
John Hancock Preferred Income Fund III (HPS) Dividend
John Hancock Preferred Income Fund III · Financial Services · Asset Management · monthly payer
As of Nov 11, 2026, John Hancock Preferred Income Fund III (HPS) pays a monthly dividend of $0.11 per share, or $1.32 a year, a 11.01% yield at its $11.99 share price. The next ex-dividend date is Nov 12, 2026, paid Nov 26, 2026. It has a dividend safety grade of C.
Forward Yield
11.01%
Annual Dividend
$1.32
Payout Ratio
242%
5-Yr Growth
0.0%
Ex-Date
Nov 12, 2026
Frequency
Monthly
Key facts about HPS's dividend
Data as of · Source: SmarterDividends data
- As of Nov 11, 2026, John Hancock Preferred Income Fund III (HPS) has a forward dividend yield of 11.01%, based on an annual dividend of $1.32 per share and a share price of $11.99.
- As of Nov 11, 2026, HPS's dividend safety grade from SmarterDividends is C (57 out of 100), which rates the dividend as borderline.
- HPS last cut its regular dividend in 2020.
- HPS's next ex-dividend date is Nov 12, 2026, with payment on Nov 26, 2026. Shares must be owned before that date to receive the dividend.
- As of Nov 11, 2026, HPS pays out 242% of its trailing 12-month earnings as dividends (its payout ratio).
- HPS's dividend has been roughly flat over the past five years.
- As of Nov 11, 2026, HPS's 11.01% yield is 31% above its five-year average yield of 8.38%.
- As of Nov 11, 2026, SmarterDividends' blended fair-value estimate for HPS is $13.54 per share, 13% above the $11.99 share price, so HPS screens as fairly valued.
- John Hancock Preferred Income Fund III (HPS) pays its dividend monthly, 12 times a year.
- John Hancock Preferred Income Fund III (HPS) has raised its regular dividend 1 time and cut it 5 times across the 279 payments on record since 2003. Its most recent change was a 9.8% cut to $0.110 per share, going ex-dividend on Oct 10, 2019.
Cite this page
SmarterDividends, "HPS Dividend: Yield, Safety Grade & Next Ex-Date," updated Nov 11, 2026, https://smarterdividends.com/stocks/HPS
Is HPS a good dividend stock?
MixedJohn Hancock Preferred Income Fund III (HPS) pays a monthly dividend yielding 11.01% ($1.32/yr), with 0 years of growth and a dividend-safety grade of C. The picture is mixed — the dividend pays, but safety or growth signals are weaker than ideal.
Advantages
Risks
- Cut its dividend in 2020
- Elevated payout ratio (242%)
- Very high yield can signal elevated risk
- Share price is down over the past 5 years
Key Data
- Dividend Yield
- 11.01%
- Payout Ratio
- 242%
- Annual Dividend
- $1.32
- 5-Yr Avg Growth
- 0.0%
- Ex-Dividend Date
- Nov 12, 2026
- Years of Growth
- 0
- Frequency
- monthly
- Beta
- 0.68
- Market Cap
- $385.0M
- P/E Ratio
- 21.8
- 5-Yr Total Return
- -37%
- 52-Week Range
- $11.39 – $15.54
- Dividend Safety
- C · 57/100
- Ever Cut?
- Yes (2020)
HPS dividend raises and cuts
John Hancock Preferred Income Fund III (HPS) has raised its regular dividend 1 time and cut it 5 times across the 279 payments on record since 2003. Its most recent change was a 9.8% cut to $0.110 per share, going ex-dividend on Oct 10, 2019.
| Ex-date | Change | Old → new | Move |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 10, 2019 | Cut | $0.122 → $0.110 | −9.8% |
| Apr 10, 2012 | Raise | $0.112 → $0.122 | +8.9% |
| Mar 10, 2009 | Cut | $0.132 → $0.112 | −15.2% |
| Jan 11, 2006 | Cut | $0.148 → $0.132 | −10.8% |
| Jun 9, 2005 | Cut | $0.159 → $0.148 | −6.9% |
| Dec 9, 2004 | Cut | $0.180 → $0.159 | −11.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is HPS a good dividend stock?
Mixed. John Hancock Preferred Income Fund III (HPS) pays a monthly dividend yielding 11.01% ($1.32/yr), with 0 years of growth and a dividend-safety grade of C. The picture is mixed — the dividend pays, but safety or growth signals are weaker than ideal.
Is HPS undervalued?
Based on a blend of discounted cash flow, a dividend-discount model and an earnings-multiple estimate, HPS's fair value is about $13.54 versus a $11.99 share price — so it looks fairly valued (+13% vs. fair value).
Is HPS's dividend safe?
