VSS vs PFF

Comparison between VANGUARD FTSE ALL-WORLD EX-US SMALL-CAP INDEX FUND ETF SHARES (VSS, ETF) and ISHARES PREFERRED AND INCOME SECURITIES ETF (PFF, ETF).

5-Year PerformanceVSS has outperformed PFF, delivering a return of +7.1% compared to +2.0%

VSS vs PFF - Performance Comparison

Log

Key Characteristics

Financial metrics and valuation ratios

Metric	VSS(ETF)	PFF(ETF)
Net Assets	$14B	$14B
Expense Ratio	0.06%	0.45%
Max Drawdown	46.80%	70.19%
Sharpe Ratio	2.05	1.06
5Y Beta	0.68	0.32
5Y Dividends CAGR	24.32%	1.29%

Net Assets

VSS

$14B

PFF

$14B

Expense Ratio

Winner

VSS

0.06%

PFF

0.45%

Max Drawdown

Winner

VSS

46.80%

PFF

70.19%

Sharpe Ratio

Winner

VSS

2.05

PFF

1.06

5Y Beta

VSS

0.68

Winner

PFF

0.32

5Y Dividends CAGR

Winner

VSS

24.32%

PFF

1.29%

VSS vs PFF - Historical Returns

Returns include dividend reinvestment.

Period	VSS	PFF
1 month	+5.66%	+3.35%
3 months	+2.94%	+1.34%
6 months	+17.30%	+4.02%
1 year	+35.88%	+10.49%
5 years(CAGR)	+7.06%	+2.04%
10 years(CAGR)	+8.62%	+3.58%
Max(CAGR)	+10.16%	+3.94%

Winner

VSS

+5.66%

PFF

+3.35%

Winner

VSS

+2.94%

PFF

+1.34%

Winner

VSS

+17.30%

PFF

+4.02%

Winner

VSS

+35.88%

PFF

+10.49%

5Y(CAGR)

Winner

VSS

+7.06%

PFF

+2.04%

10Y(CAGR)

Winner

VSS

+8.62%

PFF

+3.58%

Max(CAGR)

Winner

VSS

+10.16%

PFF

+3.94%

VSS vs PFF - Annual Returns (2007 - 2026)

Returns include dividend reinvestment.

Year	VSS	PFF
2026	+12.39%	+2.92%
2025	+29.81%	+3.62%
2024	+4.33%	+7.38%
2023	+14.93%	+8.66%
2022	-21.86%	-17.58%
2021	+12.60%	+8.17%
2020	+10.82%	+7.28%
2019	+21.27%	+14.86%
2018	-19.25%	-4.10%
2017	+29.57%	+7.26%
2016	+5.35%	+0.84%
2015	-0.05%	+3.82%
2014	-3.56%	+13.42%
2013	+14.67%	-1.29%
2012	+17.92%	+17.15%
2011	-20.23%	-2.15%
2010	+25.51%	+13.19%
2009	+60.89%	+33.55%
2008	N/A	-26.08%
2007	N/A	-12.60%

VSS vs PFF Drawdown Comparison

The maximum drawdown for VSS was -43.51%, occurring on Mar 23, 2020. Recovery took 719 trading sessions.

The maximum drawdown for PFF was -65.49%, occurring on Mar 6, 2009. Recovery took 806 trading sessions.

The current PFF drawdown is -0.13%.

Rank	VSS	PFF
#1	-43.51% Jan 26, 2018 - Dec 3, 2020	-65.49% May 14, 2007 - Jul 26, 2010
#2	-33.92% Sep 3, 2021 - May 23, 2025	-34.11% Feb 11, 2020 - Oct 7, 2020
#3	-29.09% Apr 29, 2011 - Sep 18, 2013	-21.05% Dec 31, 2021 - Sep 24, 2024
#4	-24.19% Jul 3, 2014 - Apr 25, 2017	-15.19% May 19, 2011 - Feb 3, 2012
#5	-18.53% Apr 14, 2010 - Sep 20, 2010	-10.61% Oct 16, 2024 - Sep 5, 2025
#6	-12.48% Jan 14, 2010 - Apr 1, 2010	-9.72% Aug 31, 2018 - Apr 1, 2019
#7	-11.62% Feb 27, 2026 - Apr 17, 2026	-8.67% May 8, 2013 - Mar 17, 2014
#8	-8.75% Jun 2, 2009 - Jul 22, 2009	-7.48% Aug 9, 2016 - Apr 10, 2017
#9	-8.46% Oct 19, 2009 - Jan 4, 2010	-6.77% Jan 5, 2016 - Mar 22, 2016
#10	-8.46% Mar 3, 2011 - Apr 1, 2011	-5.28% Feb 17, 2026 - May 6, 2026
#11	-6.46% Nov 4, 2010 - Dec 13, 2010	-4.64% Sep 19, 2025 - Jan 9, 2026
#12	-5.35% Jan 22, 2014 - Feb 13, 2014	-4.17% May 7, 2012 - Jun 19, 2012
#13	-5.27% Oct 27, 2025 - Dec 11, 2025	-3.81% Nov 27, 2015 - Jan 4, 2016
#14	-5.18% Apr 16, 2009 - Apr 24, 2009	-3.81% Dec 7, 2017 - Jun 14, 2018
#15	-5.15% May 8, 2009 - May 18, 2009	-3.15% Dec 31, 2020 - Mar 26, 2021

Correlation

Correlation between VSS and PFF is 0.93 which considered as a very strong positive correlation - the stocks move almost identically together.

0.93

-101

Dividend Comparison (2007 - 2026)

VSS vs PFF dividend yield comparison.

Year	VSS	PFF
2026	0.00%	1.55%
2025	3.39%	6.30%
2024	3.44%	6.32%
2023	3.14%	6.63%
2022	2.30%	6.01%
2021	2.74%	4.45%
2020	1.90%	4.79%
2019	3.25%	5.31%
2018	2.80%	6.32%
2017	2.83%	5.59%
2016	2.93%	5.85%
2015	2.66%	5.76%
2014	2.67%	6.32%
2013	2.71%	6.60%
2012	2.98%	6.01%
2011	3.19%	6.98%
2010	5.91%	7.33%
2009	3.58%	7.87%
2008	0.00%	9.45%
2007	0.00%	6.01%