FFC vs VXUS
Flaherty & Crumrine Preferred Securities Income Fund Incorporated vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, FFC or VXUS?
Preferred Stock against Large Cap Blend.
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. 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 | FFC | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.23% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $826M | $158.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 7.20% | 2.51% |
| Holdings | 252 | 8,747 |
| YTD Return | -1.84% | +12.82%Best |
| 1Y Return | -1.14% | +19.86%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +13.58% | +19.33%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -0.31% | +9.46%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.4% | 15.0%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -54.3% | -39.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $9,846 | $15,714Best |
| Fund Family | Flaherty & Crumrine | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Preferred Stock | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jan 31, 2003 | 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 18, 2026 (15.6 years).
FFC 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.
FFC vs VXUS Performance
Flaherty & Crumrine Preferred Securities Income Fund Incorporated (FFC) is an ETF from Flaherty & Crumrine and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year FFC returned -1.14% while VXUS returned +19.86%. Year to date, FFC is down 1.84% versus a gain of 12.82% for VXUS.
Over three years, FFC compounded at +13.58% per year against +19.33% for VXUS; over five years the annualized figures are -0.31% and +9.46% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, VXUS has the edge at +4.72% annualized vs +2.23%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
FFC has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.4% 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 -54.3% for FFC 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 0.58. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
FFC charges 1.23% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $123 vs $5 annually, a gap of $118 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, FFC currently yields 7.20% against 2.51% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 222 holdings in FFC and 8,082 in VXUS, totalling 81.0% and 88.8% 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, 1 positions appear in both.
The two holdings books were reported 61 days apart, FFC as of May 31, 2026 and VXUS as of Jul 31, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
1 positions in common, counted across the 222 positions we hold weights for in FFC and 8,082 in VXUS, against full books of 252 and 8,747.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in FFC | Weight in VXUS | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| HSBA:LNHsbc Holdings Plc | 1.57% | 0.82% | 0.75% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of FFC 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 is cheaper, FFC or VXUS?
FFC has an expense ratio of 1.23% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $118 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, FFC or VXUS?
Over the past year FFC returned -1.14% vs +19.86% for VXUS, so VXUS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), FFC annualized +2.23% vs +4.72% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, FFC or VXUS?
FFC has been the more volatile fund at 15.4% annualized versus 15.0% for VXUS. Worst drawdown: FFC -54.3% vs VXUS -39.9%.
Should I hold both FFC and VXUS?
FFC and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.58, 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, FFC or VXUS?
FFC yields 7.20% while VXUS yields 2.51%, so FFC currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than FFC?
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. 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.