CEF Market Review: The Double-Whammy Of 'Juicy Yield' CEFs

We review the CEF market valuation and performance through the second week of February and highlight recent market action. CEFs overall saw higher NAVs this week, with MLPs and Utilities leading; sector discounts have tightened, rendering the market relatively expensive versus historical averages. John Hancock preferred share CEFs (HPI, HPF, HPS) maintain high distribution rates but suffer from low coverage, creating a double-whammy setup for investors.

Seeking Alpha • Feb 21, 2026

JOHN HANCOCK CLOSED-END FUNDS RELEASE EARNINGS DATA

BOSTON, Feb. 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ - The John Hancock Closed-End Funds listed in the table below announced earnings1 for the three months ended January 31, 2026. The same data for the comparable three-month period ended January 31, 2025 is also available below.

PRNewsWire • Feb 12, 2026

JOHN HANCOCK CLOSED-END FUNDS DECLARE MONTHLY DISTRIBUTIONS

BOSTON, Jan. 2, 2026  /PRNewswire/ - The John Hancock closed-end funds listed below declared their monthly distributions today as follows: Declaration Date: January 2, 2026 Ex Date: January 12, 2026 Record Date: January 12, 2026 Payment Date: January 30, 2026 Ticker Fund Name Distribution Per Share  Change From Previous Distribution Market Price as of 12/31/2025 Annualized Current Distribution Rate at Market HPF Preferred Income Fund II $0.1235 - $16.07 9.22 % HPS Preferred Income Fund III $0.1100 - $14.41 9.16 % PDT Premium Dividend Fund $0.0825 - $12.70 7.80 % HTD Tax-Advantaged Dividend Income Fund $0.1580 - $23.66 8.01 % 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.

PRNewsWire • Jan 2, 2026

JOHN HANCOCK ANNOUNCES PORTFOLIO MANAGER CHANGES FOR JOHN HANCOCK CLOSED-END FUNDS

BOSTON, MA , Oct. 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ - John Hancock Investment Management LLC (the "Adviser") today announced changes to the portfolio management teams for John Hancock Preferred Income Fund (NYSE: HPI), John Hancock Preferred Income Fund II (NYSE: HPF), John Hancock Preferred Income Fund III (NYSE: HPS), John Hancock Premium Dividend Fund (NYSE: PDT), John Hancock Tax-Advantaged Divided Income Fund (NYSE: HTD), and John Hancock Income Securities Trust (NYSE: JHS). Each Fund is advised by the Adviser and subadvised by Manulife Investment Management (US) LLC (the "Subadviser").

PRNewsWire • Oct 30, 2025

HPF: Limited Appeal While Interest Rates Are High

John Hancock Preferred Income Fund II (HPF) remains a Hold due to inconsistent dividend coverage and limited sector diversification, primarily in financials. HPF's reliance on net realized gains and leverage, combined with elevated interest rates, restricts capital appreciation and increases risk during market downturns. The fund offers an 8.9% yield but has struggled to consistently generate enough earnings to fully support distributions, leading to NAV declines over recent years.

Seeking Alpha • Oct 17, 2025

JOHN HANCOCK CLOSED-END FUNDS ANNOUNCE ANNUAL SHAREHOLDER MEETING AND RECORD DATES

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.

PRNewsWire • Sep 25, 2025

HPF: Attractively Valued But Questionable Dividend Coverage

John Hancock Preferred Income Fund II offers a high 9.4% yield and monthly payouts, appealing for income-focused investors but with limited capital appreciation potential. The fund's price is sensitive to interest rates and currently trades near fair value, making accumulation attractive if rate cuts occur. HPF's aggressive leverage and inconsistent earnings history raise concerns about dividend sustainability and long-term NAV growth.

Seeking Alpha • Jun 27, 2025

Lubrizol's 2024 Innovations Enhance Life, Make the Modern World Work Better

CLEVELAND--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Since 1928, Lubrizol has been trusted as an innovator of breakthrough solutions that drive progress across a wide variety of industries. This year, the company elevated that standard of innovation, introducing dozens of new solutions to advance mobility, improve well-being and enhance modern life. Beyond new product development, the company invested in local-for-local innovation, added new R&D centers and deepened its sustainability rigor, among many other innova.

Business Wire • Dec 5, 2024

HPF: Making Sense Of The Fund's Positioning

The John Hancock Preferred Income Fund II offers an attractive 8.29% yield, outperforming its benchmark indices and many peer funds, making it appealing for income-focused investors. The fund's higher yield suggests that it may be riskier than its peers, but its portfolio consists mostly of investment-grade preferred stocks and corporate bonds. The fund's corporate bond allocation is a lot higher than most investors might expect, and this may have dragged on the fund's returns over the past several months.

Seeking Alpha • Sep 23, 2024

HPF: Very Good Fixed-Income Fund, But Could Be Overpriced

The John Hancock Preferred Income Fund II offers a 9.00% yield, making it an attractive option for income-focused investors. The fund's recent performance has been strong, outperforming both investment-grade and junk bonds. However, there are concerns about the current state of the preferred stock market and the fund's premium valuation, which may warrant caution for investors.

Seeking Alpha • Apr 5, 2024