ETF Evaluator:
JHancock Multifactor Em Mkts ETF ()
Follow This ETF
(as of Aug 26)
Best Performing in Diversified Emerging Mkts Over the Last Year
| 114.0% | Nomura Focused Emerging Mrkts Eq ETF (EMEQ) |
| 81.0% | FT EM Human Flourishing ETF (FTHF) |
| 68.7% | First Trust Bloomberg Emr Mkt Dem ETF (EMDM) |
| 67.8% | Freedom 100 Emerging Markets ETF (FRDM) |
| 59.4% | Pacific NoS Global EM Equity Active ETF (GEME) |
Risk
Index
Risk
Index
ETF Details
JHancock Multifactor Em Mkts ETF Overview
JHancock Multifactor Em Mkts ETF (JHEM) is a passively managed International Equity Diversified Emerging Mkts exchange-traded fund (ETF). John Hancock launched the ETF in 2018.
The investment seeks to provide investment results that closely correspond, before fees and expenses, to the performance of the John Hancock Dimensional Emerging Markets Index (the index).
The fund normally invests at least 80% of its net assets (plus any borrowings for investment purposes) in securities included in the index, in depositary receipts representing securities included in the index, and in underlying stocks in respect of depositary receipts included in the index. The index is designed to comprise a subset of securities associated with emerging markets, which may include frontier markets (emerging markets in an earlier stage of development).
About JHancock Multifactor Em Mkts ETF (JHEM)
There are 3 members of the management team with an average tenure of 4.23 years: Joseph Hohn (2018), Rita Chen (2022) and Michael Marrkand (2025). Management tenure is more important for actively managed ETFs than passive index ETFs.
The ETF has 2 primary benchmarks: MSCI EM NR USD index with a weighting of 100% and JH Dimensional Emerging Markets TR USD index with a weighting of 100%. JHancock Multifactor Em Mkts ETF has 981 securities in its portfolio. The top 10 holdings constitute 25.5% of the ETF’s assets. The ETF meets the SEC requirement of being classified as a diversified fund. The ETF is not considered to have an ESG focus with its investment selection and management.
JHancock Multifactor Em Mkts ETF is part of the Equity global asset class and is within the International Equity ETF group. JHancock Multifactor Em Mkts ETF has 98.3% of its portfolio invested in foreign issues. The overall assets allocated to domestic stock is 0.7% There is 98.3% allocated to foreign stock, and 0.0% is allocated to preferred stocks. The bond allocation as a percentage of total assets is 0.0% (0.0% domestic bond, 0.0% foreign bond and 0.0% convertible bond). JHancock Multifactor Em Mkts ETF has 0.9% of the portfolio in cash.
Assets Under Management
The fund has $1 billion in total assets, which is below the $3 billion average for the Diversified Emerging Mkts category. Normally, lower assets under management translates to higher average expense ratios, and greater total assets are desired. However, for some investment categories, such as small-cap investing, it may be difficult for the manager to fully employ the desired active strategy if assets grow too large or too quickly.
JHEM Performance and Fees
The expense ratio measures how much of a fund’s assets are used for administrative expenses and operating expenses, including adviser fees and fees for the transfer agent and custodial services. The JHancock Multifactor Em Mkts ETF expense ratio is average compared to funds in the Diversified Emerging Mkts category. JHancock Multifactor Em Mkts ETF has an expense ratio of 0.49%, which is 5% lower than its category average, making the fund expense ratio grade a C. While it is difficult to predict returns, it is known that high annual expense ratios reduce your rate of return, and excessive fees are difficult to overcome. Active management normally comes with higher expense ratios than passive index management. Certain investment categories such as small company and foreign also normally have higher expense ratios. It is best to compare fund expense ratios against the category averages for meaningful assessments.
High portfolio turnover can translate to higher expenses and lower aftertax returns. JHancock Multifactor Em Mkts ETF has a portfolio turnover rate of 23%, which indicates that it holds its assets around / 0.0 years. By way of comparison, the average portfolio turnover is 44% for the Diversified Emerging Mkts category.
Recently, in the month of July 2026, JHancock Multifactor Em Mkts ETF returned -2.7%, which earned it a grade of B, as the Diversified Emerging Mkts category had an average return of -3.0%. The letter grades of A, B, C, D and F are based upon relative rankings within the investment category. A grade of A, for example, would indicate that the return is in the highest 20% for that time period compared to all ETFs in that category.
JHancock Multifactor Em Mkts ETF has a trailing yield of 1.83%, which is below the 2.41% category average.
The fund normally distributes its income semi-annually.
It’s natural to seek the best-performing investments, but you must consider the relationship between risk and return and the impact of costs and taxes on your realized returns.
