Fund Evaluator:
JHancock Balanced R2 (JBATX)
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Best Performing in Moderate Allocation Over the Last Year
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Fund Details
JHancock Balanced R2 Overview
JHancock Balanced R2 (JBATX) is an actively managed Allocation Moderate Allocation fund. John Hancock launched the fund in 2012.
The investment seeks current income, long-term growth of capital and income and preservation of capital. Under normal market conditions, the fund invests at least 25% of assets in equity securities and at least 25% of assets in senior debt securities. The fund allocates its investments among a diversified mix of debt and equity securities, including securities of other investment companies that invest in debt and equity securities.
About JHancock Balanced R2 (JBATX)
There are 3 members of the management team with an average tenure of 12.64 years: Susan Curry (2019), Michael Scanlon (2015), Jeffrey Given (2006). Management tenure is more important for actively managed funds than passive index funds.
The fund has 2 primary benchmarks: S&P 500 (TR) (1970) index with a weighting of 100% and Bloomberg US Agg Bond TR USD index with a weighting of 100%. JHancock Balanced R2 has 1163 securities in its portfolio. The top 10 holdings constitute 26.0% of the fund’s assets. The fund meets the SEC requirement of being classified as a diversified fund. The fund is not considered to have an ESG focus with its investment selection and management.
JHancock Balanced R2 is part of the Allocation global asset class and is within the Allocation fund group. JHancock Balanced R2 has 8.4% of its portfolio invested in foreign issues. The overall assets allocated to domestic stock is 52.2%. There is 4.5% allocated to foreign stock, and 0.6% is allocated to preferred stocks. The bond allocation as a percentage of total assets is 42.3% (38.5% domestic bond, 3.9% foreign bond and 0.1% convertible bond). JHancock Balanced R2 has 0.2% of the portfolio in cash.
Assets Under Management
The fund has $9 million in total assets, which is below the $2 billion average for the Moderate Allocation 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.
JBATX 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 Balanced R2 expense ratio is high compared to funds in the Moderate Allocation category. JHancock Balanced R2 has an expense ratio of 1.11%, which is 12% higher than its category average, making the fund expense ratio grade a D. 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 Balanced R2 has a portfolio turnover rate of 71%, indicating that holds its assets around 0.0 years. By way of comparison, the average portfolio turnover is 52% for the Moderate Allocation category.
Recently, in the month of July 2026, JHancock Balanced R2 returned -0.3%, which earned it a grade of C, as the Moderate Allocation category had an average return of -0.3%. 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 funds in that category.
JHancock Balanced R2 has a trailing yield of 1.37%, which is below the 1.97% category average. The fund normally distributes its income quarterly and its capital gains 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 Balanced R2 Grades
Year to date, the fund has returned 10.4%, 4.0 percentage points better than the category, which translates into a grade of A. The fund has returned 19.1% over the past year (grade of A), 14.9% over the past three years (grade of A) and 8.4% per year over the past five years (grade of A) and 9.7% per year over the past 10 years (grade of A).
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JBATX 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 |
|
| JBATX Return (NAV) | -0.3% | 3.5% | 19.1% | 14.9% | 8.4% | 9.7% |
| JBATX Grade | C | A | A | A | A | A |
| +/- Category | -0.1% | 1.4% | 6.1% | 2.9% | 1.7% | 1.2% |
| Moderate Allocation Avg | -0.3% | 2.1% | 13.1% | 12.0% | 6.6% | 8.5% |
| JBATX Tax Cost Ratio | na | na | 2.9% | 1.5% | 1.1% | 1.1% |
JBATX Annual NAV Total ReturnsData as of 7/31/26
| 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |
| JBATX Return (NAV) | 10.4% | 15.6% | 13.2% | 18.2% | -15.9% | 14.4% | 15.8% | 21.2% | -5.0% | 13.8% | 8.0% |
| JBATX Grade | A | B | B | A | D | C | B | B | C | C | B |
| +/- Category | 4.0% | 2.2% | 0.9% | 3.9% | -1.9% | 0.0% | 2.9% | 1.4% | 0.0% | -0.0% | 0.3% |
| Moderate Allocation Avg | 6.4% | 13.4% | 12.2% | 14.3% | -14.0% | 14.4% | 12.9% | 19.8% | -5.1% | 13.8% | 7.7% |
| Risk Measures | |
| Standard Deviation: | 9.3% |
| Total Risk Index: | 0.76 - Below Average |
| Category Risk Index: | 1.01 - Average |
| Category Risk Grade: | C (52% Rank) |
| Beta: | 0.90 |
| R-Squared: | 82% |
| Leveraged Fund: | No |
| Inverse Fund: | No |
| Portfolio Characteristics | |
| Equity Investment Style: | Large-Cap Blend |
| Bond Investment Style: | High Quality Moderate Sensitivity |
| Yield: | 1.4% |
| Dividend Distribution: | Quarterly |
| Cap Gains Distribution: | Annually |
| Total Assets: | $6917 Mil |
| Fund Total Assets: | $ 10 Mil |
| Share Class Type: | Retirement |
| Portfolio Turnover: | 71% |
Management Team
| Number of Managers: 3 | |||
| Longest Tenure: 20.2 years | |||
| Average Tenure: 12.6 years | |||
| Managers (Year): Given Jeffrey (2006), Scanlon Michael (2015), Curry Susan (2019) | |||
Portfolio Composition (as of 5/31/26)
| # of Holdings: | 1163 |
| % in Top 10 Holdings: | 26.0% |
| Fund is Non-Diversified: | No |
| % in Foreign Issues: | 8.4% |
Portfolio Allocation |
|
| Domestic Stock: | 52.2% |
| Foreign Stock: | 4.5% |
| Preferred Stock: | 0.6% |
| Domestic Bond: | 38.5% |
| Foreign Bond: | 3.9% |
| Convertible Bond: | 0.1% |
| Other: | 0.0% |
| Cash: | 0.2% |
Purchase Information
| Fund Family: | John Hancock |
| Phone Number: | 888-972-8696 |
| Website: | www.jhfunds.com |
| Status: | Open |
| Inception Date: | March 1, 2012 |
| Min. Initial Purchase: | $ 0 |
| Min. Initial IRA Purchase: | $ 0 |
| True No-Load: | Yes |
| Front Load Maximum: | 0.00% |
| Deferred Charge Maximum: | 0.00% |
| Redemption Charge Maximum: | 0.00% |
| 12b-1 Fee: | 0.25% |
Expenses and Fees | |
| Expense Ratio (%): | 1.11% ( Rating : High ) |
| Category Average Expense Ratio (%): | 0.99% |
| Share Class: | JHancock Balanced A |
| Min. Subsequent Purchase: | $ 0 |
| Min. Subsequent IRA Purchase: | $ 0 |
