John Hancock Variable Insurance Trust

04/27/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 04/27/2026 04:04

Summary Prospectus by Investment Company (Form 497K)

 
April 27, 2026
John Hancock Variable Insurance Trust
Summary prospectus
Small Cap Opportunities Trust
Before you invest, you may want to review the fund's prospectus, which contains more information about the fund and its risks. You can find the fund's prospectus and other information about the fund, including the Statement of Additional Information and most recent reports, online at dfinview.com/johnhancock?site=funds. You can also get this information at no cost by sending an email request to [email protected] or calling 800-344-1029 (for John Hancock Variable Annuities) or 800-732-5543 (for John Hancock Variable Life Insurance), or if your policy is held through another insurance company, please contact that company. The fund's prospectus and Statement of Additional Information, both dated April 27, 2026, as may be supplemented, and most recent financial highlights information included in the shareholder report, dated December 31, 2025, are incorporated by reference into this summary prospectus. This summary prospectus is intended for use in connection with a variable contract as defined in Section 817(d) of the Internal Revenue Code and is not intended for use by other investors. 
Tickers
Series I: JADLX
Series II: JADPX
Series NAV: JADMX
Investment objective
To seek long-term capital appreciation.
Fees and expenses
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold, and sell shares of the fund. The fees and expenses do not reflect fees and expenses of any variable insurance or variable annuities contract that may use the fund as its underlying investment option and would be higher if they did. 
Annual fund operating expenses (%) (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
Series I
Series II
Series NAV
Management fee
0.72
1
0.72
1
0.72
1
Distribution and service (Rule 12b-1) fees
0.05
0.25
0.00
Other expenses
0.16
0.16
0.16
Total annual fund operating expenses
0.93
1.13
0.88
Contractual expense reimbursement
-0.01
2
-0.01
2
-0.01
2
Total annual fund operating expenses after expense reimbursements
0.92
1.12
0.87
1
"Management fee" has been restated to reflect the contractual management fee schedule effective May 28, 2025.
2
The advisor contractually agrees to waive a portion of its management fee and/or reimburse expenses for the fund and certain other John Hancock funds according to an asset level breakpoint schedule that is based on the aggregate net assets of all the funds participating in the waiver or reimbursement, including the fund (the participating portfolios). This waiver equals, on an annualized basis, 0.0100% of that portion of the aggregate net assets of all the participating portfolios that exceeds $75 billion but is less than or equal to $125 billion; 0.0125% of that portion of the aggregate net assets of all the participating portfolios that exceeds $125 billion but is less than or equal to $150 billion; 0.0150% of that portion of the aggregate net assets of all the participating portfolios that exceeds $150 billion but is less than or equal to $175 billion; 0.0175% of that portion of the aggregate net assets of all the participating portfolios that exceeds $175 billion but is less than or equal to $200 billion; 0.0200% of that portion of the aggregate net assets of all the participating portfolios that exceeds $200 billion but is less than or equal to $225 billion; and 0.0225% of that portion of the aggregate net assets of all the participating portfolios that exceeds $225 billion. The amount of the reimbursement is calculated daily and allocated among all the participating portfolios in proportion to the daily net assets of each participating portfolio. During its most recent fiscal year, the fund's reimbursement amounted to 0.01% of the fund's average daily net assets. This agreement expires on July 31, 2027, unless renewed by mutual agreement of the fund and the advisor based upon a determination that this is appropriate under the circumstances at that time.
Expense example
The examples are intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The examples assume that $10,000 is invested in the fund for the periods indicated and then all shares are redeemed at the end of those periods. The examples also assume that the investment has a 5% return each year and that the fund's operating expenses remain the same. The expense example does not reflect fees and expenses of any variable insurance contract that may use the fund as its underlying investment option and would be higher if they did. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be: 
Small Cap Opportunities Trust
Expenses ($)
Series I
Series II
Series NAV
1 year
94
114
89
3 years
295
358
280
5 years
514
621
487
10 years
1,142
1,374
1,083
Portfolio turnover
The fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or "turns over" its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the fund's performance. During its most recent fiscal year, the fund's portfolio turnover rate was 55% of the average value of its portfolio.
