The Vanguard Real Estate Index Fund ETF Shares (VNQ) and the iShares Preferred and Income Securities ETF (PFF) are both among the Top 100 ETFs. VNQ is a Vanguard Real Estate fund and PFF is a iShares Preferred Stock fund. So, what’s the difference between VNQ and PFF? And which fund is better?
The expense ratio of VNQ is 0.34 percentage points lower than PFF’s (0.12% vs. 0.46%). VNQ also has a higher exposure to the real estate sector and a higher standard deviation. Overall, VNQ has provided higher returns than PFF over the past ten years.
In this article, we’ll compare VNQ vs. PFF. We’ll look at performance and fund composition, as well as at their annual returns and portfolio growth. Moreover, I’ll also discuss VNQ’s and PFF’s industry exposure, holdings, and risk metrics and examine how these affect their overall returns.
Summary
| VNQ | PFF | |
| Name | Vanguard Real Estate Index Fund ETF Shares | iShares Preferred and Income Securities ETF |
| Category | Real Estate | Preferred Stock |
| Issuer | Vanguard | iShares |
| AUM | 77.34B | 19.8B |
| Avg. Return | 11.05% | 6.90% |
| Div. Yield | 2.34% | 4.47% |
| Expense Ratio | 0.12% | 0.46% |
The Vanguard Real Estate Index Fund ETF Shares (VNQ) is a Real Estate fund that is issued by Vanguard. It currently has 77.34B total assets under management and has yielded an average annual return of 11.05% over the past 10 years. The fund has a dividend yield of 2.34% with an expense ratio of 0.12%.
The iShares Preferred and Income Securities ETF (PFF) is a Preferred Stock fund that is issued by iShares. It currently has 19.8B total assets under management and has yielded an average annual return of 6.90% over the past 10 years. The fund has a dividend yield of 4.47% with an expense ratio of 0.46%.
VNQ’s dividend yield is 2.13% lower than that of PFF (2.34% vs. 4.47%). Also, VNQ yielded on average 4.15% more per year over the past decade (11.05% vs. 6.90%). The expense ratio of VNQ is 0.34 percentage points lower than PFF’s (0.12% vs. 0.46%).
Fund Composition
Industry Exposure
| VNQ | PFF | |
| Technology | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Industrials | 0.0% | 10.27% |
| Energy | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Communication Services | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Utilities | 0.0% | 81.81% |
| Healthcare | 0.0% | 3.54% |
| Consumer Defensive | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Real Estate | 100.0% | 0.65% |
| Financial Services | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Consumer Cyclical | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Basic Materials | 0.0% | 3.74% |
The Vanguard Real Estate Index Fund ETF Shares (VNQ) has the most exposure to the Real Estate sector at 100.0%. This is followed by Technology and Industrials at 0.0% and 0.0% respectively. Consumer Cyclical (0.0%), Financial Services (0.0%), and Consumer Defensive (0.0%) only make up 0.00% of the fund’s total assets.
VNQ’s mid-section with moderate exposure is comprised of Healthcare, Utilities, Communication Services, Energy, and Industrials stocks at 0.0%, 0.0%, 0.0%, 0.0%, and 0.0%.
The iShares Preferred and Income Securities ETF (PFF) has the most exposure to the Utilities sector at 81.81%. This is followed by Industrials and Basic Materials at 10.27% and 3.74% respectively. Financial Services (0.0%), Consumer Defensive (0.0%), and Communication Services (0.0%) only make up 0.00% of the fund’s total assets.
PFF’s mid-section with moderate exposure is comprised of Energy, Technology, Real Estate, Healthcare, and Basic Materials stocks at 0.0%, 0.0%, 0.65%, 3.54%, and 3.74%.
VNQ is 99.35% more exposed to the Real Estate sector than PFF (100.0% vs 0.65%). VNQ’s exposure to Technology and Industrials stocks is 0.00% lower and 10.27% lower respectively (0.0% vs. 0.0% and 0.0% vs. 10.27%). In total, Consumer Cyclical, Financial Services, and Consumer Defensive also make up 0.00% less of the fund’s holdings compared to PFF (0.00% vs. 0.00%).
Holdings
| VNQ Holdings | Weight |
| Vanguard Real Estate II Index | 11.62% |
| American Tower Corp | 7.24% |
| Prologis Inc | 5.33% |
| Crown Castle International Corp | 5.01% |
| Equinix Inc | 4.3% |
| Public Storage | 2.85% |
| Simon Property Group Inc | 2.52% |
| Digital Realty Trust Inc | 2.49% |
| SBA Communications Corp | 2.1% |
| Welltower Inc | 2.09% |
VNQ’s Top Holdings are Vanguard Real Estate II Index, American Tower Corp, Prologis Inc, Crown Castle International Corp, and Equinix Inc at 11.62%, 7.24%, 5.33%, 5.01%, and 4.3%.
