PBFR vs VYM
PGIM Laddered S&P 500 Buffer 20 ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, PBFR or VYM?
Option Writing against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 26.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 83.3%.
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 | PBFR | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.50% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $219M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.01% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 16 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +7.22% | +10.96%Best |
| 1Y Return | +9.66% | +15.42%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +17.78% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.05% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 4.2%Best | 10.5% |
| Max Drawdown | -8.5%Best | -14.5% |
| $10,000 over 2.3 years | $12,527 | $14,251Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 83.3% | 26.1%Best |
| Fund Family | PGIM Investments | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | Option Writing | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Jun 11, 2024 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2.3 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 13, 2024 to Sep 22, 2026 (2.3 years).
PBFR 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 2.3 years both funds cover.
PBFR vs VYM Performance
PGIM Laddered S&P 500 Buffer 20 ETF (PBFR) is an ETF from PGIM Investments and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year PBFR returned +9.66% while VYM returned +15.42%. Year to date, PBFR is up 7.22% versus a gain of 10.96% for VYM.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VYM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 10.5% compared with 4.2% for PBFR. 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 -8.5% for PBFR and -14.5% 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 0.69. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PBFR charges 0.50% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $50 vs $4 annually, a gap of $46 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PBFR currently yields 0.01% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 12 holdings in PBFR and 557 in VYM, totalling 100.0% and 99.2% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 12 positions we hold weights for in PBFR and 557 in VYM, against full books of 16 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 528 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for PBFR (97.1% of the fund), and 12 for PBFR that do not appear in VYM (100.0%).
Some of those will be the same company recorded under a different code in one of the two books, so the real difference in what you would own is no larger than this and may be smaller. We do not name the individual positions here for that reason.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of PBFR 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, PBFR or VYM?
PBFR has an expense ratio of 0.50% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $46 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, PBFR or VYM?
Over the past year PBFR returned +9.66% vs +15.42% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), PBFR annualized +10.29% vs +16.65% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PBFR or VYM?
VYM has been the more volatile fund at 10.5% annualized versus 4.2% for PBFR. Worst drawdown: PBFR -8.5% vs VYM -14.5%.
Should I hold both PBFR and VYM?
PBFR and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.69, 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, PBFR or VYM?
PBFR yields 0.01% while VYM yields 2.22%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than PBFR?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 26.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 83.3%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.