HEQ (John Hancock Hedged Equity &ome Fund) Moat Score: 2/10 (As of Jul. 05, 2026)


HEQ John Hancock Hedged Equity & Income Fund HEQ
57 GF Score
Price $11.41
GF Value $15.52
Valuation Modestly Undervalued
! 2 Warning Signs
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What is John Hancock Hedged Equity &ome Fund Moat Score?

John Hancock Hedged Equity &ome Fund HEQ -0.78% 57 Moat Score is 2 as of Jul. 05, 2026. GuruFocus rates HEQ with a GF Score™ of 57/100 and a GF Value™ of $15.52 (Modestly Undervalued). The stock has 2 warning signs investors should review. Among 1,698 Asset Management companies, John Hancock Hedged Equity &ome Fund ranks better than 80.09% on this metric.

John Hancock Hedged Equity &ome Fund has the Moat Score of 2, which implies that the company might have No Moat - Very weak/transient advantages.

John Hancock Hedged Equity &ome Fund has No Moat: John Hancock Hedged Equity & Income Fund has minimal competitive advantages. The fund lacks market leadership, network effects, and significant regulatory barriers. Its position in the financial services industry does not provide a sustainable competitive edge.

Moat Score is a ranking system developed by GuruFocus to assess a company's ability to sustain a competitive advantage, rated on a scale from 0 to 10. It takes into account key factors such as market leadership, cost advantages, network effects, customer switching costs, and more.

The company's Moat Score is based on these criteria:

1. Market leadership and sustainable market share
2. Network effects and significant customer switching costs
3. Valuable intellectual property and patents
4. Strong brand strength and deep customer loyalty
5. Durable cost advantages (e.g., economies of scale, proprietary technology)
6. Significant regulatory barriers and exclusive licenses
7. Superior distribution network
8. Strong and sustainable pricing power
9. Consistent and impactful innovation and R&D capabilities

Based on the research, GuruFocus believes John Hancock Hedged Equity &ome Fund might have No Moat - Very weak/transient advantages.

John Hancock Hedged Equity &ome Fund  (NYSE:HEQ) Moat Score Explanation

The Moat Score ranges from 0 to 10, with 10 as the highest. GuruFocus divided Moat Score into following 8 categories:

Moat Score Moat Level
10Wide Moat - Exceptionally dominant and durable wide moat
8 - 9Wide Moat - Clear and robust wide moat
7Wide Moat - Entry-level wide moat, clearly possessing durable advantages
6Narrow Moat - Strong narrow moat, clearly distinguishable but not wide
5Narrow Moat - Solid narrow moat
4Narrow Moat - Discernible but modest moat
1 - 3No Moat - Very weak/transient advantages
0No Moat - No discernible moat

John Hancock Hedged Equity &ome Fund Moat Score Related Terms

HEQ vs HYI, CIK, CEE: Moat Score Comparison

For the Asset Management subindustry, John Hancock Hedged Equity &ome Fund's Moat Score, along with its competitors' market caps and Moat Score data, can be viewed below:

* Competitive companies are chosen from companies within the same industry, with headquarter located in same country, with closest market capitalization; x-axis shows the market cap, and y-axis shows the term value; the bigger the dot, the larger the market cap. Note that "N/A" values will not show up in the chart.

John Hancock Hedged Equity &ome Fund Moat Score vs Asset Management Industry

For the Asset Management industry and Financial Services sector, John Hancock Hedged Equity &ome Fund's Moat Score distribution charts can be found below:

* The bar in red indicates where John Hancock Hedged Equity &ome Fund's Moat Score falls into.


