PTA vs VYM
Cohen & Steers Tax-Advantaged Preferred Securities & Income Fund vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, PTA 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 | PTA | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 2.01% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | - | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 7.91% | 2.24% |
| Holdings | 283 | 613 |
| YTD Return | -0.88% | +14.33%Best |
| 1Y Return | -3.60% | +20.01%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +9.54% | +18.43%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +1.51% | +12.16%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 13.5%Best | 13.9% |
| Max Drawdown | -28.7% | -15.8%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $10,778 | $17,750Best |
| Fund Family | Cohen & Steers Funds | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Preferred Stock | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Oct 28, 2020 | Nov 10, 2006 |
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 8, 2026 (5.9 years).
PTA 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 5.9 years both funds cover.
PTA vs VYM Performance
Cohen & Steers Tax-Advantaged Preferred Securities & Income Fund (PTA) is an ETF from Cohen & Steers Funds and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year PTA returned -3.60% while VYM returned +20.01%. Year to date, PTA is down 0.88% versus a gain of 14.33% for VYM.
Over three years, PTA compounded at +9.54% per year against +18.43% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are +1.51% and +12.16% respectively. Across the full 6-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +16.37% annualized vs +2.34%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VYM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 13.9% 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 -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 0.57. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PTA charges 2.01% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $201 vs $4 annually, a gap of $197 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PTA currently yields 7.91% against 2.24% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
At least 1.1% of VYM's money is in holdings PTA also owns.
Stated as a floor: for PTA, our book for it covers 93.7% 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 PTA share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 150 days apart, PTA as of Jan 31, 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 167 positions we hold weights for in PTA and 602 in VYM, against full books of 283 and 613.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of PTA 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, PTA or VYM?
PTA has an expense ratio of 2.01% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $197 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, PTA or VYM?
Over the past year PTA returned -3.60% vs +20.01% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (6 years), PTA annualized +2.34% vs +16.37% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PTA or VYM?
VYM has been the more volatile fund at 13.9% annualized versus 13.5% for PTA. Worst drawdown: PTA -28.7% vs VYM -15.8%.
Should I hold both PTA and VYM?
PTA and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.57, 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 PTA and VYM?
At least 1.1% of VYM's money is in holdings PTA also owns. Our book for PTA is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 3 positions in common, counted across the 167 positions we hold weights for in PTA and 602 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, PTA or VYM?
PTA yields 7.91% while VYM yields 2.24%, so PTA currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than PTA?
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.