PDT vs RILA
John Hancock Premium Dividend Fund vs Indexperts Gorilla Aggressive Growth ETF
Which is better, PDT or RILA?
RILA has been ahead.
RILA has a lower expense ratio. RILA led over 1Y 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 | RILA |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 2.41% | 0.50%Best |
| AUM | $656M | $46M |
| Dividend Yield | 7.68% | 0.12% |
| Holdings | 154 | 342 |
| YTD Return | -2.10% | +6.72%Best |
| 1Y Return | -4.22% | +4.95%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +16.15% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +0.54% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 9.4%Best | 15.0% |
| Max Drawdown | -19.4%Best | -20.0% |
| $10,000 over 1.8 years | $10,604 | $12,275Best |
| Fund Family | John Hancock Investment Management | Indexperts |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Allocation/Balanced |
| Style | Equity-oriented Balanced | Equity-oriented Balanced |
| Inception | Dec 21, 1989 | Dec 31, 2024 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.8 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 2, 2025 to Oct 14, 2026 (1.8 years).
PDT vs RILA 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 1.8 years both funds cover.
PDT vs RILA Performance
John Hancock Premium Dividend Fund (PDT) is an ETF from John Hancock Investment Management and Indexperts Gorilla Aggressive Growth ETF (RILA) is an ETF from Indexperts. Over the past year PDT returned -4.22% while RILA returned +4.95%. Year to date, PDT is down 2.10% versus a gain of 6.72% for RILA.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
RILA has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.0% compared with 9.4% for PDT. 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 -19.4% for PDT and -20.0% for RILA. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.01. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PDT charges 2.41% per year while RILA charges 0.50%. On a $10,000 position that is $241 vs $50 annually, a gap of $191 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PDT currently yields 7.68% against 0.12% for RILA.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 120 holdings in PDT and 171 in RILA, totalling 81.0% and 100.0% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
The two holdings books were reported 63 days apart, PDT as of Jul 31, 2026 and RILA as of Oct 2, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
0 positions in common, counted across the 120 positions we hold weights for in PDT and 171 in RILA, against full books of 154 and 342.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of PDT and RILA 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 RILA?
PDT has an expense ratio of 2.41% while RILA charges 0.50%. RILA is the cheaper option, by $191 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, PDT or RILA?
Over the past year PDT returned -4.22% vs +4.95% for RILA, so RILA leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), PDT annualized +3.31% vs +12.06% for RILA. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PDT or RILA?
RILA has been the more volatile fund at 15.0% annualized versus 9.4% for PDT. Worst drawdown: PDT -19.4% vs RILA -20.0%.
Should I hold both PDT and RILA?
PDT and RILA have a monthly-return correlation of 0.01, 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, PDT or RILA?
PDT yields 7.68% while RILA yields 0.12%, so PDT currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is RILA better than PDT?
RILA has a lower expense ratio. RILA led over 1Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.