FPEI Alternatives & Similar ETFs

First Trust Institutional Preferred Securities & Income ETF (FPEI) belongs to the Preferred Stock category. Below you'll find alternative ETFs from the same category, ranked by key criteria, plus funds that investors commonly compare with FPEI. Use the tables to find lower-cost options, better risk-adjusted returns, or a closer substitute for your current allocation.

Cheapest Alternatives to FPEI

FPEI charges 0.85% annually. There are 23 ETFs in the Preferred Stock category with lower expense ratios, going as low as 0.23%.

Symbol	Name	Expense Ratio	AUM	Inception
PFFD	Global X U.S. Preferred ETF	0.23%	2.16B	Sep 2017	FPEI vs PFFD
PFFV	Global X Variable Rate Preferred ETF	0.25%	305.03M	Jun 2020	FPEI vs PFFV
EVPF	Eaton Vance Preferred Securities and Income ETF	0.39%	36.71M	Mar 2026	FPEI vs EVPF
PFXF	VanEck Preferred Securities ex Financials ETF	0.40%	2.41B	Jul 2012	FPEI vs PFXF
GPRF	Goldman Sachs Access U.S. Preferred Stock and Hybr...	0.45%	131.58M	Jul 2024	FPEI vs GPRF

Best Risk-Adjusted Alternatives to FPEI

FPEI has a PortfoliosLab risk / return rank of 74. There is 1 ETF in the Preferred Stock category with a higher risk-adjusted rank, going as high as 76.

Symbol	Name	Risk / Return Rank	AUM	Inception
NPFI	Nuveen Preferred And Income ETF	76	174.03M	Mar 2024	FPEI vs NPFI
PFLD	AAM Low Duration Preferred and Income Securities E...	73	487.73M	Nov 2019	FPEI vs PFLD
VRP	Invesco Variable Rate Preferred ETF	72	3.00B	May 2014	FPEI vs VRP
CSPF	Cohen & Steers Preferred and Income Opportunities ...	71	65.77M	Feb 2025	FPEI vs CSPF
PREF	Principal Spectrum Preferred Secs Active ETF	66	1.70B	Jul 2017	FPEI vs PREF

Top Performing FPEI Alternatives (YTD)

FPEI is at 2.06% YTD. There are 10 ETFs in the Preferred Stock category with higher YTD returns, going as high as 5.42%.

Symbol	Name	YTD Return	AUM	Inception
SPFF	Global X SuperIncome Preferred ETF	5.42%	140.63M	Jul 2012	FPEI vs SPFF
PFXF	VanEck Preferred Securities ex Financials ETF	4.43%	2.41B	Jul 2012	FPEI vs PFXF
CSPF	Cohen & Steers Preferred and Income Opportunities ...	3.34%	65.77M	Feb 2025	FPEI vs CSPF
CSSD	Cohen & Steers Short Duration Preferred and Income...	3.22%	17.00M	Dec 2025	FPEI vs CSSD
PFFV	Global X Variable Rate Preferred ETF	3.04%	305.03M	Jun 2020	FPEI vs PFFV

Lowest Volatility Alternatives to FPEI

FPEI has 3.76% 1-year volatility. There are 10 ETFs in the Preferred Stock category with lower 1-year volatility, going as low as 2.94%.

Symbol	Name	Volatility 1Y	AUM	Inception
VRP	Invesco Variable Rate Preferred ETF	2.94%	3.00B	May 2014	FPEI vs VRP
NPFI	Nuveen Preferred And Income ETF	2.95%	174.03M	Mar 2024	FPEI vs NPFI
CSSD	Cohen & Steers Short Duration Preferred and Income...	2.96%	17.00M	Dec 2025	FPEI vs CSSD
FPFD	Fidelity Preferred Securities & Income ETF	2.99%	81.24M	Jun 2021	FPEI vs FPFD
PREF	Principal Spectrum Preferred Secs Active ETF	3.12%	1.70B	Jul 2017	FPEI vs PREF

Lowest Drawdown Alternatives to FPEI

FPEI has a 1-year max drawdown of -3.63%. There are 11 ETFs in the Preferred Stock category with shallower 1-year drawdowns, going as shallow as -2.11%.

