Is John Hancock Multifactor Large Cap ETF (JHML) Currently a Top ETF Choice?

Overview of John Hancock Multifactor Large Cap ETF (JHML)

Launched on September 28, 2015, the John Hancock Multifactor Large Cap ETF (JHML) is a smart beta exchange-traded fund that provides investors with broad access to the Large Cap Blend segment of the market.

Understanding Smart Beta ETFs

Traditionally, the ETF landscape has been shaped by funds that track market capitalization-weighted indexes, which are designed to mirror the performance of the overall market or specific sectors.

For those who trust in the efficiency of the market, these cap-weighted indexes offer a cost-effective, straightforward, and transparent way to achieve market-like returns.

On the other hand, some investors aim to outperform the market by selecting funds that follow alternative, non-cap-weighted strategies—commonly known as smart beta funds.

Smart beta indexes select stocks based on certain fundamental factors or a blend of such criteria, with the goal of enhancing risk-adjusted returns.

Investors can choose from various methodologies in this space, such as equal weighting, fundamental weighting, or approaches based on volatility and momentum. However, not every strategy guarantees better performance.

Fund Management and Benchmark

JHML is managed by John Hancock and has accumulated over $1.05 billion in assets, making it a significant player among Large Cap Blend ETFs. The fund seeks to replicate the performance of the John Hancock Dimensional Large Cap Index before fees and expenses.

This benchmark index includes a selection of U.S. companies whose market capitalizations exceed that of the 801st largest U.S. firm.

Fees and Expenses

When choosing an ETF, cost is a crucial consideration. Lower-cost funds can outperform more expensive ones when other factors are equal.

JHML charges an annual operating expense ratio of 0.29%, which is competitive with similar ETFs in its category.

The fund’s trailing 12-month dividend yield stands at 1.05%.

Sector Allocation and Leading Holdings

ETFs generally provide diversified exposure, reducing the risk tied to individual stocks. Examining a fund’s holdings can offer valuable insights, and most ETFs, including JHML, disclose their portfolios daily.

JHML allocates the largest portion of its assets—approximately 25.4%—to the Information Technology sector, with Financials and Industrials also making up significant portions of the portfolio.

Among individual holdings, Nvidia Corp (NVDA) represents about 4.11% of the fund’s assets, followed by Apple Inc (AAPL) and Alphabet Inc Class A (GOOGL).

The top ten holdings collectively account for roughly 23.9% of the fund’s total assets.

Performance and Risk Profile

Year-to-date, JHML has gained around 0.65%, and over the past year (as of March 12, 2026), it has risen by approximately 21.7%. During the last 52 weeks, its share price has ranged from $59.74 to $82.74.

With a beta of 0.98 and a three-year standard deviation of 13.94%, JHML presents a moderate risk profile. The fund holds about 785 different stocks, providing broad diversification and reducing company-specific risk.

Other ETF Options

JHML is a strong contender for those looking to outperform the Large Cap Blend category, but there are alternative ETFs to consider.

For example, the iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV) and the Vanguard 500 Index Fund ETF Shares (VOO) both track the S&P 500 Index. IVV manages $733.47 billion in assets, while VOO oversees $858.99 billion. Both have an expense ratio of 0.03%.

Investors seeking lower costs and reduced risk may prefer traditional market cap-weighted ETFs that aim to mirror the returns of the Large Cap Blend segment.

Conclusion

To explore more about JHML and other ETFs, use screening tools to find products that align with your investment goals and stay updated with the latest ETF news and insights.