PFXF vs VYM
VanEck Preferred Securities ex Financials ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, PFXF or VYM?
Preferred Stock against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 47.2%.
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 | PFXF | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.40% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $2.3B | $78.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 6.29% | 2.37% |
| Holdings | 240 | 608 |
| YTD Return | +0.17% | +11.83%Best |
| 1Y Return | +2.60% | +15.96%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +9.76% | +18.60%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +2.47% | +11.51%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 10.1%Best | 13.1% |
| Max Drawdown | -37.3% | -35.7%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $11,298 | $17,241Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 47.2% | 25.8%Best |
| Fund Family | VanEck | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Preferred Stock | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Jul 16, 2012 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 17, 2012 to Oct 14, 2026 (14.2 years).
PFXF 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 14.2 years both funds cover.
PFXF vs VYM Performance
VanEck Preferred Securities ex Financials ETF (PFXF) is an ETF from VanEck and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year PFXF returned +2.60% while VYM returned +15.96%. Year to date, PFXF is up 0.17% versus a gain of 11.83% for VYM.
Over three years, PFXF compounded at +9.76% per year against +18.60% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are +2.47% and +11.51% respectively. Across the full 14-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +9.96% annualized vs +1.53%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VYM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 13.1% compared with 10.1% for PFXF. 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 -37.3% for PFXF 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 0.66. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PFXF charges 0.40% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $40 vs $4 annually, a gap of $36 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PFXF currently yields 6.29% against 2.37% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
0.2% of PFXF's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 0.2% of VYM's money is in holdings PFXF also owns.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
1 positions in common, counted across the 114 positions we hold weights for in PFXF and 602 in VYM, against full books of 240 and 608.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 572 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for PFXF (97.7% of the fund), and 109 for PFXF that do not appear in VYM (92.4%).
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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in PFXF | Weight in VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| ETREntergy Louisiana Llc | 0.22% | 0.20% | 0.02% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of PFXF 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, PFXF or VYM?
PFXF has an expense ratio of 0.40% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $36 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, PFXF or VYM?
Over the past year PFXF returned +2.60% vs +15.96% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (14 years), PFXF annualized +1.53% vs +9.96% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PFXF or VYM?
VYM has been the more volatile fund at 13.1% annualized versus 10.1% for PFXF. Worst drawdown: PFXF -37.3% vs VYM -35.7%.
Should I hold both PFXF and VYM?
PFXF and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.66, 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, PFXF or VYM?
PFXF yields 6.29% while VYM yields 2.37%, so PFXF currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than PFXF?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 47.2%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.