John Hancock Tax-Advantaged Dividend Income Fund

HTD

Market cap $880M

For those who adopt a dividend strategy, having a “thermometer” with which to measure the real performance of our stocks is an immense advantage. This thermometer is NAV, a simple line on a graph that anyone can observe and understand without the need for calculations or interpretations. If it grows over the years, it means that the security earned its distributions: if it goes down, it means that it paid them at the expense of NAV.

September was another strong month for equity indexes despite it historically being a weaker month, meaning we were able to buck that seasonality trend. The Fed cut 25 basis points last month and is expected to cut more going forward, which could help to keep optimism and momentum in equities. Pushing into all-time highs, I tend to allow cash to build up for the next downturn, but I still add every month regardless to help build up my cash flow.

The John Hancock Tax-Advantaged Dividend Fund is a closed-end fund that invests globally in equities and preferred securities of U.S. and non-U.S. companies. What makes this fund attractive for income investors is that it has been a consistent payer of income that has rarely been reduced. Also, it provides decent growth over the long term. For existing holders and conservative income investors, HTD is a solid 'hold' for a reliable stream of income and decent growth. New investors should accumulate on a dollar-cost-average basis.

John Hancock Tax-Advantaged Dividend Income Fund offers high-yield, tax-friendly income from utilities, financials, energy, and communications sectors. HTD trades at a -7% discount to NAV, with strong total return potential and benefits from lower interest rates, especially in utilities and financials. The fund boasts a 6.92% market yield, reliable monthly dividends, and impressive long-term performance, outperforming most peers over five years.

The John Hancock Tax-Advantaged Dividend Income Fund offers a stable monthly yield of ~7.66%, primarily from utilities and preferred stocks. HTD employs ~32% leverage to enhance returns, with a focus on qualified dividends for favorable tax treatment in taxable accounts. Despite leverage, HTD has shown no systematic NAV erosion over the past decade, though entry timing impacts capital appreciation potential.

John Hancock Tax-Advantaged Dividend Income Fund remains a "Buy" due to its strong, steady monthly distribution. HTD's portfolio emphasizes utilities, preferreds, and corporate bonds, benefiting from lower rates and potential AI-driven utility demand. The recent distribution increase brings the yield to 7.76%, with coverage supported by capital gains and easing borrowing costs as the Fed cuts rates.

John Hancock Tax-Advantaged Dividend Income Fund offers a diversified, income-focused portfolio with a 7.66% forward yield and strong utility sector exposure. HTD's portfolio is heavily weighted toward utilities and financials, benefiting from rising power demand driven by AI data center expansion. Despite its appealing distribution and tax advantages, HTD charges a high expense ratio and has underperformed peer funds like EOS and EVT.

BOSTON , Oct. 1, 2025 /PRNewswire/ - The John Hancock closed-end funds listed below declared their monthly distributions today as follows: Declaration Date:         October 1, 2025 Ex Date:                       October 14, 2025Record Date:                October 14, 2025 Payment Date:             October 31, 2025 Ticker Fund Name Distribution Per Share  Change From PreviousDistribution Market Price as of 9/30/2025 Annualized Current DistributionRate at Market HPI Preferred Income Fund I $0.1235 - $17.35 8.54 % HPF Preferred Income Fund II $0.1235 - $16.85 8.80 % HPS Preferred Income Fund III $0.1100 - $15.44 8.55 % PDT Premium Dividend Fund $0.0825 - $13.34 7.42 % HTD Tax-Advantaged Dividend Income Fund $0.1580 - $24.80 7.65 % John Hancock Premium Dividend Fund Premium Dividend Fund (the "Fund") declared its monthly distribution pursuant to the Fund's managed distribution plan (the "PDT Plan"). Under the PDT Plan, the Fund makes monthly distributions of an amount equal to $0.0825 per share.

BOSTON , Sept. 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ - John Hancock Tax-Advantaged Dividend Income Fund (NYSE: HTD) (the "Fund"), a closed-end fund managed by John Hancock Investment Management LLC and subadvised by Manulife Investment Management (US) LLC, announced today sources of its monthly distribution of $0.1580 per share paid to all shareholders of record as of September 12, 2025, pursuant to the Fund's managed distribution plan.

BOSTON , Sept. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ - The nine John Hancock closed-end funds listed below announced today that each fund's Annual Meeting of Shareholders ("Annual Meeting") will be held on February 17, 2026, at 2:00 p.m.