PFRL vs VYM
PGIM Floating Rate Income ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, PFRL or VYM?
Long Term High Quality against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y, 3Y 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 | PFRL | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.72% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $126M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 7.67% | 2.24% |
| Holdings | 473 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +4.21% | +14.33%Best |
| 1Y Return | +5.70% | +20.01%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +7.75% | +18.43%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.16% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 3.5%Best | 13.8% |
| Max Drawdown | -8.8%Best | -14.5% |
| $10,000 over 4.3 years | $13,956 | $17,108Best |
| Fund Family | PGIM Investments | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | Long Term High Quality | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | May 17, 2022 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 4.3 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: May 24, 2022 to Sep 8, 2026 (4.3 years).
PFRL 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 4.3 years both funds cover.
PFRL vs VYM Performance
PGIM Floating Rate Income ETF (PFRL) is an ETF from PGIM Investments and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year PFRL returned +5.70% while VYM returned +20.01%. Year to date, PFRL is up 4.21% versus a gain of 14.33% for VYM.
Over three years, PFRL compounded at +7.75% per year against +18.43% for VYM. Across the full 4-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +13.30% annualized vs +8.06%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VYM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 13.8% compared with 3.5% for PFRL. 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 -8.8% for PFRL and -14.5% 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 0.65. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PFRL charges 0.72% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $72 vs $4 annually, a gap of $68 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PFRL currently yields 7.67% against 2.24% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.9% of VYM's money is in holdings PFRL also owns.
Stated as a floor: for PFRL, our book for it covers 8.9% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
1 positions in common, counted across the 35 positions we hold weights for in PFRL and 602 in VYM, against full books of 473 and 613.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in PFRL | Weight in VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| CCitigroup Inc 6.875 11/73 6.88 2173-11-15 | 0.12% | 0.94% | 0.82% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of PFRL 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, PFRL or VYM?
PFRL has an expense ratio of 0.72% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $68 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, PFRL or VYM?
Over the past year PFRL returned +5.70% vs +20.01% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (4 years), PFRL annualized +8.06% vs +13.30% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PFRL or VYM?
VYM has been the more volatile fund at 13.8% annualized versus 3.5% for PFRL. Worst drawdown: PFRL -8.8% vs VYM -14.5%.
Should I hold both PFRL and VYM?
PFRL and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.65, 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, PFRL or VYM?
PFRL yields 7.67% while VYM yields 2.24%, so PFRL currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than PFRL?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.