PFF vs. VTI
PFF (iShares Preferred and Income Securities ETF) and VTI (Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - PFF is a Preferred Stock/Convertible Bonds fund tracking the ICE Exchange-Listed Preferred & Hybrid Securities Index, while VTI is a Large Cap Blend Equities fund tracking the CRSP US Total Market Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, PFF returned 3.35%/yr vs 15.02%/yr for VTI. A 0.56 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. PFF charges 0.46%/yr vs 0.03%/yr for VTI.
Performance
PFF vs. VTI - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, PFF achieves a 2.40% return, which is significantly lower than VTI's 9.62% return. Over the past 10 years, PFF has underperformed VTI with an annualized return of 3.35%, while VTI has yielded a comparatively higher 15.02% annualized return.
PFF
- 1D
- 0.16%
- 1M
- -1.24%
- YTD
- 2.40%
- 6M
- 2.42%
- 1Y
- 8.83%
- 3Y*
- 6.77%
- 5Y*
- 1.32%
- 10Y*
- 3.35%
VTI
- 1D
- 0.57%
- 1M
- -0.28%
- YTD
- 9.62%
- 6M
- 9.69%
- 1Y
- 26.27%
- 3Y*
- 20.60%
- 5Y*
- 12.20%
- 10Y*
- 15.02%
PFF vs. VTI - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PFF iShares Preferred and Income Securities ETF | 2.40% | 4.87% | 7.24% | 9.22% | -18.19% | 7.15% | 7.89% | 15.93% | -4.64% | 8.10% |
VTI Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF | 9.62% | 17.10% | 23.81% | 26.05% | -19.52% | 25.68% | 21.08% | 30.67% | -5.23% | 21.21% |
Correlation
The correlation between PFF and VTI is 0.77, which is moderate. They share some common price drivers but move independently often enough to provide real diversification benefit when combined.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.77 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.60 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.65 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.61 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Mar 30, 2007 | 0.56 |
Over the past year, PFF and VTI have become more correlated (0.77) than their long-term average of 0.56, meaning their price movements have been converging.
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Return for Risk
PFF vs. VTI — Risk / Return Rank
PFF
VTI
PFF vs. VTI - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Preferred and Income Securities ETF (PFF) and Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (VTI). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.
Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.
| PFF | VTI | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.78 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.95 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.21 | 1.35 | -0.15 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.56 | 2.79 | -1.23 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 4.75 | 12.52 | -7.77 |
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Drawdowns
PFF vs. VTI - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum PFF drawdown since its inception was -65.55%, which is greater than VTI's maximum drawdown of -55.45%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for PFF and VTI.
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Drawdown Indicators
| PFF | VTI | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -65.55% | -55.45% | -10.10% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -5.28% | -8.92% | +3.64% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -10.63% | -19.30% | +8.67% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -21.05% | -25.36% | +4.31% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -34.10% | -35.00% | +0.90% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -1.62% | -2.14% | +0.52% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -5.76% | -8.02% | +2.26% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 1.73% | 1.99% | -0.26% |
Volatility
PFF vs. VTI - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for iShares Preferred and Income Securities ETF (PFF) is 2.29%, while Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) has a volatility of 4.50%. This indicates that PFF experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than VTI based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| PFF | VTI | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 2.29% | 4.50% | -2.21% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 5.21% | 9.82% | -4.61% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 6.88% | 12.64% | -5.76% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 10.32% | 17.47% | -7.15% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 12.67% | 18.33% | -5.66% |
PFF vs. VTI - Expense Ratio Comparison
PFF has a 0.46% expense ratio, which is higher than VTI's 0.03% expense ratio.
Dividends
PFF vs. VTI - Dividend Comparison
PFF's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 5.50%, more than VTI's 1.03% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PFF iShares Preferred and Income Securities ETF | 5.50% | 6.30% | 6.32% | 6.63% | 6.01% | 4.45% | 4.79% | 5.31% | 6.32% | 5.59% | 5.85% | 5.76% |
VTI Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF | 1.03% | 1.12% | 1.27% | 1.44% | 1.66% | 1.21% | 1.42% | 1.78% | 2.04% | 1.71% | 1.92% | 1.98% |
Frequently Asked Questions
PFF and VTI have a correlation of 0.77, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
VTI has higher volatility (4.50%) compared to PFF (2.29%). In terms of maximum drawdown, PFF dropped -65.55% vs VTI's -55.45%.
On 10-year performance, VTI leads with 15.02% vs 3.35% for PFF. On fees, VTI is cheaper at 0.03% per year. On volatility, PFF has been the lower-risk option at 2.29%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 10-year period, VTI has performed better with a 15.02% return vs 3.35%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
VTI is cheaper with a 0.03% expense ratio, compared with 0.46% for PFF.
PFF has the higher dividend yield at 5.50%, compared with 1.03% for VTI.
PFF is categorized as Preferred Stock/Convertible Bonds, while VTI is Large Cap Blend Equities. PFF tracks ICE Exchange-Listed Preferred & Hybrid Securities Index, while VTI tracks CRSP US Total Market Index. They also come from different issuers: iShares and Vanguard. Their fees differ too: 0.46% for PFF and 0.03% for VTI.
VTI currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.97 vs 1.19), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.
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