PFFA vs. SPY
PFFA (Virtus InfraCap U.S. Preferred Stock ETF) and SPY (State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - PFFA is a Preferred Stock fund actively managed by Virtus, while SPY is a S&P 500 fund tracking the S&P 500 Index. PFFA is actively managed, while SPY is passively managed. Over the past 5 years, PFFA returned 5.57%/yr vs 12.76%/yr for SPY. Their 0.53 correlation means they have sometimes moved together and sometimes differently. PFFA charges 1.47%/yr vs 0.09%/yr for SPY.
Performance
PFFA vs. SPY - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, PFFA achieves a 1.20% return, which is significantly lower than SPY's 10.13% return.
PFFA
- 1D
- 0.44%
- 1M
- -0.04%
- 6M
- -0.75%
- YTD
- 1.20%
- 1Y
- 6.02%
- 3Y*
- 11.42%
- 5Y*
- 5.57%
- 10Y*
- —
- ALL TIME*
- 7.21%
SPY
- 1D
- 0.72%
- 1M
- 0.30%
- 6M
- 8.53%
- YTD
- 10.13%
- 1Y
- 21.49%
- 3Y*
- 19.32%
- 5Y*
- 12.76%
- 10Y*
- 15.07%
- ALL TIME*
- 10.79%
Liquidity Comparison
| Position | Avg. Volume Value (2W) | Avg. Volume Value (1M) | Avg. Volume Value (3M) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $15.74M | $17.23M | $20.45M | |
| $37.27B | $35.99B | $39.23B |
PFFA vs. SPY - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PFFA Virtus InfraCap U.S. Preferred Stock ETF | 1.20% | 8.22% | 16.11% | 26.45% | -20.91% | 23.53% | -7.87% | 31.99% | -7.29% |
SPY State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF | 10.13% | 17.72% | 24.89% | 26.18% | -18.18% | 28.73% | 18.33% | 31.22% | -6.44% |
Correlation
The correlation between PFFA and SPY is 0.63, which is moderate. They have sometimes moved together and sometimes differently, sharing some price drivers without tracking each other closely.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most. | 0.63 |
Correlation (3Y) Balances recent behavior with more history. | 0.50 |
Correlation (5Y) Shows whether the relationship held over a longer period. | 0.55 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since May 16, 2018 | 0.53 |
The correlation between PFFA and SPY shifts across timeframes, from 0.50 (3 years) to 0.63 (1 year), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
PFFA vs. SPY — Risk / Return Rank
PFFA
SPY
PFFA vs. SPY - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Virtus InfraCap U.S. Preferred Stock ETF (PFFA) and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY). 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.
| PFFA | SPY | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.76 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -1.01 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.14 | 1.27 | -0.13 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 0.89 | 2.20 | -1.32 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 2.56 | 9.40 | -6.84 |
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Drawdowns
PFFA vs. SPY - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum PFFA drawdown since its inception was -70.52%, which is greater than SPY's maximum drawdown of -55.19%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for PFFA and SPY.
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Drawdown Indicators
| PFFA | SPY | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -70.52% | -55.19% | -15.33% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -6.49% | -8.88% | +2.39% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -12.15% | -18.76% | +6.61% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -22.70% | -24.50% | +1.80% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | — | -33.72% | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -3.29% | -1.40% | -1.89% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -6.57% | -9.01% | +2.44% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.25% | 2.08% | +0.17% |
Volatility
PFFA vs. SPY - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Virtus InfraCap U.S. Preferred Stock ETF (PFFA) is 2.32%, while State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) has a volatility of 3.58%. This indicates that PFFA experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than SPY based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| PFFA | SPY | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 2.32% | 3.58% | -1.26% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 6.46% | 10.14% | -3.68% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 7.62% | 12.89% | -5.27% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 11.59% | 17.18% | -5.59% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 31.55% | 17.95% | +13.60% |
PFFA vs. SPY - Expense Ratio Comparison
PFFA has a 1.47% expense ratio, which is higher than SPY's 0.09% expense ratio.
Dividends
PFFA vs. SPY - Dividend Comparison
PFFA's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 9.98%, more than SPY's 1.01% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PFFA Virtus InfraCap U.S. Preferred Stock ETF | 9.98% | 9.47% | 9.18% | 9.56% | 10.75% | 7.64% | 8.54% | 10.02% | 5.15% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
SPY State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF | 1.01% | 1.07% | 1.21% | 1.40% | 1.65% | 1.20% | 1.52% | 1.75% | 2.04% | 1.80% | 2.03% | 2.06% |
Frequently Asked Questions
PFFA and SPY have a correlation of 0.63, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
SPY has higher volatility (3.58%) compared to PFFA (2.32%). In terms of maximum drawdown, PFFA dropped -70.52% vs SPY's -55.19%.
On 5-year performance, SPY leads with 12.76% vs 5.57% for PFFA. On fees, SPY is cheaper at 0.09% per year. On volatility, PFFA has been the lower-risk option at 2.32%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 5-year period, SPY has performed better with a 12.76% return vs 5.57%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
SPY is cheaper with a 0.09% expense ratio, compared with 1.47% for PFFA.
PFFA has the higher dividend yield at 9.98%, compared with 1.01% for SPY.
PFFA is categorized as Preferred Stock, while SPY is S&P 500. They also come from different issuers: Virtus and State Street. Their fees differ too: 1.47% for PFFA and 0.09% for SPY.
SPY currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.52 vs 0.76), 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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