HEQ
57GF Score
John Hancock Hedged Equity & Income Fund HEQ
Moat Score is just one metric. See GF Score™, valuation, warning signs, and more.
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Frequently Asked Questions Learn more about Moat Score →
What does a Moat Score of 2 mean?
John Hancock Hedged Equity &ome Fund (HEQ) has a Moat Score of 2 as of Jul. 05, 2026. Moat Score is a ranking system developed by GuruFocus to assess a company's ability to sustain a competitive advantage, rated on a scale from 0 to 10. It takes into account key factors such as market leadership, cost advantages, network effects, customer switching costs, and more. According to the industry distribution chart, John Hancock Hedged Equity &ome Fund ranks #338 out of 1698 companies in the Asset Management industry, placing it in the top 19.9%.
Is John Hancock Hedged Equity &ome Fund's Moat Score too high?
John Hancock Hedged Equity &ome Fund's current Moat Score is 2. Based on the distribution chart, John Hancock Hedged Equity &ome Fund ranks #338 out of 1698 companies in the Asset Management industry, which is in the top quartile — a strong position relative to peers. Overall, John Hancock Hedged Equity &ome Fund has a GF Score™ of 57/100 and is considered Modestly Undervalued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does John Hancock Hedged Equity &ome Fund's Moat Score compare to HYI and CIK?
According to the Asset Management industry distribution chart, John Hancock Hedged Equity &ome Fund ranks #338 out of 1698 companies for Moat Score. This places John Hancock Hedged Equity &ome Fund in the top 20% of its industry — outperforming the majority of peers. See the competitive comparison table and distribution chart on this page for a detailed peer-by-peer breakdown.
What is a good Moat Score for an Asset Management company?
A good Moat Score depends on the Asset Management industry context. However, Moat Score should not be evaluated in isolation — investors should consider it alongside profitability, growth, and financial strength metrics. Use the industry distribution chart on this page to see where any company falls relative to its peers.
What does a high Moat Score mean?
A high Moat Score can signal that a stock is expensive relative to its fundamentals. Moat Score is a ranking system developed by GuruFocus to assess a company's ability to sustain a competitive advantage, rated on a scale from 0 to 10. It takes into account key factors such as market leadership, cost advantages, network effects, customer switching costs, and more. John Hancock Hedged Equity &ome Fund's current Moat Score is 2. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is John Hancock Hedged Equity &ome Fund stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, John Hancock Hedged Equity &ome Fund (HEQ) is currently considered Modestly Undervalued. The stock's GF Value™ is $15.52, compared to a current price of $11.41 — trading 26.5% below its estimated fair value. The current Moat Score is 2. John Hancock Hedged Equity &ome Fund's overall GF Score™ is 57/100 with 2 warning signs to review. Investors should evaluate multiple metrics — including profitability, growth, and financial strength — before making a decision.
How is Moat Score calculated?
Moat Score is calculated from a company's financial statements. For John Hancock Hedged Equity &ome Fund (HEQ), the current Moat Score is 2 as of Jul. 05, 2026. GuruFocus calculates this using data sourced from SEC filings and annual reports. See the calculation section and 30-year financial data on this page for the full breakdown.

Is John Hancock Hedged Equity &ome Fund (HEQ) Overvalued in 2026?

Based on GuruFocus' analysis, John Hancock Hedged Equity &ome Fund stock appears to be undervalued. The current stock price of $11.41 is trading 26.5% below its estimated GF Value™ of $15.52. GuruFocus considers John Hancock Hedged Equity &ome Fund to be Modestly Undervalued.

Key valuation signals for HEQ:

  • Moat Score: 2
  • GF Value™: $15.52 vs. price of $11.41 (26.5% below fair value)
  • GF Score™: 57/100 with 2 warning signs

No single metric tells the full story. See the HEQ stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.

John Hancock Hedged Equity &ome Fund Business Description

Address 200 Berkeley Street, Boston, MA, USA, 02116
John Hancock Hedged Equity & Income Fund is a closed-end management investment company. Its investment objective is to provide total return, with a focus on current income and gains, and to include long-term capital appreciation. It invests in various sectors such as financials, consumer discretionary, information technology, energy, healthcare, materials, real estate, consumer staples, short-term investments, and others.
57GF Score

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Moat Score is just one metric. See GF Value™, 30-year financials, guru trades, warning signs, and more.

$11.41
Price
$15.52
GF Value