DFP vs VTI
Flaherty & Crumrine Dynamic Preferred and Income Fund Inc. vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, DFP or VTI?
Preferred Stock against Large Cap Blend.
VTI led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window.
MarketXLS is not an investment adviser. This comparison is generated automatically from market data and is for information only. A Best mark means the better reading on that one measure, not a recommendation to buy.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | DFP | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | - | 0.03% |
| AUM | $441M | $690.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 6.98% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 273 | 3,524 |
| YTD Return | -3.29% | +13.35%Best |
| 1Y Return | -5.58% | +15.92%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +13.53% | +23.41%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -0.54% | +12.83%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 20.7% | 16.0%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -66.8% | -56.6%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $9,733 | $18,286Best |
| Fund Family | Flaherty & Crumrine | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Preferred Stock | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | May 24, 2013 | May 24, 2001 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 12, 2007 to Oct 2, 2026 (19.2 years).
DFP vs VTI growth
Month-end closes. Both lines start at 0% in the first month shown, so the gap between them is the difference in growth across that window. The full view covers the 19.2 years both funds cover.
DFP vs VTI Performance
Flaherty & Crumrine Dynamic Preferred and Income Fund Inc. (DFP) is an ETF from Flaherty & Crumrine and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year DFP returned -5.58% while VTI returned +15.92%. Year to date, DFP is down 3.29% versus a gain of 13.35% for VTI.
Over three years, DFP compounded at +13.53% per year against +23.41% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are -0.54% and +12.83% respectively. Across the full 19-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +9.08% annualized vs +0.90%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
DFP has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 20.7% compared with 16.0% for VTI. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -66.8% for DFP and -56.6% for VTI. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.53. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.4% of VTI's money is in holdings DFP also owns.
Stated as a floor: for DFP, our book for it covers 81.8% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
The two holdings books were reported 61 days apart, DFP as of May 31, 2026 and VTI as of Jul 31, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
5 positions in common, counted across the 217 positions we hold weights for in DFP and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 273 and 3,524.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in DFP | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| FITBFifth Third Bancorp 6.875 04/01/2174 6.875 | 1.20% | 0.07% | 1.13% |
| CCitigroup Inc V/R /Perp | 0.20% | 0.30% | 0.10% |
| FCNCAFirst Citizens Bancshares Inc/ Preferred Stock Var | 0.32% | 0.02% | 0.30% |
| MTBM&T Bank Corporation 6.35 12/15/2173 6.35 2173-12-15 | 0.23% | 0.05% | 0.18% |
| WAFDWashington Sr A 4.875 Pfd | 0.12% | 0.00% | 0.12% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of DFP and VTI you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which performed better, DFP or VTI?
Over the past year DFP returned -5.58% vs +15.92% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (19 years), DFP annualized +0.90% vs +9.08% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, DFP or VTI?
DFP has been the more volatile fund at 20.7% annualized versus 16.0% for VTI. Worst drawdown: DFP -66.8% vs VTI -56.6%.
Should I hold both DFP and VTI?
DFP and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.53, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, DFP or VTI?
DFP yields 6.98% while VTI yields 1.03%, so DFP currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than DFP?
VTI led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.