PFFD vs SPY
Global X US Preferred ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, PFFD or SPY?
Preferred Stock against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY 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 | PFFD | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.23% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $2.2B | $814.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 6.48% | 1.01% |
| Holdings | 228 | 505 |
| YTD Return | -0.45% | +13.34%Best |
| 1Y Return | +0.50% | +19.97%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +4.99% | +21.20%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -0.98% | +12.81%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 10.6%Best | 16.1% |
| Max Drawdown | -31.3%Best | -34.1% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $9,520 | $18,270Best |
| Fund Family | Global X by mirae Asset | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Preferred Stock | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Sep 11, 2017 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 13, 2017 to Sep 4, 2026 (9 years).
PFFD vs SPY 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.
PFFD vs SPY Performance
Global X US Preferred ETF (PFFD) is an ETF from Global X by mirae Asset and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year PFFD returned +0.50% while SPY returned +19.97%. Year to date, PFFD is down 0.45% versus a gain of 13.34% for SPY.
Over three years, PFFD compounded at +4.99% per year against +21.20% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are -0.98% and +12.81% respectively. Across the full 9-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +14.29% annualized vs +0.15%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.1% compared with 10.6% for PFFD. 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 -31.3% for PFFD and -34.1% for SPY. 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
PFFD charges 0.23% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $23 vs $9 annually, a gap of $14 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PFFD currently yields 6.48% against 1.01% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
At least 1.5% of SPY's money is in holdings PFFD also owns.
Stated as a floor: for PFFD, our book for it covers 22.8% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
SPY and PFFD share little of their money.
15 positions in common, counted across the 52 positions we hold weights for in PFFD and 504 in SPY, against full books of 228 and 505.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in PFFD | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NEENextera Energy Inc | 1.74% | 0.27% | 1.47% |
| DUKDuke Energy Corp | 0.77% | 0.15% | 0.62% |
| SCHWSchwab Strategic T | 0.57% | 0.26% | 0.31% |
| USBUS Bancorp | 0.60% | 0.15% | 0.45% |
| XELXcel Energy Inc. | 0.66% | 0.07% | 0.59% |
| MTBM&T Bank Corp | 0.62% | 0.06% | 0.56% |
| TFCTruist Financial Corp. | 0.53% | 0.10% | 0.43% |
| SYFSynchrony Financial | 0.45% | 0.04% | 0.41% |
| FITBFifth Third Bancorp | 0.36% | 0.08% | 0.28% |
| PSAPublic Storage | 0.31% | 0.08% | 0.23% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of PFFD and SPY 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, PFFD or SPY?
PFFD has an expense ratio of 0.23% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $14 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, PFFD or SPY?
Over the past year PFFD returned +0.50% vs +19.97% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (9 years), PFFD annualized +0.15% vs +14.29% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PFFD or SPY?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 16.1% annualized versus 10.6% for PFFD. Worst drawdown: PFFD -31.3% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both PFFD and SPY?
PFFD and SPY 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.
What is the holdings overlap between PFFD and SPY?
At least 1.5% of SPY's money is in holdings PFFD also owns. Our book for PFFD is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 15 positions in common, counted across the 52 positions we hold weights for in PFFD and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, PFFD or SPY?
PFFD yields 6.48% while SPY yields 1.01%, so PFFD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than PFFD?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY 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.