Principal investment strategies
Under normal market conditions, the fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (plus any borrowings for investment purposes) in equity securities of small-capitalization companies. (The fund will provide written notice to shareholders at least 60 days prior to a change in its 80% investment policy.)
The subadvisor generally will invest the fund's assets, using a market capitalization weighted approach, in a broad and diverse group of readily marketable securities of U.S. small and mid cap companies traded on a U.S. national securities exchange that the subadvisor determines to be value stocks with higher profitability at time of purchase. A company's market capitalization is the number of its shares outstanding times its price per share. See "Market Capitalization Weighted Approach" below. An equity issuer is considered to have a low relative price (i.e., a value stock) primarily because it has a low price in relation to its book value. In assessing relative price, the subadvisor may consider additional factors, such as price-to-cash flow or price-to-earnings ratios. The criteria the subadvisor uses for assessing relative price are subject to change from time to time. As of the date of this Prospectus, the subadvisor generally considers for investment companies whose market capitalizations are generally smaller than the 500th largest U.S. company. The subadvisor does not intend to purchase or sell securities based on the prospects for the economy, the securities markets or the individual issuers whose shares are eligible for purchase.
The subadvisor may sell portfolio securities when the issuer's market capitalization increases to a level that exceeds that of the issuer with the largest market capitalization that is then eligible for investment by the fund. In addition, the subadvisor may sell portfolio securities when their price-to-book ratios rise above those of the security with the highest such ratio that is then eligible for purchase by the fund. However, the subadvisor may retain securities of issuers with relatively larger market capitalizations for longer periods, despite an increase in the issuers' price-to-book ratios.
The total market capitalization ranges, and the value criteria used by the subadvisor for the fund, as described above, generally apply at the time of purchase. The subadvisor will not be required to dispose of a security if the security's issuer is no longer within the total market capitalization range or does not meet current value criteria. Securities that do meet the market capitalization and/or value criteria nevertheless may be sold at any time when, in the subadvisor's judgment, circumstances warrant their sale.
The subadvisor may use derivatives such as futures contracts and options on futures contracts, to increase or decrease equity market exposure based on actual or expected cash inflows to or outflows from the fund. The subadvisor may enter into futures contracts and options on futures contracts for U.S. equity securities and indices. The subadvisor may also invest in exchange-traded funds ("ETFs") and similarly structured pooled investments for the purpose of gaining exposure to the U.S. equity markets while maintaining liquidity. In addition to money market instruments and other short-term investments, the fund may invest in affiliated and unaffiliated unregistered money market funds to manage the fund's cash pending investment in other securities or to maintain liquidity for the payment of redemptions or other purposes. Investments in ETFs and money market funds may involve a duplication of certain fees and expenses.
Market Capitalization Weighted Approach
The strategy used by the subadvisor in managing the fund's assets involves market capitalization weighting in determining individual security weights. Market capitalization weighting means each security is generally purchased based on the issuer's relative market capitalization.
Market capitalization weighting may be modified by the subadvisor for a variety of reasons. The subadvisor may adjust the representation in the fund of an eligible company, or exclude a company, after considering such factors as free float, price momentum, short-run reversals, trading strategies, liquidity, size, relative price, profitability, investment characteristics and other factors determined to be appropriate. An equity issuer is considered to have a low relative price (i.e., a value stock) primarily because it has a low price in relation to its book value. In assessing relative price, the subadvisor considers additional factors such as price to cash flow or price to earnings ratios. In assessing profitability, the subadvisor considers different ratios, such as that of earnings or profits from operations relative to book value or assets. In assessing a company's investment characteristics, the subadvisor considers ratios such as recent changes in assets divided by total assets. The criteria the subadvisor uses for assessing relative price, profitability and investment characteristics are subject to change from time to time.
The subadvisor may deviate from market capitalization weighting to limit or fix the exposure of the fund to a particular issuer to a maximum proportion of the assets of the fund. The subadvisor may exclude the stock of a company that meets applicable market capitalization criteria if the subadvisor determines, in its judgment, that the purchase of such stock is inappropriate in light of other conditions.
2
Small Cap Opportunities Trust
The subadvisor may decrease the allocation of the fund's assets to eligible small capitalization companies that generally have lower profitability and/or higher relative prices. These adjustments will result in a deviation from traditional market capitalization weighting.
