PCF vs VOO
Putnam High Income Securities Fund vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, PCF or VOO?
Debt-oriented balanced against Large Cap Blend.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO 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 | PCF | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 4.77% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $112M | $1.0T |
| Dividend Yield | 11.57% | 1.05% |
| Holdings | 192 | 519 |
| YTD Return | -11.11% | +12.11%Best |
| 1Y Return | -11.75% | +12.50%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +3.98% | +21.54%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +0.01% | +11.93%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.7% | 14.0%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -45.7% | -34.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $10,005 | $17,568Best |
| Fund Family | Putnam Investments | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Debt-oriented balanced | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jul 9, 1987 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 9, 2010 to Nov 11, 2026 (16.2 years).
PCF vs VOO 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 is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.
PCF vs VOO Performance
Putnam High Income Securities Fund (PCF) is an ETF from Putnam Investments and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year PCF returned -11.75% while VOO returned +12.50%. Year to date, PCF is down 11.11% versus a gain of 12.11% for VOO.
Over three years, PCF compounded at +3.98% per year against +21.54% for VOO; over five years the annualized figures are +0.01% and +11.93% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, VOO has the edge at +13.24% annualized vs +0.78%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
PCF has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.7% compared with 14.0% for VOO. 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 -45.7% for PCF and -34.3% for VOO. 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
PCF charges 4.77% per year while VOO charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $477 vs $3 annually, a gap of $474 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PCF currently yields 11.57% against 1.05% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 106 holdings in PCF and 506 in VOO, totalling 90.1% and 100.2% 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 106 positions we hold weights for in PCF and 506 in VOO, against full books of 192 and 519.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of PCF and VOO 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, PCF or VOO?
PCF has an expense ratio of 4.77% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $474 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, PCF or VOO?
Over the past year PCF returned -11.75% vs +12.50% for VOO, so VOO leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), PCF annualized +0.78% vs +13.24% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PCF or VOO?
PCF has been the more volatile fund at 14.7% annualized versus 14.0% for VOO. Worst drawdown: PCF -45.7% vs VOO -34.3%.
Should I hold both PCF and VOO?
PCF and VOO 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, PCF or VOO?
PCF yields 11.57% while VOO yields 1.05%, so PCF currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than PCF?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO 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.