PFFA vs SCHD
Virtus InfraCap US Preferred Stock ETF vs Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF
Which is better, PFFA or SCHD?
Preferred Stock against Large Cap Value.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. PFFA is less concentrated, with 25.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 41.6%.
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 | PFFA | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 2.11% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $2.3B | $111.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 10.42% | 3.24% |
| Holdings | 197 | 206 |
| YTD Return | -4.76% | +24.55%Best |
| 1Y Return | -1.79% | +29.85%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +10.66% | +16.64%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +3.95% | +9.54%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 24.8% | 16.4%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -70.7% | -33.4%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $12,137 | $15,771Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 25.1%Best | 41.6% |
| Fund Family | Virtus Investment Partners | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Preferred Stock | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | May 15, 2018 | Oct 20, 2011 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: May 16, 2018 to Oct 14, 2026 (8.4 years).
PFFA vs SCHD 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 8.4 years both funds cover.
PFFA vs SCHD Performance
Virtus InfraCap US Preferred Stock ETF (PFFA) is an ETF from Virtus Investment Partners and Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management. Over the past year PFFA returned -1.79% while SCHD returned +29.85%. Year to date, PFFA is down 4.76% versus a gain of 24.55% for SCHD.
Over three years, PFFA compounded at +10.66% per year against +16.64% for SCHD; over five years the annualized figures are +3.95% and +9.54% respectively. Across the full 8-year window we track, SCHD has the edge at +11.50% annualized vs +3.20%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
PFFA has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 24.8% compared with 16.4% for SCHD. 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 -70.7% for PFFA and -33.4% for SCHD. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.69. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PFFA charges 2.11% per year while SCHD charges 0.06%. On a $10,000 position that is $211 vs $6 annually, a gap of $205 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PFFA currently yields 10.42% against 3.24% for SCHD.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 155 holdings in PFFA and 98 in SCHD, totalling 102.0% and 99.8% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 155 positions we hold weights for in PFFA and 98 in SCHD, against full books of 197 and 206.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 97 positions for SCHD that do not appear in our book for PFFA (99.8% of the fund), and 136 for PFFA that do not appear in SCHD (95.6%).
Some of those will be the same company recorded under a different code in one of the two books, so the real difference in what you would own is no larger than this and may be smaller. We do not name the individual positions here for that reason.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of PFFA and SCHD 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, PFFA or SCHD?
PFFA has an expense ratio of 2.11% while SCHD charges 0.06%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $205 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, PFFA or SCHD?
Over the past year PFFA returned -1.79% vs +29.85% for SCHD, so SCHD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (8 years), PFFA annualized +3.20% vs +11.50% for SCHD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PFFA or SCHD?
PFFA has been the more volatile fund at 24.8% annualized versus 16.4% for SCHD. Worst drawdown: PFFA -70.7% vs SCHD -33.4%.
Should I hold both PFFA and SCHD?
PFFA and SCHD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.69, 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, PFFA or SCHD?
PFFA yields 10.42% while SCHD yields 3.24%, so PFFA currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHD better than PFFA?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. SCHD led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. PFFA is less concentrated, with 25.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 41.6%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.