PFXF vs VTI
VanEck Preferred Securities ex Financials ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, PFXF or VTI?
Preferred Stock against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 47.2%.
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 | PFXF | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.40% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $2.4B | $690.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 6.52% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 240 | 3,524 |
| YTD Return | +1.97% | +12.51%Best |
| 1Y Return | +4.04% | +15.23%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +9.73% | +22.50%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +3.11% | +12.31%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 10.1%Best | 14.4% |
| Max Drawdown | -37.3% | -35.0%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $11,655 | $17,869Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 47.2% | 33.3%Best |
| Fund Family | VanEck | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Preferred Stock | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jul 16, 2012 | May 24, 2001 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 17, 2012 to Oct 1, 2026 (14.2 years).
PFXF 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.
PFXF vs VTI Performance
VanEck Preferred Securities ex Financials ETF (PFXF) is an ETF from VanEck and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year PFXF returned +4.04% while VTI returned +15.23%. Year to date, PFXF is up 1.97% versus a gain of 12.51% for VTI.
Over three years, PFXF compounded at +9.73% per year against +22.50% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +3.11% and +12.31% respectively. Across the full 14-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +13.20% annualized vs +1.66%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VTI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.4% compared with 10.1% for PFXF. 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 -37.3% for PFXF 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 0.74. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PFXF charges 0.40% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $40 vs $3 annually, a gap of $37 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PFXF currently yields 6.52% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
8.1% of PFXF's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 0.1% of VTI's money is in holdings PFXF also owns.
PFXF and VTI share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 46 days apart, PFXF as of Sep 15, 2026 and VTI as of Jul 31, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
3 positions in common, counted across the 114 positions we hold weights for in PFXF and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 240 and 3,524.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1,147 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for PFXF (97.3% of the fund), and 106 for PFXF that do not appear in VTI (84.5%).
Some of those will be the same company recorded under a different code in one of the two books, so the real difference in what you would own is no larger than this and may be smaller. We do not name the individual positions here for that reason.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of PFXF 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, PFXF or VTI?
PFXF has an expense ratio of 0.40% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $37 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, PFXF or VTI?
Over the past year PFXF returned +4.04% vs +15.23% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (14 years), PFXF annualized +1.66% vs +13.20% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PFXF or VTI?
VTI has been the more volatile fund at 14.4% annualized versus 10.1% for PFXF. Worst drawdown: PFXF -37.3% vs VTI -35.0%.
Should I hold both PFXF and VTI?
PFXF and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.74, 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 PFXF and VTI?
8.1% of PFXF's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 0.1% of VTI's is in holdings PFXF also owns. They hold 3 positions in common, counted across the 114 positions we hold weights for in PFXF and 3,463 in VTI.
Which pays a higher dividend, PFXF or VTI?
PFXF yields 6.52% while VTI yields 1.03%, so PFXF currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than PFXF?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 47.2%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.