ETF Evaluator:
JHancock Multifactor Small Cap ETF ()
Follow This ETF
(as of Aug 26)
Best Performing in Small Blend Over the Last Year
| 55.4% | Invesco NASDAQ Future Gen 200 ETF (QQQS) |
| 45.8% | iShares Micro-Cap ETF (IWC) |
| 45.6% | First Trust Small Cap Core AlphaDEX® ETF (FYX) |
| 43.8% | Fidelity Enhanced Small Cap Core ETF (FESM) |
| 38.9% | Inspire Small/Mid Cap ETF (ISMD) |
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ETF Details
JHancock Multifactor Small Cap ETF Overview
JHancock Multifactor Small Cap ETF (JHSC) is a passively managed U.S. Equity Small Blend exchange-traded fund (ETF). John Hancock launched the ETF in 2017.
The investment seeks to provide investment results that closely correspond, before fees and expenses, to the performance of the John Hancock Dimensional Small Cap Index (the index).
The fund normally invests at least 80% of its net assets (plus any borrowings for investment purposes) in securities that compose the fund's index. The index is designed to comprise a subset of securities in the U.S. Universe issued by companies whose market capitalizations are smaller than the 750th largest U.S. company but excluding the smallest 4% of U.S. companies at the time of reconstitution.
About JHancock Multifactor Small Cap ETF (JHSC)
There are 3 members of the management team with an average tenure of 4.25 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: Russell 3000 TR USD index with a weighting of 100% and JH Dimensional Small Cap TR USD index with a weighting of 100%. JHancock Multifactor Small Cap ETF has 502 securities in its portfolio. The top 10 holdings constitute 5.1% 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 Small Cap ETF is part of the Equity global asset class and is within the U.S. Equity ETF group. JHancock Multifactor Small Cap ETF has 1.3% of its portfolio invested in foreign issues. The overall assets allocated to domestic stock is 98.3% There is 1.3% 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 Small Cap ETF has 0.5% of the portfolio in cash.
Assets Under Management
The fund has $724 million in total assets, which is below the $4 billion average for the Small Blend 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.
JHSC 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 Small Cap ETF expense ratio is average compared to funds in the Small Blend category. JHancock Multifactor Small Cap ETF has an expense ratio of 0.42%, which is 1% 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 Small Cap ETF has a portfolio turnover rate of 43%, which indicates that it holds its assets around / 0.0 years. By way of comparison, the average portfolio turnover is 50% for the Small Blend category.
Recently, in the month of July 2026, JHancock Multifactor Small Cap ETF returned -0.6%, which earned it a grade of B, as the Small Blend category had an average return of -2.1%. 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 Small Cap ETF has a trailing yield of 1.01%, which is below the 1.17% 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 Small Cap ETF Grades
Year to date, the ETF has returned 15.6%, 2.3 percentage points worse than the category, which translates into a grade of D. The fund has returned 23.3% over the past year (grade of D), 12.5% over the past three years (grade of D) and 7.9% per year over the past five years (grade of C).
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JHSC 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 |
|
| JHSC Return (NAV) | -0.6% | 4.4% | 23.3% | 12.5% | 7.9% | na |
| JHSC Return (Price) | -0.7% | 4.4% | 23.0% | 12.5% | 7.9% | na |
| NAV +/- Price Return | 0.066% | -0.009% | 0.245% | 0.001% | 0.020% | na |
| Small Blend Avg | -2.1% | 5.7% | 28.5% | 14.0% | 8.0% | 10.8% |
| JHSC Grade (NAV) | B | D | D | D | C | na |
| +/- Category (NAV) | 1.5% | -1.3% | -5.2% | -1.5% | -0.1% | na |
| JHSC Tax-Cost Ratio | na | na | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.3% | na |
JHSC Annual NAV Total ReturnsData as of 7/31/26
| 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |
| JHSC Return (NAV) | 15.6% | 6.9% | 9.6% | 20.6% | -14.6% | 19.6% | 11.4% | 24.5% | -12.1% | na | na |
| JHSC Return (Price) | 15.3% | 6.9% | 9.7% | 20.8% | -14.7% | 19.5% | 11.6% | 24.4% | -12.5% | na | na |
| NAV +/- Price Ret | -0.020% | -0.007% | 0.015% | 0.009% | 0.006% | -0.001% | 0.015% | -0.3% | 3.1% | na | na |
| Small Blend Avg | 18.0% | 8.7% | 11.7% | 16.3% | -15.9% | 24.0% | 12.7% | 24.8% | -9.2% | 14.4% | 19.6% |
| JHSC Grade (NAV) | D | D | D | A | B | D | C | C | F | na | na |
| +/- Category | -2.3% | -1.8% | -2.1% | 4.3% | 1.3% | -4.4% | -1.2% | -0.3% | -2.9% | na | na |
| Risk Measures | |
| Beta: | 1.05 |
| R-Squared: | 62% |
| Standard Deviation: | 17.3% |
| Category Risk Index: | 0.95 |
| Category Risk Rating: | Below Average |
| Total Risk Index: | 1.41 |
| Total Risk Rating: | Above Average |
| Portfolio Characteristics | |
| Yield: | 1.0% |
| Total Assets: | $ 724 Mil |
| Share Class Assets: | $ 724 Mil |
| Turnover: | 43.0% |
| Expense Ratio: | 0.42% |
| Index Fund: | Yes |
| Index Tracked: | Russell 3000 TR 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: 4.3 years | |||
| Managers (Year): Hohn Joseph (2018), Chen Rita (2022), Marrkand Michael (2025) | |||
Portfolio Composition (as of 7/31/26)
| # of Holdings: | 502 |
| % in Top 10 Holdings: | 5.1% |
| Fund is Non-Diversified: | No |
| % in Foreign Issues: | 1.3% |
Portfolio Allocation |
|
| Domestic Stock: | 98.3% |
| Foreign Stock: | 1.3% |
| Preferred Stock: | 0.0% |
| Domestic Bond: | 0.0% |
| Foreign Bond: | 0.0% |
| Convertible Bond: | 0.0% |
| Other: | 0.0% |
| Cash: | 0.5% |
Purchase Information
| Legal Structure: | Open Ended Investment Company |
| Fund Family: | John Hancock |
| Phone Number: | 800-225-6020 |
| Website: | www.jhfunds.com |
| Inception Date: | November 8, 2017 |
Expenses and Fees
| Expense Ratio (%): | 0.42% (Rating: Avg) |
| Category Average Expense Ratio (%): | 0.42% |
