A head-to-head comparison of iShares Preferred and Income Securities ETF and Virtus InfraCap U.S. Preferred Stock ETF covering yield, cost, risk, and income potential.
ETFs and AUM reflect what Dividend Vision tracks — the issuer's full lineup may be larger.
iShares is one of the largest ETF providers globally, known for offering a broad, diversified lineup of exchange-traded funds across multiple asset classes and investment strategies. The company operates 215 funds spanning 15 distinct families, including popular offerings in dividend income, covered call strategies, bonds, equities, ESG-focused investments, and factor-based approaches, with widely-held tickers like AGG (bond), ACWI (global equity), and AOA (allocation). iShares is characterized by its comprehensive fund ecosystem that serves both core portfolio holdings and specialized investment strategies, making it a prominent player for investors seeking both traditional and alternative income-generating ETF solutions.
See our curated list of related YouTube videos on PFF.
ETFs and AUM reflect what Dividend Vision tracks — the issuer's full lineup may be larger.
Virtus Investment Partners operates a focused lineup of 5 ETFs primarily concentrated in income-generating and specialized strategies. Their fund families span bonds, closed-end funds, and income-focused products, with notable tickers including AIO, DNP, PFFA, UTES, and VEMY that cater to investors seeking dividend and yield exposure. The firm positions itself as a niche player in the ETF space with an emphasis on income strategies rather than broad market exposure.
See our curated list of related YouTube videos on PFFA.
Seeks to track the investment results of an index composed of U.S. dollar-denominated preferred and hybrid securities.
Actively managed portfolio targeting income from U.S. preferred stocks and capital structure opportunities.
Asset class
Fixed Income
Hybrid
Inception date
03/26/2007
05/15/2018
Beta
0.97
1.07
Last dividend
$0.1417
$0.1725
Ex-dividend date
07/01/2026
06/22/2026
Bottom lineChoose PFF if you want fixed-income ballast that steadies the portfolio when stocks fall. Choose PFFA if you want higher current income (9.88% vs 5.57% for PFF).
Most used
Income calculator
See how much monthly income a hypothetical investment would generate in each ETF at current yields.
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Projections assume the current yield and share price remain constant. Actual results will vary.
Total returns
PFF has lagged PFFA over the trailing twelve months, posting a 2.40% total return against 8.25%. The lead holds up over 5 years too: PFFA has compounded at 5.69% a year, against 0.63% for PFF. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested.
Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date, split-adjusted, as of July 10, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative; longer windows are annualized. “Since May 2018” measures every fund from May 16, 2018 — the youngest fund's first trading day — so all funds share one comparison window. Volatility is the annualized standard deviation of daily total returns over the trailing 3 years. Sharpe and Sortino divide the annualized return in excess of the risk-free rate by, respectively, that volatility and the downside deviation (both over the trailing 3 years) — higher is better. Max drawdown is the largest peak-to-trough total-return decline over the same window — shallower is better.
Quick verdict
PFF (iShares Preferred and Income Securities ETF) and PFFA (Virtus InfraCap U.S. Preferred Stock ETF) are both monthly-pay dividend ETFs, but they take different approaches.
PFFA offers the higher yield at 9.88% vs 5.57% for PFF. A higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, though it may come with different risk characteristics.
PFF is cheaper with an expense ratio of 0.46% compared to 2.52%.
PFF is the larger fund by assets ($13.5B), which generally means tighter spreads and better liquidity.
Who should choose each?
Choose PFF
iShares Preferred and Income Securities ETF
Want fixed-income ballast that cushions equity drawdowns.
Want to keep costs low — a 0.46% expense ratio vs 2.52% for PFFA.
Choose PFFA
Virtus InfraCap U.S. Preferred Stock ETF
Want higher current income — PFFA yields 9.88% vs 5.57% for PFF.
Want broad hybrid exposure.
Not sure? Use the income calculator and snapshot above to weigh these trade-offs against your own goals.
Deep dive
Yield & income
On a $10,000 investment, PFF would generate roughly $46.42/month, while PFFA would produce $82.33/month, at current distribution rates. Both pay monthly distributions.
PFF yield5.57%
PFFA yield9.88%
Monthly diff on $10K$35.92
Cost & efficiency
Over 10 years on $10,000, PFF would cost approximately $460 in fees vs $2,520 for PFFA (simplified, not compounded). The $2,060.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.
PFF ER0.46%
PFFA ER2.52%
Strategy & risk
PFF is an ETF, while PFFA tracks Actively managed U.S. preferred stock portfolio with a preferred stock approach. Beta is 0.97 for PFF and 1.07 for PFFA, indicating PFF is less volatile relative to the market.
PFF beta0.97
PFFA beta1.07
Fund details
PFF is managed by iShares (launched 03/26/2007) with $13.5B in assets. PFFA is managed by Virtus Investment Partners (launched 05/15/2018) with $2.41B in assets.
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Frequently asked questions
Is PFF or PFFA better for dividend income?
It depends on your goals. PFFA currently offers the higher distribution yield, which means more income per dollar invested. However, a lower-yield fund may offer better total return or lower volatility. Consider your time horizon and risk tolerance.
What is the difference between PFF and PFFA?
PFF (iShares Preferred and Income Securities ETF) is an ETF, while PFFA (Virtus InfraCap U.S. Preferred Stock ETF) tracks Actively managed U.S. preferred stock portfolio with a preferred stock approach. They are issued by iShares and Virtus Investment Partners respectively.
Can I hold both PFF and PFFA?
Yes — nothing prevents holding both. Whether the combination actually diversifies depends on how much the underlying exposures overlap, which isn't fully measurable from the data on this page; review each security's holdings, sector, and strategy before treating them as complementary.
Which has lower fees, PFF or PFFA?
PFF has an expense ratio of 0.46% while PFFA charges 2.52%. Lower fees mean more of your investment returns stay in your pocket over time.
How much income does $10,000 in PFF vs PFFA generate?
At current rates, $10,000 in PFF would generate roughly $46.42 per month ($557.00 annually). The same in PFFA would produce about $82.33 per month ($988.00 annually).
Which has performed better historically, PFF or PFFA?
PFF has lagged PFFA over the trailing twelve months, posting a 2.40% total return against 8.25%. The lead holds up over 5 years too: PFFA has compounded at 5.69% a year, against 0.63% for PFF. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
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