NPFD vs VTI
Nuveen Variable Rate Preferred & Income Fund vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, NPFD or VTI?
Preferred Stock against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y, 3Y 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 | NPFD | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.83% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | - | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 9.88% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 189 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | +3.27% | +12.34%Best |
| 1Y Return | +3.60% | +18.37%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +15.14% | +20.62%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +11.68% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.4% | 16.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -39.2% | -25.4%Best |
| $10,000 over 4.7 years | $11,077 | $16,920Best |
| Fund Family | Nuveen | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Preferred Stock | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Dec 15, 2021 | May 24, 2001 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 4.7 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 16, 2021 to Sep 9, 2026 (4.7 years).
NPFD vs VTI 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 4.7 years both funds cover.
NPFD vs VTI Performance
Nuveen Variable Rate Preferred & Income Fund (NPFD) is an ETF from Nuveen and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year NPFD returned +3.60% while VTI returned +18.37%. Year to date, NPFD is up 3.27% versus a gain of 12.34% for VTI.
Over three years, NPFD compounded at +15.14% per year against +20.62% for VTI.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
NPFD has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.4% compared with 16.1% for VTI. 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 -39.2% for NPFD and -25.4% for VTI. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.72. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
NPFD charges 0.83% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $83 vs $3 annually, a gap of $80 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, NPFD currently yields 9.88% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 142 holdings in NPFD and 2,787 in VTI, totalling 78.1% and 92.3% 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.
2 positions in common, counted across the 142 positions we hold weights for in NPFD and 2,787 in VTI, against full books of 189 and 3,543.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of NPFD and VTI 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, NPFD or VTI?
NPFD has an expense ratio of 0.83% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $80 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, NPFD or VTI?
Over the past year NPFD returned +3.60% vs +18.37% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, NPFD or VTI?
NPFD has been the more volatile fund at 16.4% annualized versus 16.1% for VTI. Worst drawdown: NPFD -39.2% vs VTI -25.4%.
Should I hold both NPFD and VTI?
NPFD and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.72, 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, NPFD or VTI?
NPFD yields 9.88% while VTI yields 1.03%, so NPFD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than NPFD?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.