VFH vs. IAT: Which Financial Sector ETF Is the Better Buy?
VFH's diversified portfolio delivered stronger five-year returns with a much lower maximum drawdown, while IAT's concentrated bet on regional banks offers a higher yield for income seekers.
Overview
Comparing the Vanguard Financials ETF (NYSEMKT:VFH) and the iShares U.S. Regional Banks ETF (NYSEMKT:IAT) reveals two very different approaches: one is a broad-market financial services strategy, and the other is a concentrated, high-yield bet on domestic regional banking institutions.
While both funds provide exposure to the financial sector, VFH captures the entire spectrum of financial services, whereas IAT specifically targets the regional banking industry -- making it more susceptible to localized economic cycles and industry-specific headwinds.
Details
Beta measures price volatility relative to the S&P 500; beta is calculated from monthly returns over the available fund history (up to five years). The 1-year return represents total return over the trailing 12 months. Dividend yield is the trailing-12-month distribution yield.
Source
Originally published at www.fool.com.