Principal risks
An investment in the fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. Many factors affect performance, and fund shares will fluctuate in price, meaning you could lose money. The fund's investment strategy may not produce the intended results.
The fund's main risks are listed below in alphabetical order, not in order of importance. Before investing, be sure to read the additional descriptions of these risks beginning on page 257 of the prospectus.
Cash and cash equivalents risk. Under certain market conditions, such as during a rising stock market, rising interest rate or rising credit spread markets, the use of cash and/or cash equivalents, including money market instruments, could have a negative effect on the fund's ability to achieve its investment objective and may negatively impact the fund's performance.
Credit and counterparty risk. The counterparty to an over-the-counter derivatives contract or a borrower of fund securities may not make timely payments or otherwise honor its obligations.
Economic and market events risk. Events in the U.S. and global financial markets, including actions taken by the U.S. Federal Reserve or foreign central banks to stimulate or stabilize economic growth, may at times result in unusually high market volatility, which could negatively impact performance. Reduced liquidity in credit and fixed-income markets could adversely affect issuers worldwide. Banks and financial services companies could suffer losses if interest rates rise or economic conditions deteriorate.
Equity securities risk. The price of equity securities may decline due to changes in a company's financial condition or overall market conditions. Growth company securities may fluctuate more in price than other securities because of the greater emphasis on earnings expectations. Securities the manager believes are undervalued may never realize their full potential value, and in certain markets value stocks may underperform the market as a whole.
Exchange-traded fund (ETF) investment risk. The risks of owning shares of an ETF include the risks of owning the underlying securities the ETF holds. Lack of liquidity in an ETF could result in the ETF being more volatile than its underlying securities. An ETF's shares could trade at a significant premium or discount to its net asset value (NAV). A fund bears ETF fees and expenses indirectly.
Financial services sector risk. Financial services companies can be significantly affected by economic, market, and business developments, borrowing costs, interest-rate fluctuations, competition, and government regulation, among other factors.
Hedging, derivatives, and other strategic transactions risk. Hedging, derivatives, and other strategic transactions may increase a fund's volatility and could produce disproportionate losses, potentially more than the fund's principal investment. Risks of these transactions are different from and possibly greater than risks of investing directly in securities and other traditional instruments. Under certain market conditions, derivatives could become harder to value or sell and may become subject to liquidity risk (i.e., the inability to enter into closing transactions). Derivatives and other strategic transactions that the fund intends to utilize include: futures contracts, options on futures, and options. Futures contracts and options generally are subject to counterparty risk.
Industrials sector risk. Companies in the industrials sector may be affected by general economic conditions, commodity production and pricing, supply and demand fluctuations, environmental and other government regulations, geopolitical events, interest rates, insurance costs, technological developments, liabilities arising from governmental or civil actions, labor relations, input controls, and government spending.
Investment company securities risk. Fund shareholders indirectly bear their proportionate share of the expenses of any investment company in which the fund invests. The total return on such investments will be reduced by the operating expenses and fees of such other investment companies, including advisory fees.
Liquidity risk. The extent (if at all) to which a security may be sold or a derivative position closed without negatively impacting its market value may be impaired by reduced market activity or participation, legal restrictions, or other economic and market impediments.
Operational and cybersecurity risk. Cybersecurity breaches may allow an unauthorized party to gain access to fund assets, customer data, or proprietary information, or cause a fund or its service providers to suffer data corruption or lose operational functionality. Similar incidents affecting issuers of a fund's securities may negatively impact performance. Operational risk may arise from human error, error by third parties, communication errors, or technology failures, among other causes.
Quantitative modeling risk. Quantitative models may not accurately predict future market movements or characteristics, which may negatively impact performance. Models also may perform differently than expected due to implementation problems, technological malfunction, or programming or data inaccuracies, among other possible issues.
Sector risk. When a fund focuses its investments in certain sectors of the economy, its performance may be driven largely by sector performance and could fluctuate more widely than if the fund were invested more evenly across sectors.
Small and mid-sized company risk. Small and mid-sized companies are generally less established and may be more volatile than larger companies. Small and/or mid-capitalization securities may underperform the market as a whole.
