PSF vs VOO
Cohen & Steers Select Preferred and Income Fund Inc. vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, PSF or VOO?
Preferred Stock against Large Cap Blend.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO 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 | PSF | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.59% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $2,687.94 | $997.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 7.02% | 1.04% |
| Holdings | 332 | 509 |
| YTD Return | -2.82% | +12.50%Best |
| 1Y Return | -1.79% | +17.58%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +9.73% | +21.27%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -0.66% | +12.95%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.6% | 14.2%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -55.4% | -34.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $9,674 | $18,384Best |
| Fund Family | Cohen & Steers Funds | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Preferred Stock | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Nov 24, 2010 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 24, 2010 to Sep 11, 2026 (15.8 years).
PSF vs VOO 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.
PSF vs VOO Performance
Cohen & Steers Select Preferred and Income Fund Inc. (PSF) is an ETF from Cohen & Steers Funds and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year PSF returned -1.79% while VOO returned +17.58%. Year to date, PSF is down 2.82% versus a gain of 12.50% for VOO.
Over three years, PSF compounded at +9.73% per year against +21.27% for VOO; over five years the annualized figures are -0.66% and +12.95% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, VOO has the edge at +13.03% annualized vs +0.99%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
PSF has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.6% compared with 14.2% for VOO. 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 -55.4% for PSF and -34.3% for VOO. 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
PSF charges 1.59% per year while VOO charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $159 vs $3 annually, a gap of $156 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PSF currently yields 7.02% against 1.04% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.8% of VOO's money is in holdings PSF also owns.
Stated as a floor: for PSF, our book for it covers 86.8% 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 91 days apart, PSF as of Mar 31, 2026 and VOO as of Jun 30, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
5 positions in common, counted across the 186 positions we hold weights for in PSF and 505 in VOO, against full books of 332 and 509.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of PSF and VOO 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, PSF or VOO?
PSF has an expense ratio of 1.59% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $156 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, PSF or VOO?
Over the past year PSF returned -1.79% vs +17.58% for VOO, so VOO leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), PSF annualized +0.99% vs +13.03% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PSF or VOO?
PSF has been the more volatile fund at 16.6% annualized versus 14.2% for VOO. Worst drawdown: PSF -55.4% vs VOO -34.3%.
Should I hold both PSF and VOO?
PSF and VOO 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, PSF or VOO?
PSF yields 7.02% while VOO yields 1.04%, so PSF currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than PSF?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO 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.