PFLD vs VYM
AAM Low Duration Preferred and Income Securities ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, PFLD 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 | PFLD | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.45% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $402M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 5.44% | 2.24% |
| Holdings | 324 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +2.87% | +14.82%Best |
| 1Y Return | +4.77% | +20.84%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +4.37% | +18.64%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +0.95% | +12.28%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 9.1%Best | 15.5% |
| Max Drawdown | -33.5%Best | -35.7% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $10,484 | $17,845Best |
| Fund Family | Advisors Asset Management, Inc. | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Preferred Stock | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Nov 19, 2019 | Nov 10, 2006 |
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 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 6.8 years both funds cover.
PFLD vs VYM Performance
AAM Low Duration Preferred and Income Securities ETF (PFLD) is an ETF from Advisors Asset Management, Inc. and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year PFLD returned +4.77% while VYM returned +20.84%. Year to date, PFLD is up 2.87% versus a gain of 14.82% for VYM.
Over three years, PFLD compounded at +4.37% per year against +18.64% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are +0.95% and +12.28% respectively. Across the full 7-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +11.70% annualized vs +1.27%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VYM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.5% 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 -35.7% 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 0.71. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PFLD charges 0.45% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $45 vs $4 annually, a gap of $41 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PFLD currently yields 5.44% against 2.24% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
At least 13.1% of VYM's money is in holdings PFLD also owns.
Stated as a floor: for PFLD, our book for it covers 71.6% 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 PFLD share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 150 days apart, PFLD as of Jan 31, 2026 and VYM as of Jun 30, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
32 positions in common, counted across the 230 positions we hold weights for in PFLD and 603 in VYM, against full books of 324 and 613.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in PFLD | Weight in VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| JPMJpmorgan Chase | 1.28% | 3.38% | 2.10% |
| BACBank Of America Corp | 0.86% | 1.56% | 0.70% |
| WFCWells Fargo & Co. | 1.05% | 1.05% | 0.00% |
| CCitigroup Inc. | 0.67% | 0.94% | 0.27% |
| GSGoldman Sachs Group Inc/The | 0.37% | 1.15% | 0.78% |
| MSMorgan Stanley | 0.44% | 0.97% | 0.53% |
| TFCTruist Financial Corp. | 0.85% | 0.26% | 0.59% |
| PNCPnc Financial Services Group Inc. | 0.65% | 0.41% | 0.24% |
| BKBank Of New York Mellon Corp | 0.63% | 0.41% | 0.22% |
| COFCapital One Financial Corp. | 0.50% | 0.52% | 0.02% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of PFLD 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, PFLD or VYM?
PFLD has an expense ratio of 0.45% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $41 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, PFLD or VYM?
Over the past year PFLD returned +4.77% vs +20.84% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (7 years), PFLD annualized +1.27% vs +11.70% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PFLD or VYM?
VYM has been the more volatile fund at 15.5% annualized versus 9.1% for PFLD. Worst drawdown: PFLD -33.5% vs VYM -35.7%.
Should I hold both PFLD and VYM?
PFLD and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.71, 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 PFLD and VYM?
At least 13.1% of VYM's money is in holdings PFLD also owns. Our book for PFLD is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 32 positions in common, counted across the 230 positions we hold weights for in PFLD and 603 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, PFLD or VYM?
PFLD yields 5.44% while VYM yields 2.24%, so PFLD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than PFLD?
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.