Public Storage (2.85%), Simon Property Group Inc (2.52%), and Digital Realty Trust Inc (2.49%) have a slightly smaller but still significant weight. SBA Communications Corp and Welltower Inc are also represented in the VNQ’s holdings at 2.1% and 2.09%.
| PFF Holdings | Weight |
| Broadcom Inc Broadcom Inc 8 % Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock Ser A | 2.54% |
| BlackRock Cash Funds Treasury SL Agency | 2.3% |
| Wells Fargo & Co 7 1/2 % Non Cum Perp Conv Pfd Shs -A- Series -L- | 1.79% |
| Bank of America Corp 7 1/4 % Non-Cum Perp Conv Pfd Shs Series -L- | 1.49% |
| ArcelorMittal S.A. 5.5% | 1.36% |
| Danaher Corp PRF CONVERT 15/04/2022 USD – Ser A | 1.35% |
| Danaher Corp 5% PRF PERPETUAL USD 1000 – Ser B | 1.14% |
| NextEra Energy Inc Unit | 1.12% |
| Citigroup Capital XIII Floating Rate Trust Pfd Secs Registered 2010-30.10.4 | 1.08% |
| Avantor Inc Ser A | 0.99% |
PFF’s Top Holdings are Broadcom Inc Broadcom Inc 8 % Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock Ser A, BlackRock Cash Funds Treasury SL Agency, Wells Fargo & Co 7 1/2 % Non Cum Perp Conv Pfd Shs -A- Series -L-, Bank of America Corp 7 1/4 % Non-Cum Perp Conv Pfd Shs Series -L-, and ArcelorMittal S.A. 5.5% at 2.54%, 2.3%, 1.79%, 1.49%, and 1.36%.
Danaher Corp PRF CONVERT 15/04/2022 USD – Ser A (1.35%), Danaher Corp 5% PRF PERPETUAL USD 1000 – Ser B (1.14%), and NextEra Energy Inc Unit (1.12%) have a slightly smaller but still significant weight. Citigroup Capital XIII Floating Rate Trust Pfd Secs Registered 2010-30.10.4 and Avantor Inc Ser A are also represented in the PFF’s holdings at 1.08% and 0.99%.
Risk Analysis
| VNQ | PFF | |
| Mean Return | 0.89 | 0.52 |
| R-squared | 44.4 | 9.39 |
| Std. Deviation | 16.13 | 7.87 |
| Alpha | 2.47 | 3.45 |
| Beta | 0.76 | 0.81 |
| Sharpe Ratio | 0.62 | 0.72 |
| Treynor Ratio | 11.9 | 6.79 |
The Vanguard Real Estate Index Fund ETF Shares (VNQ) has a Standard Deviation of 16.13 with a R-squared of 44.4 and a Mean Return of 0.89. Its Beta is 0.76 while VNQ’s Treynor Ratio is 11.9. Furthermore, the fund has a Sharpe Ratio of 0.62 and a Alpha of 2.47.
The iShares Preferred and Income Securities ETF (PFF) has a Beta of 0.81 with a Standard Deviation of 7.87 and a Sharpe Ratio of 0.72. Its Alpha is 3.45 while PFF’s Mean Return is 0.52. Furthermore, the fund has a Treynor Ratio of 6.79 and a R-squared of 9.39.
VNQ’s Mean Return is 0.37 points higher than that of PFF and its R-squared is 35.01 points higher. With a Standard Deviation of 16.13, VNQ is slightly more volatile than PFF. The Alpha and Beta of VNQ are 0.98 points lower and 0.05 points lower than PFF’s Alpha and Beta.
Performance
Annual Returns
| Year | VNQ | PFF |
| 2020 | -4.72% | 7.94% |
| 2019 | 28.91% | 15.62% |
| 2018 | -5.95% | -4.77% |
| 2017 | 4.95% | 8.33% |
| 2016 | 8.53% | 1.26% |
| 2015 | 2.37% | 4.62% |
| 2014 | 30.29% | 13.45% |
| 2013 | 2.42% | -0.59% |
| 2012 | 17.67% | 18.25% |
| 2011 | 8.62% | -2.2% |
| 2010 | 28.44% | 13.96% |
VNQ had its best year in 2014 with an annual return of 30.29%. VNQ’s worst year over the past decade yielded -5.95% and occurred in 2018. In most years the Vanguard Real Estate Index Fund ETF Shares provided moderate returns such as in 2017, 2016, and 2011 where annual returns amounted to 4.95%, 8.53%, and 8.62% respectively.
The year 2012 was the strongest year for PFF, returning 18.25% on an annual basis. The poorest year for PFF in the last ten years was 2018, with a yield of -4.77%. Most years the iShares Preferred and Income Securities ETF has given investors modest returns, such as in 2015, 2020, and 2017, when gains were 4.62%, 7.94%, and 8.33% respectively.
Portfolio Growth
| Fund | Initial Balance | Final Balance | CAGR |
| VNQ | $10,000 | $29,506 | 11.05% |
| PFF | $10,000 | $20,272 | 6.90% |
A $10,000 investment in VNQ would have resulted in a final balance of $29,506. This is a profit of $19,506 over 11 years and amounts to a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.05%.
With a $10,000 investment in PFF, the end total would have been $20,272. This equates to a $10,272 profit over 11 years and a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.90%.
VNQ’s CAGR is 4.15 percentage points higher than that of PFF and as a result, would have yielded $9,234 more on a $10,000 investment. Thus, VNQ outperformed PFF by 4.15% annually.
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