JHancock Multifactor Em Mkts ETF Grades
Year to date, the ETF has returned 18.4%, 1.3 percentage points better than the category, which translates into a grade of C. The fund has returned 33.6% over the past year (grade of C), 17.1% over the past three years (grade of C) and 8.1% per year over the past five years (grade of B).
For more ETF grades, analysis and screening tools to help your investment discovery, join AAII for a $2, full-access trial. Learn more here: https://invest.aaii.com/membership.
Otherwise, for more information about JHancock Multifactor Em Mkts ETF, including its riskiness, submit your email to unlock the rest of the article.
Gain access to exclusive AAII member-only content.
JHEM Trailing NAV Total Returns Data as of 7/31/26
| Last Month |
Last Quarter |
Ann'l. 1Yr |
Ann'l. 3Yr |
Ann'l. 5Yr |
Ann'l. 10Yr |
|
| JHEM Return (NAV) | -2.7% | 4.2% | 33.6% | 17.1% | 8.1% | na |
| JHEM Return (Price) | -5.3% | 0.7% | 33.0% | 16.7% | 7.7% | na |
| NAV +/- Price Return | 2.612% | 3.447% | 0.596% | 0.464% | 0.398% | na |
| Diversified Emerging Mkts Avg | -3.0% | 3.0% | 31.9% | 16.6% | 7.1% | 7.8% |
| JHEM Grade (NAV) | B | B | C | C | B | na |
| +/- Category (NAV) | 0.3% | 1.2% | 1.7% | 0.6% | 1.0% | na |
| JHEM Tax-Cost Ratio | na | na | 0.7% | 0.8% | 0.9% | na |
JHEM Annual NAV Total ReturnsData as of 7/31/26
| 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |
| JHEM Return (NAV) | 18.4% | 29.4% | 4.7% | 12.7% | -17.4% | 1.7% | 12.4% | 17.3% | na | na | na |
| JHEM Return (Price) | 16.4% | 30.5% | 4.6% | 12.9% | -17.9% | 2.1% | 11.5% | 17.7% | na | na | na |
| NAV +/- Price Ret | -0.110% | 0.039% | -0.026% | 0.019% | 0.032% | 0.210% | -0.072% | 2.4% | na | na | na |
| Diversified Emerging Mkts Avg | 17.1% | 29.2% | 6.7% | 12.8% | -18.8% | 2.3% | 12.7% | 18.2% | -14.6% | 33.7% | 10.9% |
| JHEM Grade (NAV) | C | C | D | C | C | C | C | C | na | na | na |
| +/- Category | 1.3% | 0.1% | -1.9% | -0.1% | 1.4% | -0.6% | -0.3% | -0.9% | na | na | na |
| Risk Measures | |
| Beta: | 1.11 |
| R-Squared: | 82% |
| Standard Deviation: | 17.0% |
| Category Risk Index: | 1.05 |
| Category Risk Rating: | Above Average |
| Total Risk Index: | 1.38 |
| Total Risk Rating: | Above Average |
| Portfolio Characteristics | |
| Yield: | 1.8% |
| Total Assets: | $ 1,002 Mil |
| Share Class Assets: | $ 1,002 Mil |
| Turnover: | 23.0% |
| Expense Ratio: | 0.49% |
| Index Fund: | Yes |
| Index Tracked: | MSCI EM NR USD |
| Index Weighting: | 100% |
| Leveraged: | No |
| Socially Responsible Fund: | No |
| Capital Gains Distribution Frequency: | |
| Income Distribution Frequency: | Semi-Annually |
Management Team
| Number of Managers: 3 | |||
| Longest Tenure: 7.9 years | |||
| Average Tenure: 4.2 years | |||
| Managers (Year): Hohn Joseph (2018), Chen Rita (2022), Marrkand Michael (2025) | |||
Portfolio Composition (as of 7/31/26)
| # of Holdings: | 981 |
| % in Top 10 Holdings: | 25.5% |
| Fund is Non-Diversified: | No |
| % in Foreign Issues: | 98.3% |
Portfolio Allocation |
|
| Domestic Stock: | 0.7% |
| Foreign Stock: | 98.3% |
| Preferred Stock: | 0.0% |
| Domestic Bond: | 0.0% |
| Foreign Bond: | 0.0% |
| Convertible Bond: | 0.0% |
| Other: | 0.0% |
| Cash: | 0.9% |
Purchase Information
| Legal Structure: | Open Ended Investment Company |
| Fund Family: | John Hancock |
| Phone Number: | 800-225-6020 |
| Website: | www.jhfunds.com |
| Inception Date: | September 27, 2018 |
Expenses and Fees
| Expense Ratio (%): | 0.49% (Rating: Avg) |
| Category Average Expense Ratio (%): | 0.52% |
