FT vs HTD: Correlation
Measured on weekly returns over the past three years, Franklin Universal Trust (FT) and John Hancock Tax Advantaged Dividend Income Fund (HTD) carry a correlation of 0.76, a strong link.
Data as of 2026-08-27 · refreshed every trading day · weekly returns · methodology
How correlated are FT and HTD?
Over the past 3 years, FT and HTD moved with a correlation of 0.76, which is strong. The past 12 months show a weaker link (0.64) than the 3-year average (0.76). Over 5 years the correlation is 0.76, and the annualized covariance of weekly returns is 126.5 %².
HTD is one of the assets that tracks FT most closely: it ranks #1 out of the 12 assets we track against FT. On 12-month performance HTD holds a 6.2-point edge, +4.8% against +11.0%. One caveat on sizing: HTD is 1.5 times as volatile as the other leg, so an equal-dollar split is far from equal-risk.
How is this computed?
Pearson correlation on weekly returns: ρ(A,B) = cov(rA, rB) / (σA · σB), over windows of 52, 156 and 260 weeks. Covariance is annualized (×52) and expressed in %². Full definitions on the methodology page.
FT vs HTD: side by side
| FT (Franklin Universal Trust) | HTD (John Hancock Tax Advantaged Dividend Income Fund) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year return | +4.8% | +11.0% |
| 5-year return | +31.6% | +50.6% |
| Volatility (ann.) | 10.5% | 15.9% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 0.32 | 0.43 |
| Max drawdown (3Y) | -10.6% | -15.7% |
| Market cap | – | $0.9B |
| P/E (trailing) | 6.0 | 5.3 |
| Dividend yield | 6.58% | 7.30% |
| Sector / category | US Listed | US Listed |
Year-by-year returns
| Year | FT | HTD |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | -14.0% | -6.2% |
| 2023 | +6.6% | -9.9% |
| 2024 | +18.4% | +25.7% |
| 2025 | +17.0% | +15.9% |
| 2026 | +1.1% | +12.1% |
Calendar-year price returns; the current year is year-to-date as of the data date above.
Are FT and HTD good diversifiers for each other?
To a limited degree. At 0.76 the two still catch most of the same waves, so the pair smooths returns a little without insulating either from a shared selloff.
FAQ
What is the correlation between FT and HTD?
As of 2026-08-27, the correlation of weekly returns between FT and HTD is 0.76 over 3 years, 0.64 over 1 year and 0.76 over 5 years.
Is HTD a good diversifier for FT?
To a limited degree. At 0.76 the two still catch most of the same waves, so the pair smooths returns a little without insulating either from a shared selloff.
What does a correlation of 0.76 mean?
A reading of 0.76 sits on a scale from −1 (opposite moves) through 0 (unrelated) to +1 (identical moves). Correlation captures direction, not magnitude or performance.
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Related comparisons
Hubs: FT correlations · HTD correlations
