FPF vs VYM
First Trust Intermediate Duration Preferred & Income Fund vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, FPF 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 | FPF | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.78% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $1.8B | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 8.80% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 230 | 613 |
| YTD Return | -5.04% | +11.35%Best |
| 1Y Return | -7.30% | +15.34%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +13.38% | +17.22%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -0.08% | +12.30%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.0% | 13.4%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -54.6% | -35.7%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $9,960 | $17,861Best |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Preferred Stock | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | May 24, 2013 | 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, 2013 to Sep 18, 2026 (13.3 years).
FPF 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 13.3 years both funds cover.
FPF vs VYM Performance
First Trust Intermediate Duration Preferred & Income Fund (FPF) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US) and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year FPF returned -7.30% while VYM returned +15.34%. Year to date, FPF is down 5.04% versus a gain of 11.35% for VYM.
Over three years, FPF compounded at +13.38% per year against +17.22% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are -0.08% and +12.30% respectively. Across the full 13-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +9.19% annualized vs +0.40%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
FPF has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.0% compared with 13.4% 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 -54.6% for FPF 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 0.64. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
FPF charges 1.78% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $178 vs $4 annually, a gap of $174 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, FPF currently yields 8.80% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
At least 1.6% of VYM's money is in holdings FPF also owns.
Stated as a floor: for FPF, our book for it covers 78.9% 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 FPF share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 92 days apart, FPF as of Apr 30, 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.
4 positions in common, counted across the 197 positions we hold weights for in FPF and 557 in VYM, against full books of 230 and 613.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of FPF 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, FPF or VYM?
FPF has an expense ratio of 1.78% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $174 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, FPF or VYM?
Over the past year FPF returned -7.30% vs +15.34% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (13 years), FPF annualized +0.40% vs +9.19% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, FPF or VYM?
FPF has been the more volatile fund at 15.0% annualized versus 13.4% for VYM. Worst drawdown: FPF -54.6% vs VYM -35.7%.
Should I hold both FPF and VYM?
FPF and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.64, 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 FPF and VYM?
At least 1.6% of VYM's money is in holdings FPF also owns. Our book for FPF is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 4 positions in common, counted across the 197 positions we hold weights for in FPF and 557 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, FPF or VYM?
FPF yields 8.80% while VYM yields 2.22%, so FPF currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than FPF?
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.