DFP vs VXUS
Flaherty & Crumrine Dynamic Preferred and Income Fund Inc. vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, DFP or VXUS?
Preferred Stock against Large Cap Blend.
VXUS 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 | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | - | 0.05% |
| AUM | $457M | $158.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 6.92% | 2.59% |
| Holdings | 245 | 8,747 |
| YTD Return | +1.49% | +16.15%Best |
| 1Y Return | +2.89% | +27.58%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +12.97% | +20.48%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +0.12% | +9.09%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.3% | 15.0%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -48.0% | -39.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $10,060 | $15,450Best |
| Fund Family | Flaherty & Crumrine | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Preferred Stock | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | May 24, 2013 | Jan 26, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 28, 2011 to Sep 4, 2026 (15.6 years).
DFP vs VXUS 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 15.6 years both funds cover.
DFP vs VXUS Performance
Flaherty & Crumrine Dynamic Preferred and Income Fund Inc. (DFP) is an ETF from Flaherty & Crumrine and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year DFP returned +2.89% while VXUS returned +27.58%. Year to date, DFP is up 1.49% versus a gain of 16.15% for VXUS.
Over three years, DFP compounded at +12.97% per year against +20.48% for VXUS; over five years the annualized figures are +0.12% and +9.09% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, VXUS has the edge at +4.93% annualized vs +1.71%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
DFP has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.3% compared with 15.0% for VXUS. 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 -48.0% for DFP and -39.9% for VXUS. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.54. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 185 holdings in DFP and 8,094 in VXUS, totalling 125.2% and 87.7% of the two funds. Neither is a share of a fund we can divide by, so no overlap percentage is shown here. Within what we can see, 2 positions appear in both.
The two holdings books were reported 214 days apart, DFP as of Nov 28, 2025 and VXUS as of Jun 30, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
2 positions in common, counted across the 185 positions we hold weights for in DFP and 8,094 in VXUS, against full books of 245 and 8,747.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of DFP and VXUS 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 VXUS?
Over the past year DFP returned +2.89% vs +27.58% for VXUS, so VXUS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), DFP annualized +1.71% vs +4.93% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, DFP or VXUS?
DFP has been the more volatile fund at 15.3% annualized versus 15.0% for VXUS. Worst drawdown: DFP -48.0% vs VXUS -39.9%.
Should I hold both DFP and VXUS?
DFP and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.54, 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 VXUS?
DFP yields 6.92% while VXUS yields 2.59%, so DFP currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than DFP?
VXUS 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.