PTA vs VXUS
Cohen & Steers Tax-Advantaged Preferred Securities & Income Fund vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, PTA or VXUS?
Preferred Stock against Large Cap Blend.
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. VXUS 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 | PTA | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 2.01% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | - | $158.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 7.91% | 2.59% |
| Holdings | 283 | 8,747 |
| YTD Return | +0.26% | +16.15%Best |
| 1Y Return | -1.34% | +27.58%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +9.43% | +20.48%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +1.60% | +9.09%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 13.5%Best | 15.0% |
| Max Drawdown | -28.7%Best | -29.4% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $10,826 | $15,450Best |
| Fund Family | Cohen & Steers Funds | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Preferred Stock | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Oct 28, 2020 | Jan 26, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 28, 2020 to Sep 4, 2026 (5.9 years).
PTA vs VXUS 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 5.9 years both funds cover.
PTA vs VXUS Performance
Cohen & Steers Tax-Advantaged Preferred Securities & Income Fund (PTA) is an ETF from Cohen & Steers Funds and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year PTA returned -1.34% while VXUS returned +27.58%. Year to date, PTA is up 0.26% versus a gain of 16.15% for VXUS.
Over three years, PTA compounded at +9.43% per year against +20.48% for VXUS; over five years the annualized figures are +1.60% and +9.09% respectively. Across the full 6-year window we track, VXUS has the edge at +13.01% annualized vs +2.54%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VXUS has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.0% compared with 13.5% for PTA. 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 -28.7% for PTA and -29.4% for VXUS. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.68. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PTA charges 2.01% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $201 vs $5 annually, a gap of $196 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PTA currently yields 7.91% against 2.59% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 167 holdings in PTA and 8,092 in VXUS, totalling 93.7% and 87.5% of the two funds. Neither is a share of a fund we can divide by, so no overlap percentage is shown here. Within what we can see, 2 positions appear in both.
The two holdings books were reported 150 days apart, PTA as of Jan 31, 2026 and VXUS as of Jun 30, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
2 positions in common, counted across the 167 positions we hold weights for in PTA and 8,092 in VXUS, against full books of 283 and 8,747.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of PTA and VXUS 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, PTA or VXUS?
PTA has an expense ratio of 2.01% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $196 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, PTA or VXUS?
Over the past year PTA returned -1.34% vs +27.58% for VXUS, so VXUS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (6 years), PTA annualized +2.54% vs +13.01% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PTA or VXUS?
VXUS has been the more volatile fund at 15.0% annualized versus 13.5% for PTA. Worst drawdown: PTA -28.7% vs VXUS -29.4%.
Should I hold both PTA and VXUS?
PTA and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.68, 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, PTA or VXUS?
PTA yields 7.91% while VXUS yields 2.59%, so PTA currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than PTA?
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. VXUS 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.