PSF vs VYM
Cohen & Steers Select Preferred and Income Fund Inc. vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, PSF 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 | PSF | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.59% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $2,687.94 | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 7.02% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 332 | 613 |
| YTD Return | -3.23% | +13.08%Best |
| 1Y Return | -3.22% | +17.46%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +9.23% | +17.73%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -0.58% | +12.22%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.6% | 12.9%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -55.4% | -35.7%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $9,713 | $17,797Best |
| Fund Family | Cohen & Steers Funds | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Preferred Stock | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Nov 24, 2010 | Nov 10, 2006 |
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 14, 2026 (15.8 years).
PSF 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 15.8 years both funds cover.
PSF vs VYM Performance
Cohen & Steers Select Preferred and Income Fund Inc. (PSF) is an ETF from Cohen & Steers Funds and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year PSF returned -3.22% while VYM returned +17.46%. Year to date, PSF is down 3.23% versus a gain of 13.08% for VYM.
Over three years, PSF compounded at +9.23% per year against +17.73% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are -0.58% and +12.22% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +10.26% annualized vs +0.96%.
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 12.9% 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 -55.4% for PSF and -35.7% 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 0.58. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PSF charges 1.59% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $159 vs $4 annually, a gap of $155 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PSF currently yields 7.02% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
At least 2.0% of VYM'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.
VYM and PSF share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 122 days apart, PSF as of Mar 31, 2026 and VYM as of Jul 31, 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 557 in VYM, against full books of 332 and 613.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of PSF 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, PSF or VYM?
PSF has an expense ratio of 1.59% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $155 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, PSF or VYM?
Over the past year PSF returned -3.22% vs +17.46% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), PSF annualized +0.96% vs +10.26% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PSF or VYM?
PSF has been the more volatile fund at 16.6% annualized versus 12.9% for VYM. Worst drawdown: PSF -55.4% vs VYM -35.7%.
Should I hold both PSF and VYM?
PSF and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.58, 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 PSF and VYM?
At least 2.0% of VYM's money is in holdings PSF also owns. Our book for PSF is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 5 positions in common, counted across the 186 positions we hold weights for in PSF and 557 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, PSF or VYM?
PSF yields 7.02% while VYM yields 2.22%, so PSF currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than PSF?
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.