PQDI vs VYM
Principal Spectrum Preferred and Income ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, PQDI 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 | PQDI | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.60% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $111M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 5.69% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 105 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +0.58% | +13.91%Best |
| 1Y Return | +2.58% | +17.57%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +8.00% | +18.12%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +2.68% | +12.17%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 6.3%Best | 13.7% |
| Max Drawdown | -17.4% | -15.8%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $11,414 | $17,758Best |
| Fund Family | Principal Funds | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Preferred Stock | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Jun 16, 2020 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 17, 2020 to Sep 11, 2026 (6.2 years).
PQDI 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 6.2 years both funds cover.
PQDI vs VYM Performance
Principal Spectrum Preferred and Income ETF (PQDI) is an ETF from Principal Funds and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year PQDI returned +2.58% while VYM returned +17.57%. Year to date, PQDI is up 0.58% versus a gain of 13.91% for VYM.
Over three years, PQDI compounded at +8.00% per year against +18.12% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are +2.68% and +12.17% respectively. Across the full 6-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +14.76% annualized vs +3.81%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VYM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 13.7% compared with 6.3% for PQDI. 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 -17.4% for PQDI and -15.8% 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 0.62. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PQDI charges 0.60% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $60 vs $4 annually, a gap of $56 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PQDI currently yields 5.69% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.8% of VYM's money is in holdings PQDI also owns.
Stated as a floor: for PQDI, our book for it covers 60.5% 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.
The two holdings books were reported 49 days apart, PQDI as of Aug 18, 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.
3 positions in common, counted across the 72 positions we hold weights for in PQDI and 603 in VYM, against full books of 105 and 613.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of PQDI 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, PQDI or VYM?
PQDI has an expense ratio of 0.60% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $56 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, PQDI or VYM?
Over the past year PQDI returned +2.58% vs +17.57% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (6 years), PQDI annualized +3.81% vs +14.76% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PQDI or VYM?
VYM has been the more volatile fund at 13.7% annualized versus 6.3% for PQDI. Worst drawdown: PQDI -17.4% vs VYM -15.8%.
Should I hold both PQDI and VYM?
PQDI and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.62, 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, PQDI or VYM?
PQDI yields 5.69% while VYM yields 2.22%, so PQDI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than PQDI?
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.