They are not the same.
LS is TTL interface and HCT is CMOS interface, but in HCT the T shows, that the HCT-type is TTL compatible.
So replacing LS by HCT will work in most cases, but not in all, depends on the circuit, you want to put in.
But should work, if you want to replace a LS374 in WPC-machine applications.
Read also here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Logic_family