FFC vs VYM
Flaherty & Crumrine Preferred Securities Income Fund Incorporated vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, FFC 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 | FFC | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.23% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $826M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 7.20% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 252 | 613 |
| YTD Return | -1.84% | +11.35%Best |
| 1Y Return | -1.14% | +15.34%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +13.58% | +17.22%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -0.31% | +12.30%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 20.9% | 14.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -80.8% | -58.8%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $9,846 | $17,861Best |
| Fund Family | Flaherty & Crumrine | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Preferred Stock | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Jan 31, 2003 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 16, 2006 to Sep 18, 2026 (19.8 years).
FFC 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 19.8 years both funds cover.
FFC vs VYM Performance
Flaherty & Crumrine Preferred Securities Income Fund Incorporated (FFC) is an ETF from Flaherty & Crumrine and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year FFC returned -1.14% while VYM returned +15.34%. Year to date, FFC is down 1.84% versus a gain of 11.35% for VYM.
Over three years, FFC compounded at +13.58% per year against +17.22% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are -0.31% and +12.30% respectively. Across the full 20-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +6.82% annualized vs +0.42%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
FFC has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 20.9% compared with 14.6% for VYM. 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 -80.8% for FFC and -58.8% 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 0.45. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
FFC charges 1.23% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $123 vs $4 annually, a gap of $119 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, FFC currently yields 7.20% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
At least 2.3% of VYM's money is in holdings FFC also owns.
Stated as a floor: for FFC, our book for it covers 81.0% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
VYM and FFC share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 61 days apart, FFC as of May 31, 2026 and VYM 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 222 positions we hold weights for in FFC and 557 in VYM, against full books of 252 and 613.
Top Shared Holdings
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of FFC 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, FFC or VYM?
FFC has an expense ratio of 1.23% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $119 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, FFC or VYM?
Over the past year FFC returned -1.14% vs +15.34% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (20 years), FFC annualized +0.42% vs +6.82% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, FFC or VYM?
FFC has been the more volatile fund at 20.9% annualized versus 14.6% for VYM. Worst drawdown: FFC -80.8% vs VYM -58.8%.
Should I hold both FFC and VYM?
FFC and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.45, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between FFC and VYM?
At least 2.3% of VYM's money is in holdings FFC also owns. Our book for FFC is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 5 positions in common, counted across the 222 positions we hold weights for in FFC and 557 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, FFC or VYM?
FFC yields 7.20% while VYM yields 2.22%, so FFC currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than FFC?
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.