PDT vs VTI
John Hancock Premium Dividend Fund vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, PDT or VTI?
Equity-oriented Balanced 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 | PDT | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 2.41% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $656M | $689.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 7.68% | 1.06% |
| Holdings | 154 | 3,524 |
| YTD Return | -2.10% | +13.02%Best |
| 1Y Return | -4.22% | +16.63%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +16.15% | +21.97%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +0.54% | +11.99%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.7% | 15.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -62.6% | -56.6%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $10,273 | $17,616Best |
| Fund Family | John Hancock Investment Management | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Equity-oriented Balanced | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Dec 21, 1989 | 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 Oct 14, 2026 (25.4 years).
PDT 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 covers the 25.4 years both funds cover.
PDT vs VTI Performance
John Hancock Premium Dividend Fund (PDT) 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 PDT returned -4.22% while VTI returned +16.63%. Year to date, PDT is down 2.10% versus a gain of 13.02% for VTI.
Over three years, PDT compounded at +16.15% per year against +21.97% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +0.54% and +11.99% respectively. Across the full 25-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +8.04% annualized vs +2.13%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
PDT has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.7% compared with 15.3% for VTI. 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 -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 0.54. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PDT charges 2.41% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $241 vs $3 annually, a gap of $238 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PDT currently yields 7.68% against 1.06% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
At least 2.8% of VTI's money is in holdings PDT also owns.
Stated as a floor: for PDT, our book for it covers 81.0% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
VTI and PDT share little of their money.
32 positions in common, counted across the 120 positions we hold weights for in PDT and 3,441 in VTI, against full books of 154 and 3,524.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in PDT | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| VZVerizon Communic | 1.81% | 0.25% | 1.56% |
| DUKDuke Energy Corp | 1.76% | 0.13% | 1.63% |
| DDominion Energy Inc. | 1.73% | 0.08% | 1.65% |
| OGEOge Energy Corp. | 1.79% | 0.01% | 1.78% |
| FEFirstenergy Corp | 1.73% | 0.03% | 1.70% |
| AEPAmerican Electric Power Co Inc | 1.67% | 0.09% | 1.58% |
| KMIKinder Morgan Inc./de | 1.59% | 0.08% | 1.51% |
| EVRGEvergy Inc. | 1.61% | 0.02% | 1.59% |
| ETREntergy Corp. | 1.55% | 0.07% | 1.48% |
| TAT&T Inc. | 1.30% | 0.24% | 1.06% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of PDT 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, PDT or VTI?
PDT has an expense ratio of 2.41% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $238 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, PDT or VTI?
Over the past year PDT returned -4.22% vs +16.63% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (25 years), PDT annualized +2.13% vs +8.04% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PDT or VTI?
PDT has been the more volatile fund at 17.7% annualized versus 15.3% for VTI. Worst drawdown: PDT -62.6% vs VTI -56.6%.
Should I hold both PDT and VTI?
PDT and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.54, 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 VTI?
At least 2.8% of VTI's money is in holdings PDT also owns. Our book for PDT is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 32 positions in common, counted across the 120 positions we hold weights for in PDT and 3,441 in VTI.
Which pays a higher dividend, PDT or VTI?
PDT yields 7.68% while VTI yields 1.06%, so PDT currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than PDT?
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.