PFF vs PFFD
Two large preferred-stock ETFs — bond-like high income, compared on index and cost. Here’s how PFF and PFFD compare for dividend investors — with a calculator for each so you can model the income yourself.
PFF
iShares Preferred and Income Securities ETF
- Type
- High-dividend ETF
- Issuer
- iShares
- Pays
- monthly
PFF is a preferred-stock ETF that tracks an index of US preferred and hybrid securities, and pays monthly. Preferred shares behave more like bonds than common stock, so the fund offers a high, relatively steady income stream with limited price appreciation and sensitivity to interest rates.
PFF dividend calculatorPFFD
Global X U.S. Preferred ETF
- Type
- High-dividend ETF
- Issuer
- Global X
- Pays
- monthly
PFFD is a preferred-stock ETF that tracks the ICE BofA Diversified Core US Preferred Securities Index, holding a broad basket of US preferred shares, and pays monthly. Like other preferred funds it targets high, bond-like income with little price growth and notable interest-rate sensitivity.
PFFD dividend calculatorHow PFF and PFFD differ
PFF — PFF is a preferred-stock ETF that tracks an index of US preferred and hybrid securities, and pays monthly. Preferred shares behave more like bonds than common stock, so the fund offers a high, relatively steady income stream with limited price appreciation and sensitivity to interest rates.
PFFD — PFFD is a preferred-stock ETF that tracks the ICE BofA Diversified Core US Preferred Securities Index, holding a broad basket of US preferred shares, and pays monthly. Like other preferred funds it targets high, bond-like income with little price growth and notable interest-rate sensitivity.
In practice the choice comes down to your goal. PFF suits an investor who wants a higher current yield from a diversified large-cap base, while PFFD suits one who wants a higher current yield from a diversified large-cap base. The two are not mutually exclusive — plenty of portfolios hold a growth-oriented fund and an income-oriented one together. What matters is matching each to its job and not judging a fund on its headline yield alone.
Rather than compare a single snapshot yield (which moves daily), open each calculator and enter current figures: the PFF calculator and the PFFD calculator. To compare long-term compounding head to head, run the same contributions through the dividend reinvestment calculator with each fund’s assumptions.
PFF vs PFFD FAQ
- What's the main difference between PFF and PFFD?
- PFF is a high-dividend etf from iShares; PFFD is a high-dividend etf from Global X. Two large preferred-stock ETFs — bond-like high income, compared on index and cost.
- Does PFF or PFFD pay more dividends?
- It depends on current figures, which change — use the calculators linked below with each fund's live yield rather than a fixed number. As a rule, higher-yield funds pay more today, while dividend-growth funds start lower and raise the payout over time.
- Which is better, PFF or PFFD?
- Neither is universally better — they suit different goals. PFF fits an investor who wants a higher current yield from a diversified large-cap base; PFFD fits one who wants a higher current yield from a diversified large-cap base. Match the fund to your objective, time horizon, and tax situation, and consider a licensed advisor.
- Can I hold both PFF and PFFD?
- Many investors do, to blend current income with growth. Just be aware of overlap — if both hold similar large-cap US stocks, you may be less diversified than the two tickers suggest.