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Small Cap Opportunities Trust
Value investment style risk. Value securities, as a category, may underperform other segments of the market or the market as a whole and following a value-oriented investment strategy may cause the fund, at times, to underperform equity funds that employ a different investment style.
Past performance
The following information illustrates the variability of the fund's returns and provides some indication of the risks of investing in the fund by showing changes in the fund's performance from year to year and by showing how the fund's average annual returns compared with a broad-based securities market index. Past performance does not indicate future results. The Russell 2000 Value Index shows how the fund's performance compares against the returns of similar investments. All figures assume dividend reinvestment. The performance information below does not reflect fees and expenses of any variable insurance contract which may use JHVIT as its underlying investment option. If such fees and expenses had been reflected, performance would be lower.
A note on performance
Prior to May 28, 2025, a portion of the fund's assets was managed by a different subadvisor pursuant to different investment strategies. The fund's performance shown below might have differed materially had the current subadvisor been the sole subadvisor prior to May 28, 2025.
Calendar year total returns (%)-Series I   
Best quarter:
Q4 2020
30.49%
Worst quarter:
Q1 2020
-35.31%
 
Average annual total returns (%)-as of 12/31/2025
1 year
5 year
10 year
Series I
9.18
10.54
10.04
Series II
8.94
10.32
9.82
Series NAV
9.22
10.59
10.09
Russell 3000 Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)
17.15
13.15
14.29
Russell 2000 Value Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)
12.59
8.88
9.27
Investment management
Investment advisor John Hancock Variable Trust Advisers LLC
Subadvisor Dimensional Fund Advisors LP
Portfolio management
The following individuals are jointly and primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the fund's portfolio. 
Jed S. Fogdall
Marc C. Leblond
Joel P. Schneider
Global Head of Portfolio Management, Senior
Portfolio Manager and Vice President
Managed fund since 2012
Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President
Managed fund since 2020
Deputy Head of Portfolio Management, North
America, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice
President
Managed fund since 2015
Purchase and redemption of fund shares
Shares of the fund are not sold directly to the public but generally may be sold only to insurance companies and their separate accounts as the underlying investment options for variable annuity and variable life insurance contracts issued by such companies, to certain entities affiliated with the insurance companies, to those funds of JHVIT that operate as funds of funds and invest in other funds and to certain qualified retirement plans (qualified plans).
Shares of the fund are offered continuously, without sales charge, and are sold and redeemed each business day (which typically is any day the New York Stock Exchange is open) at a price equal to their net asset value (NAV) determined for that business day as set forth under "Valuation of shares" in this
4
Small Cap Opportunities Trust
prospectus. The Portfolio does not have minimum initial or subsequent investment requirements. Payment for shares redeemed will generally be made within seven days after receipt of a proper notice of redemption.
Taxes
Because shares of the fund may be purchased only through variable insurance contracts and qualified plans, it is expected that any dividends or capital gains distributions made by the fund will be exempt from current federal taxation if left to accumulate within the variable contract or qualified plan. Holders of variable insurance contracts should consult the prospectuses of their respective contracts for information on the federal income tax consequences to such holders.
Compensation of financial intermediaries
The fund is not sold directly to the general public but instead is offered as an underlying investment option for variable insurance contracts. The distributors of these contracts, the insurance companies that issue the contracts and their related companies (Related Parties), may pay compensation to broker-dealers and other intermediaries for distribution and other services and may enter into revenue sharing arrangements with certain intermediaries. The fund pays fees to the Related Parties for management, distribution and other services. Payments by insurance and related companies to intermediaries may create a conflict of interest by influencing them and their salespersons to recommend such contracts over other investments. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary's website for more information. In addition, payments by the funds to Related Parties may be a factor that an insurance company considers in including the funds as underlying investment options in variable insurance contracts. The prospectus (or other offering document) for your variable insurance contract may contain additional information about these payments.
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© 2026 John Hancock Distributors, LLC, Member FINRA, SIPC
200 Berkeley Street, Boston, MA 02116
John Hancock Variable Annuities: 800-344-1029
John Hancock Variable Life Insurance: 800-732-5543
johnhancock.com
SEC file number: 811-04146
4/27/26
John Hancock Variable Insurance Trust published this content on April 27, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via EDGAR on April 27, 2026 at 10:04 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]