John Hancock Hedged Equity ETF

John Hancock Hedged Equity ETF is an actively managed exchange-traded fund designed to deliver long-term capital appreciation with reduced volatility and downside protection compared to broad equity markets. It achieves this through a blend of high-conviction fundamental equity selection and a dynamic options overlay strategy. The fund allocates at least 80% of its net assets to equity securities, primarily common stocks of large-capitalization U.S. companies within the S&P 500 Index range, chosen via a bottom-up research process emphasizing a margin of safety, attractive business models, and catalysts to unlock value. Its hedging approach includes staggered index put spreads on the S&P 500 for downside protection, selectively written single-stock covered calls typically 5% out-of-the-money with one-month expiries to generate premium income, and occasional index call purchases during market stress to capture upside. Both exchange-traded and over-the-counter options are employed, with flexibility to adjust based on proprietary signals, technical factors, and market conditions. Managed by Manulife Investment Management, the ETF may hold up to 15% in illiquid securities and participate in initial public offerings, serving investors seeking balanced equity exposure in volatile environments.