PFLD vs VTI
AAM Low Duration Preferred and Income Securities ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, PFLD 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 | PFLD | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.45% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $402M | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 5.44% | 1.07% |
| Holdings | 324 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | +2.87% | +13.59%Best |
| 1Y Return | +4.77% | +20.00%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +4.37% | +20.95%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +0.95% | +11.81%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 9.1%Best | 17.3% |
| Max Drawdown | -33.5%Best | -35.0% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $10,484 | $17,474Best |
| Fund Family | Advisors Asset Management, Inc. | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Preferred Stock | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Nov 19, 2019 | May 24, 2001 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 20, 2019 to Sep 4, 2026 (6.8 years).
PFLD 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 covers the 6.8 years both funds cover.
PFLD vs VTI Performance
AAM Low Duration Preferred and Income Securities ETF (PFLD) is an ETF from Advisors Asset Management, Inc. and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year PFLD returned +4.77% while VTI returned +20.00%. Year to date, PFLD is up 2.87% versus a gain of 13.59% for VTI.
Over three years, PFLD compounded at +4.37% per year against +20.95% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +0.95% and +11.81% respectively. Across the full 7-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +15.05% annualized vs +1.27%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VTI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.3% compared with 9.1% for PFLD. 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 -33.5% for PFLD 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 0.76. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PFLD charges 0.45% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $45 vs $3 annually, a gap of $42 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PFLD currently yields 5.44% against 1.07% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 230 holdings in PFLD and 2,787 in VTI, totalling 71.6% and 92.3% of the two funds. Neither is a share of a fund we can divide by, so no overlap percentage is shown here. Within what we can see, 47 positions appear in both.
The two holdings books were reported 150 days apart, PFLD as of Jan 31, 2026 and VTI as of Jun 30, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
47 positions in common, counted across the 230 positions we hold weights for in PFLD and 2,787 in VTI, against full books of 324 and 3,543.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in PFLD | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| JPMJpmorgan Chase | 1.28% | 1.11% | 0.17% |
| WFCWells Fargo & Co. | 1.05% | 0.35% | 0.70% |
| BACBank Of America Corp | 0.86% | 0.50% | 0.36% |
| SCHWSchwab Strategic T | 1.05% | 0.21% | 0.84% |
| AXPAmerican Express Co. | 0.79% | 0.25% | 0.54% |
| CCitigroup Inc. | 0.67% | 0.32% | 0.35% |
| TFCTruist Financial Corp. | 0.85% | 0.09% | 0.76% |
| STTState Street Corp. | 0.77% | 0.06% | 0.71% |
| PNCPnc Financial Services Group Inc. | 0.65% | 0.14% | 0.51% |
| MSMorgan Stanley | 0.44% | 0.34% | 0.10% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of PFLD 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, PFLD or VTI?
PFLD has an expense ratio of 0.45% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $42 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, PFLD or VTI?
Over the past year PFLD returned +4.77% vs +20.00% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (7 years), PFLD annualized +1.27% vs +15.05% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PFLD or VTI?
VTI has been the more volatile fund at 17.3% annualized versus 9.1% for PFLD. Worst drawdown: PFLD -33.5% vs VTI -35.0%.
Should I hold both PFLD and VTI?
PFLD and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.76, 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, PFLD or VTI?
PFLD yields 5.44% while VTI yields 1.07%, so PFLD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than PFLD?
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.