EPRF vs VYM
Innovator S&P Investment Grade Preferred ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, EPRF or VYM?
Preferred Stock against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM 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 | EPRF | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.47% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $67M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 5.63% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 162 | 613 |
| YTD Return | -8.71% | +12.29%Best |
| 1Y Return | -13.33% | +16.61%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +0.33% | +17.42%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -3.79% | +12.12%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 10.6%Best | 14.1% |
| Max Drawdown | -26.8%Best | -35.7% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $8,243 | $17,718Best |
| Fund Family | Innovator ETFs Trust | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Preferred Stock | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | May 23, 2016 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: May 24, 2016 to Sep 17, 2026 (10.3 years).
EPRF vs VYM 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 10.3 years both funds cover.
EPRF vs VYM Performance
Innovator S&P Investment Grade Preferred ETF (EPRF) is an ETF from Innovator ETFs Trust and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year EPRF returned -13.33% while VYM returned +16.61%. Year to date, EPRF is down 8.71% versus a gain of 12.29% for VYM.
Over three years, EPRF compounded at +0.33% per year against +17.42% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are -3.79% and +12.12% respectively. Across the full 10-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +10.11% annualized vs +0.50%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VYM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.1% compared with 10.6% for EPRF. 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 -26.8% for EPRF and -35.7% for VYM. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.55. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
EPRF charges 0.47% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $47 vs $4 annually, a gap of $43 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, EPRF currently yields 5.63% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.7% of VYM's money is in holdings EPRF also owns.
Stated as a floor: for EPRF, our book for it covers 89.8% 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.
3 positions in common, counted across the 69 positions we hold weights for in EPRF and 557 in VYM, against full books of 162 and 613.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of EPRF and VYM 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 is cheaper, EPRF or VYM?
EPRF has an expense ratio of 0.47% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $43 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, EPRF or VYM?
Over the past year EPRF returned -13.33% vs +16.61% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (10 years), EPRF annualized +0.50% vs +10.11% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, EPRF or VYM?
VYM has been the more volatile fund at 14.1% annualized versus 10.6% for EPRF. Worst drawdown: EPRF -26.8% vs VYM -35.7%.
Should I hold both EPRF and VYM?
EPRF and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.55, 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, EPRF or VYM?
EPRF yields 5.63% while VYM yields 2.22%, so EPRF currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than EPRF?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM 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.