less.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.98. JHML is less concentrated, with 25.2% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.2%.
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 | JHML | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.29% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $1.2B | $823.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.96% | 0.99% |
| Holdings | 780 | 1,515 |
| YTD Return | +12.96% | +13.53%Best |
| 1Y Return | +17.02% | +17.47%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +20.26% | +22.36%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +11.29% | +13.21%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.3% | 15.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -36.1% | -34.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $17,072 | $18,596Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 25.2%Best | 38.2% |
| Fund Family | John Hancock Investment Management | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Sep 28, 2015 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 30, 2015 to Oct 14, 2026 (11 years).
JHML 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 11 years both funds cover.
JHML vs SPY Performance
John Hancock Multifactor Large Cap ETF (JHML) 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 JHML returned +17.02% while SPY returned +17.47%. Year to date, JHML is up 12.96% versus a gain of 13.53% for SPY.
Over three years, JHML compounded at +20.26% per year against +22.36% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +11.29% and +13.21% respectively. Across the full 11-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +14.21% annualized vs +13.09%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
JHML has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.3% compared with 15.1% for SPY. 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 -36.1% for JHML and -34.1% 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 0.98. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
JHML charges 0.29% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $29 vs $9 annually, a gap of $20 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, JHML currently yields 0.96% against 0.99% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
90.7% of JHML's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 98.8% of SPY's money is in holdings JHML also owns.
Most of SPY is already inside JHML. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
487 positions in common, counted across the 773 positions we hold weights for in JHML and 504 in SPY, against full books of 780 and 1,515.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 11 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for JHML (0.4% of the fund), and 257 for JHML that do not appear in SPY (8.6%).
Some of those will be the same company recorded under a different code in one of the two books, so the real difference in what you would own is no larger than this and may be smaller. We do not name the individual positions here for that reason.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in JHML | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp. | 4.22% | 7.78% | 3.56% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 4.29% | 7.45% | 3.16% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp 4.100 Feb 06 37 | 3.67% | 5.71% | 2.04% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 2.98% | 3.78% | 0.80% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc Cap Stk Cl A | 2.57% | 3.12% | 0.55% |
| METAMeta Platform Inc | 2.03% | 2.22% | 0.19% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 1.70% | 2.48% | 0.78% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc Class C | 0.81% | 2.49% | 1.68% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 1.51% | 1.59% | 0.08% |
| JPMJpmorgan Chase | 1.15% | 1.43% | 0.28% |
98.8% of SPY is already inside JHML.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, JHML or SPY?
JHML has an expense ratio of 0.29% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $20 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, JHML or SPY?
Over the past year JHML returned +17.02% vs +17.47% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (11 years), JHML annualized +13.09% vs +14.21% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, JHML or SPY?
JHML has been the more volatile fund at 15.3% annualized versus 15.1% for SPY. Worst drawdown: JHML -36.1% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both JHML and SPY?
JHML and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.98, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between JHML and SPY?
98.8% of SPY's money is in holdings JHML also owns. 98.8% of SPY's is in holdings JHML also owns. They hold 487 positions in common, counted across the 773 positions we hold weights for in JHML and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, JHML or SPY?
JHML yields 0.96% while SPY yields 0.99%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than JHML?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.98. JHML is less concentrated, with 25.2% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.2%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.