PGX vs VTI
Invesco Preferred ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, PGX 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 | PGX | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.50% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $3.7B | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 6.51% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 270 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | -5.93% | +13.60%Best |
| 1Y Return | -7.13% | +18.17%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +3.75% | +23.04%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -1.85% | +12.14%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.4%Best | 16.1% |
| Max Drawdown | -69.5% | -52.6%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $9,109 | $17,734Best |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Preferred Stock | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jan 31, 2008 | May 24, 2001 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 31, 2008 to Sep 25, 2026 (18.7 years).
PGX 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.
PGX vs VTI Performance
Invesco Preferred ETF (PGX) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year PGX returned -7.13% while VTI returned +18.17%. Year to date, PGX is down 5.93% versus a gain of 13.60% for VTI.
Over three years, PGX compounded at +3.75% per year against +23.04% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are -1.85% and +12.14% respectively. Across the full 19-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +10.10% annualized vs -1.93%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VTI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.1% compared with 14.4% for PGX. 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 -69.5% for PGX and -52.6% 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 0.56. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PGX charges 0.50% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $50 vs $3 annually, a gap of $47 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PGX currently yields 6.51% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
At least 3.8% of VTI's money is in holdings PGX also owns.
Stated as a floor: for PGX, our book for it covers 90.0% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
VTI and PGX share little of their money.
50 positions in common, counted across the 233 positions we hold weights for in PGX and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 270 and 3,543.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in PGX | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| BACBank of America Corp.: Financials | 1.27% | 0.55% | 0.72% |
| TBBAt&t Inc | 1.00% | 0.22% | 0.78% |
| MSMorgan Stanley | 0.84% | 0.35% | 0.49% |
| NEENextera Energy Inc | 0.81% | 0.25% | 0.56% |
| CCitigroup Inc. | 0.75% | 0.30% | 0.45% |
| COFCapital One Financial Corp. | 0.83% | 0.18% | 0.65% |
| ALLAllstate Corp. | 0.84% | 0.09% | 0.75% |
| SCHWSchwab Strategic T | 0.69% | 0.24% | 0.45% |
| XELXcel Energy Inc. | 0.79% | 0.07% | 0.72% |
| MTBM&T Bank Corp | 0.78% | 0.05% | 0.73% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of PGX 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, PGX or VTI?
PGX has an expense ratio of 0.50% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $47 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, PGX or VTI?
Over the past year PGX returned -7.13% vs +18.17% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (19 years), PGX annualized -1.93% vs +10.10% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PGX or VTI?
VTI has been the more volatile fund at 16.1% annualized versus 14.4% for PGX. Worst drawdown: PGX -69.5% vs VTI -52.6%.
Should I hold both PGX and VTI?
PGX and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.56, 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 PGX and VTI?
At least 3.8% of VTI's money is in holdings PGX also owns. Our book for PGX is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 50 positions in common, counted across the 233 positions we hold weights for in PGX and 3,463 in VTI.
Which pays a higher dividend, PGX or VTI?
PGX yields 6.51% while VTI yields 1.03%, so PGX currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than PGX?
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.