PFFD vs VYM
Global X US Preferred ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, PFFD or VYM?
Preferred Stock against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM 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 | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.23% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $2.2B | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 6.48% | 2.24% |
| Holdings | 228 | 613 |
| YTD Return | -0.45% | +14.82%Best |
| 1Y Return | +0.50% | +20.84%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +4.99% | +18.64%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -0.98% | +12.28%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 10.6%Best | 14.9% |
| Max Drawdown | -31.3%Best | -35.7% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $9,520 | $17,845Best |
| Fund Family | Global X by mirae Asset | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Preferred Stock | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Sep 11, 2017 | Nov 10, 2006 |
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 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 9 years both funds cover.
PFFD vs VYM Performance
Global X US Preferred ETF (PFFD) is an ETF from Global X by mirae Asset and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year PFFD returned +0.50% while VYM returned +20.84%. Year to date, PFFD is down 0.45% versus a gain of 14.82% for VYM.
Over three years, PFFD compounded at +4.99% per year against +18.64% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are -0.98% and +12.28% respectively. Across the full 9-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +10.21% annualized vs +0.15%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VYM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.9% 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 -35.7% 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 0.64. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PFFD charges 0.23% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $23 vs $4 annually, a gap of $19 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PFFD currently yields 6.48% against 2.24% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
At least 3.2% of VYM'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.
VYM and PFFD share little of their money.
21 positions in common, counted across the 52 positions we hold weights for in PFFD and 603 in VYM, against full books of 228 and 613.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in PFFD | Weight in VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NEENextera Energy Inc | 1.74% | 0.76% | 0.98% |
| DUKDuke Energy Corp | 0.77% | 0.41% | 0.36% |
| USBUS Bancorp | 0.60% | 0.39% | 0.21% |
| XELXcel Energy Inc. | 0.66% | 0.21% | 0.45% |
| TFCTruist Financial Corp. | 0.53% | 0.26% | 0.27% |
| MTBM&T Bank Corp | 0.62% | 0.15% | 0.47% |
| RGAReinsurance Group of America, Incorporated | 0.56% | 0.06% | 0.50% |
| FITBFifth Third Bancorp | 0.36% | 0.21% | 0.15% |
| SYFSynchrony Financial | 0.45% | 0.11% | 0.34% |
| EQHEquitable Hldgs Inc. | 0.50% | 0.05% | 0.45% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of PFFD 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, PFFD or VYM?
PFFD has an expense ratio of 0.23% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $19 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, PFFD or VYM?
Over the past year PFFD returned +0.50% vs +20.84% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (9 years), PFFD annualized +0.15% vs +10.21% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PFFD or VYM?
VYM has been the more volatile fund at 14.9% annualized versus 10.6% for PFFD. Worst drawdown: PFFD -31.3% vs VYM -35.7%.
Should I hold both PFFD and VYM?
PFFD and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.64, 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 VYM?
At least 3.2% of VYM's money is in holdings PFFD also owns. Our book for PFFD is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 21 positions in common, counted across the 52 positions we hold weights for in PFFD and 603 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, PFFD or VYM?
PFFD yields 6.48% while VYM yields 2.24%, so PFFD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than PFFD?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM 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.