John Hancock Fund Declares $0.1235 Monthly Distribution Per Share
- Distribution Announcement: The John Hancock Preferred Income Fund declared a monthly distribution of $0.1235 per share on December 19, 2025, reflecting a decrease from the previous distribution, indicating urgency in meeting the 2025 federal excise tax distribution requirements.
- Payment Schedule: The ex-date and record date are set for December 29, 2025, with payments expected on January 30, 2026, ensuring timely distribution to investors and enhancing investor confidence.
- Source of Distribution: A portion of the current distribution may include sources other than net investment income, such as a return of capital, necessitating careful understanding by investors to avoid tax misinterpretations.
- Future Outlook: The fund anticipates resuming its regular monthly distribution schedule in February 2026, demonstrating management's confidence in future earnings and commitment to investors.
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- Distribution Announcement: The John Hancock Preferred Income Fund declared a monthly distribution of $0.1235 per share on December 19, 2025, reflecting a decrease from the previous distribution, indicating urgency in meeting the 2025 federal excise tax distribution requirements.
- Payment Schedule: The ex-date and record date are set for December 29, 2025, with payments expected on January 30, 2026, ensuring timely distribution to investors and enhancing investor confidence.
- Source of Distribution: A portion of the current distribution may include sources other than net investment income, such as a return of capital, necessitating careful understanding by investors to avoid tax misinterpretations.
- Future Outlook: The fund anticipates resuming its regular monthly distribution schedule in February 2026, demonstrating management's confidence in future earnings and commitment to investors.
- Shareholder Value Enhancement: The Board of Trustees of John Hancock Funds has approved the renewal of share repurchase plans, allowing for the buyback of up to 10% of outstanding shares in 2026 to reduce the discount between market price and net asset value (NAV), thereby enhancing shareholder value.
- Repurchase Plan Details: The plan permits each Fund to repurchase shares in the open market from January 1, 2026, to December 31, 2026, with the Board periodically reviewing and potentially adjusting the terms and size of the plan to ensure its effectiveness.
- Liquidity Improvement: By repurchasing common shares at a discount to NAV, the Funds can not only realize incremental accretion to their NAV but also provide additional liquidity for existing shareholders, enhancing market trading activity.
- HEQ Repurchase Performance: As of December 11, 2025, HEQ has repurchased 34,900 shares, representing 0.29% of outstanding shares, contributing approximately $0.004 to its NAV, demonstrating the Fund's proactive execution of its buyback strategy.

- Share Repurchase Plans: The Board of Trustees of John Hancock Funds has approved the renewal of share repurchase plans, allowing each Fund to repurchase up to 10% of its outstanding shares in 2026, aimed at enhancing shareholder value and reducing the discount between market price and net asset value.
- Liquidity Enhancement: By repurchasing shares in the market at a discount to NAV, the Funds are expected to realize incremental accretion to their NAV, thereby providing additional liquidity and potential benefits to existing shareholders.
- Year-to-Date Repurchase Progress: As of December 11, 2025, the HEQ Fund has repurchased 34,900 shares, representing 0.29% of outstanding shares, contributing approximately $0.004 to its NAV, indicating a proactive repurchase strategy.
- Strategic Review: The Board will periodically review the terms and size of the repurchase plans to ensure flexibility in adapting to market conditions, thereby continuously optimizing shareholder returns and Fund performance.
- Quarterly Distribution Announcement: John Hancock Funds declared its quarterly distribution on December 1, 2025, with HEQ set at $0.25 per share, reflecting a decrease from the previous distribution, indicating the fund's stability amid market fluctuations.
- Distribution Plan Details: The HEQ fund operates under a managed distribution plan (HEQ Plan) that ensures fixed quarterly payments, aimed at providing investors with a reliable cash flow.
- Market Performance: As of November 28, 2025, HEQ's market price stood at $10.93, with an annualized current distribution rate of 9.15%, showcasing ongoing investor interest and confidence in the fund.
- Tax Management Strategy: The fund's distributions may include return of capital to avoid federal income tax and ordinary income tax, demonstrating its proactive approach to tax management strategies.

Annual Meeting Announcement: Nine John Hancock closed-end funds will hold their Annual Meeting of Shareholders on February 17, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. ET in Boston, Massachusetts, where shareholders will vote on the election of Trustees.
Shareholder Eligibility and Notice: Shareholders of record as of November 25, 2025, are entitled to vote, and notices will be mailed around December 26, 2025.
Share Repurchase Plans Renewed: John Hancock Financial Opportunities Fund and five other funds have renewed their share repurchase plans to enhance shareholder value and potentially reduce the discount between market price and net asset value (NAV) of their common shares for 2025.
Current Share Repurchase Activity: As of October 31, 2024, the Hedged Equity & Income Fund has repurchased 57,490 shares, contributing approximately $0.01 to its NAV, while the other funds have not engaged in share repurchases during the same period.