HPS has a dividend-safety grade of C (57/100), based on its payout coverage, free-cash-flow, 0-year growth streak, a dividend cut in 2020, debt and yield-versus-history.
What is HPS's fair value?
Our blended fair-value estimate for HPS is about $13.54 per share, roughly 13% above the current $11.99 price — combining a discounted cash flow, a dividend-discount model and an earnings multiple.
Is HPS a buy, hold, or sell?
We don't issue formal ratings, but on the data HPS screens as "mixed" and fairly valued. John Hancock Preferred Income Fund III (HPS) pays a monthly dividend yielding 11.01% ($1.32/yr), with 0 years of growth and a dividend-safety grade of C. The picture is mixed — the dividend pays, but safety or growth signals are weaker than ideal. This is research for your own analysis, not investment advice.
Will HPS cut its dividend?
HPS earns a dividend-safety grade of C (57/100), and has cut its dividend before (last in 2020). A higher score means lower cut risk based on payout coverage, cash flow and history — but no score guarantees a dividend.
Does HPS pay a dividend?
Yes. John Hancock Preferred Income Fund III pays a monthly dividend of about $1.32 per share annually, a forward yield of roughly 11.01%.
How much dividend does 100 shares of HPS pay?
At $1.32 per share a year, 100 shares of HPS pay $132.00 a year in dividends before tax, about $11.00 each month. Buying them costs about $1,199 at the Nov 11, 2026 price.
What is HPS's dividend yield?
As of Nov 11, 2026, HPS's forward dividend yield is 11.01%, based on a $1.32 annual dividend and a $11.99 share price.
What is HPS's dividend per share?
As of Nov 11, 2026, HPS pays $1.32 per share per year, distributed on a monthly basis.
What is HPS's dividend payout ratio?
As of Nov 11, 2026, HPS's payout ratio is 242% of trailing 12-month earnings — an elevated level worth watching, as it leaves less cushion if earnings dip.
How many years has HPS grown its dividend?
HPS does not currently have a long dividend-growth streak on record.
When is the next HPS ex-dividend date?
As of Nov 11, 2026, the next ex-dividend date on record for HPS is Nov 12, 2026.
HPS Price — Last 12 Months
Daily close
Price Return
1 Year
-21%
3 Years
-11%
5 Years
-37%
52-Week Range
$11.39 – $15.54
Price change over each period (excludes dividends). Past performance doesn't guarantee future results.
What is HPS worth?
Fairly valuedlow confidenceOur blended fair-value estimate for John Hancock Preferred Income Fund III is $13.54 per share, versus a market price of $11.99. That implies the stock is roughly fairly priced.
Fair Value
$13.54
Current Price
$11.99
Gap
+13%
Margin of Safety
11%
How we get there
Dividend discount
Discounts the future dividend stream back to today.
Earnings multiple (Graham)
Graham's earnings-multiple formula, anchored to bond yields.
Assumptions: 8.0% discount rate (CAPM), 0.0% growth for five years fading to 2.5% over the next five, $0.55 EPS, $1.32 annual dividend. Updated weekly.
Fair-value estimates are model output for educational purposes only — not investment advice or a price target.
HPS Dividend Safety Score
Borderline
SmarterDividends' proprietary score, backtested against which dividends were actually cut over 15+ years (0.78 AUC). It blends a validated cut-risk model (growth streak, cut history) with current payout, cash-flow and debt. Higher is safer · not investment advice.
Dividend Growth
Total dividends per share by year
Dividend History
Full HPS dividend history →| Ex-Date | Pay Date | Amount | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 13, 2026 | Oct 30, 2026 | $0.1100 | regular |
| Sep 11, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | $0.1100 | regular |
| Aug 13, 2026 | Aug 31, 2026 | $0.1100 | regular |
| Jul 13, 2026 | Jul 31, 2026 | $0.1100 | regular |
| Jun 11, 2026 | Jun 30, 2026 | $0.1100 | regular |
| May 11, 2026 | May 29, 2026 | $0.1100 | regular |
| Apr 13, 2026 | Apr 30, 2026 | $0.1100 | regular |
| Mar 12, 2026 | Mar 31, 2026 | $0.1100 | regular |
| Feb 12, 2026 | Feb 27, 2026 | $0.1100 | regular |
| Jan 12, 2026 | Jan 30, 2026 | $0.1100 | regular |
| Dec 11, 2025 | Dec 31, 2025 | $0.1100 | regular |
| Nov 13, 2025 | Nov 28, 2025 | $0.1100 | regular |
| Oct 14, 2025 | Oct 31, 2025 | $0.1100 | regular |
| Sep 12, 2025 | Sep 30, 2025 | $0.1100 | regular |
Income Calculator
At $1.32 / yr per share
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