PGF vs VYM
Invesco Financial Preferred ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, PGF 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 | PGF | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.55% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $659M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 6.42% | 2.24% |
| Holdings | 102 | 613 |
| YTD Return | -3.03% | +14.82%Best |
| 1Y Return | -2.80% | +20.84%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +4.24% | +18.64%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -1.28% | +12.28%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.7% | 14.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -79.2% | -58.8%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $9,376 | $17,845Best |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Preferred Stock | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Dec 1, 2006 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 1, 2006 to Sep 4, 2026 (19.8 years).
PGF 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 19.8 years both funds cover.
PGF vs VYM Performance
Invesco Financial Preferred ETF (PGF) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year PGF returned -2.80% while VYM returned +20.84%. Year to date, PGF is down 3.03% versus a gain of 14.82% for VYM.
Over three years, PGF compounded at +4.24% per year against +18.64% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are -1.28% and +12.28% respectively. Across the full 20-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +7.02% annualized vs -1.60%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
PGF has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.7% compared with 14.6% for VYM. 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 -79.2% for PGF and -58.8% 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 0.52. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PGF charges 0.55% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $55 vs $4 annually, a gap of $51 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PGF currently yields 6.42% against 2.24% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
At least 5.2% of VYM's money is in holdings PGF also owns.
Stated as a floor: for PGF, our book for it covers 93.4% 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 PGF share little of their money.
13 positions in common, counted across the 93 positions we hold weights for in PGF and 603 in VYM, against full books of 102 and 613.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in PGF | Weight in VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| BACBank of America Corp.: Financials | 2.06% | 1.56% | 0.50% |
| CCitigroup Inc. | 1.53% | 0.94% | 0.59% |
| MSMorgan Stanley | 1.31% | 0.97% | 0.34% |
| ALLAllstate Corp. | 1.74% | 0.25% | 1.49% |
| MTBM&T Bank Corp | 1.52% | 0.15% | 1.37% |
| BKBank Of New York Mellon Corp | 0.97% | 0.41% | 0.56% |
| USBUS Bancorp | 0.96% | 0.39% | 0.57% |
| EQHEquitable Holdings Inc. | 1.20% | 0.05% | 1.15% |
| SYFSynchrony Financial | 1.13% | 0.11% | 1.02% |
| FITBFifth Third Bancorp | 0.80% | 0.21% | 0.59% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of PGF 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, PGF or VYM?
PGF has an expense ratio of 0.55% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $51 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, PGF or VYM?
Over the past year PGF returned -2.80% vs +20.84% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (20 years), PGF annualized -1.60% vs +7.02% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PGF or VYM?
PGF has been the more volatile fund at 17.7% annualized versus 14.6% for VYM. Worst drawdown: PGF -79.2% vs VYM -58.8%.
Should I hold both PGF and VYM?
PGF and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.52, 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 PGF and VYM?
At least 5.2% of VYM's money is in holdings PGF also owns. Our book for PGF is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 13 positions in common, counted across the 93 positions we hold weights for in PGF and 603 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, PGF or VYM?
PGF yields 6.42% while VYM yields 2.24%, so PGF currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than PGF?
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.