PFFD vs VTI
Global X US Preferred ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, PFFD or VTI?
Preferred Stock against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI 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 | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.23% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $2.1B | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 6.54% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 228 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | -2.84% | +13.60%Best |
| 1Y Return | -2.77% | +18.17%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +4.61% | +23.04%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -1.33% | +12.14%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 10.6%Best | 16.6% |
| Max Drawdown | -31.3%Best | -35.0% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $9,352 | $17,734Best |
| Fund Family | Global X by mirae Asset | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Preferred Stock | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Sep 11, 2017 | May 24, 2001 |
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 25, 2026 (9 years).
PFFD 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 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 VTI Performance
Global X US Preferred ETF (PFFD) is an ETF from Global X by mirae Asset and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year PFFD returned -2.77% while VTI returned +18.17%. Year to date, PFFD is down 2.84% versus a gain of 13.60% for VTI.
Over three years, PFFD compounded at +4.61% per year against +23.04% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are -1.33% and +12.14% respectively. Across the full 9-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +13.72% annualized vs -0.12%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VTI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.6% 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 -35.0% 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 0.73. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PFFD charges 0.23% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $23 vs $3 annually, a gap of $20 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PFFD currently yields 6.54% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
At least 1.6% of VTI's money is in holdings PFFD also owns.
Stated as a floor: for PFFD, our book for it covers 23.0% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
VTI and PFFD share little of their money.
34 positions in common, counted across the 52 positions we hold weights for in PFFD and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 228 and 3,543.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in PFFD | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NEENextera Energy Inc | 1.70% | 0.25% | 1.45% |
| DUKDuke Energy Corp | 0.77% | 0.14% | 0.63% |
| SCHWSchwab Strategic T | 0.56% | 0.24% | 0.32% |
| USBUS Bancorp | 0.61% | 0.14% | 0.47% |
| XELXcel Energy Inc. | 0.66% | 0.07% | 0.59% |
| MTBM&T Bank Corp | 0.64% | 0.05% | 0.59% |
| TFCTruist Financial Corp. | 0.53% | 0.09% | 0.44% |
| NOVTNovanta Inc. Common Stock | 0.59% | 0.01% | 0.58% |
| RGAReinsurance Group of America, Incorporated | 0.58% | 0.02% | 0.56% |
| EQHEquitable Hldgs Inc. | 0.51% | 0.02% | 0.49% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of PFFD 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, PFFD or VTI?
PFFD has an expense ratio of 0.23% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $20 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, PFFD or VTI?
Over the past year PFFD returned -2.77% vs +18.17% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (9 years), PFFD annualized -0.12% vs +13.72% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PFFD or VTI?
VTI has been the more volatile fund at 16.6% annualized versus 10.6% for PFFD. Worst drawdown: PFFD -31.3% vs VTI -35.0%.
Should I hold both PFFD and VTI?
PFFD and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.73, 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 VTI?
At least 1.6% of VTI's money is in holdings PFFD also owns. Our book for PFFD is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 34 positions in common, counted across the 52 positions we hold weights for in PFFD and 3,463 in VTI.
Which pays a higher dividend, PFFD or VTI?
PFFD yields 6.54% while VTI yields 1.03%, so PFFD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than PFFD?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI 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.