Symbol	Name	Max Drawdown 1Y	AUM	Inception
QTPI	North Square RCIM Tax-Advantaged Preferred and Inc...	-2.11%	74.29M	Dec 2024	FPEI vs QTPI
PFLD	AAM Low Duration Preferred and Income Securities E...	-2.23%	487.73M	Nov 2019	FPEI vs PFLD
FPFD	Fidelity Preferred Securities & Income ETF	-2.75%	81.24M	Jun 2021	FPEI vs FPFD
PREF	Principal Spectrum Preferred Secs Active ETF	-2.88%	1.70B	Jul 2017	FPEI vs PREF
VRP	Invesco Variable Rate Preferred ETF	-2.89%	3.00B	May 2014	FPEI vs VRP

Other ETFs from First Trust

The 10 most viewed First Trust ETFs shown here include CIBR, GRID, AIRR and span 16 categories. AUM among these funds goes as high as $25B.

Symbol	Name	Category	Risk / Return Rank	YTD Return	AUM	Inception
CIBR	First Trust NASDAQ Cybersecurity ETF	Cybersecurity, Technology Equities	44	31.78%	14.31B	Jul 2015	FPEI vs CIBR
GRID	First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Smart Grid Infrastru...	Infrastructure Equities, Alternative Energy Equities, Energy Equities	53	19.50%	11.67B	Nov 2009	FPEI vs GRID
AIRR	First Trust RBA American Industrial Renaissance ET...	Building & Construction	63	22.38%	10.18B	Mar 2014	FPEI vs AIRR
NFTY	First Trust India NIFTY 50 Equal Weight ETF	India Equities, Equal Weight, Asia Pacific Equities	9	-5.08%	118.19M	Feb 2012	FPEI vs NFTY
FDL	First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fun...	Large Cap Value Equities, Dividend	92	18.62%	7.77B	Mar 2006	FPEI vs FDL
IGLD	FT Vest Gold Strategy Target Income ETF	Gold, Derivative Income, Precious Metals	23	-6.86%	514.13M	Mar 2021	FPEI vs IGLD
FTXL	First Trust Nasdaq Semiconductor ETF	Semiconductors, Technology Equities	91	68.79%	1.27B	Sep 2016	FPEI vs FTXL
TDIV	First Trust NASDAQ Technology Dividend Index Fund	Technology Equities, Dividend	49	16.55%	4.18B	Aug 2012	FPEI vs TDIV
QCLN	First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy Index F...	Alternative Energy Equities, Energy Equities	42	13.15%	586.61M	Feb 2007	FPEI vs QCLN
RDVY	First Trust Rising Dividend Achievers ETF	Dividend, Large Cap Blend Equities	88	18.21%	24.89B	Jan 2014	FPEI vs RDVY

Often Compared With FPEI

Investors most often compare FPEI with FPE, PFFA, PFF. These 20 comparison targets span 9 categories, based on PortfoliosLab usage data.

Symbol	Name	Category	Risk / Return Rank	YTD Return	AUM	Inception
FPE	First Trust Preferred Securities & Income ETF	Preferred Stock	55	1.13%	6.32B	Feb 2013	FPEI vs FPE
PFFA	Virtus InfraCap U.S. Preferred Stock ETF	Preferred Stock	33	1.89%	2.45B	May 2018	FPEI vs PFFA
PFF	iShares Preferred and Income Securities ETF	Preferred Stock	24	1.86%	13.15B	Mar 2007	FPEI vs PFF
PGF	Invesco Financial Preferred ETF	Preferred Stock	16	-0.20%	673.46M	Dec 2006	FPEI vs PGF
AGZD	WisdomTree Interest Rate Hedged U.S. Aggregate Bon...	Nontraditional Bonds	89	2.67%	131.15M	Dec 2013	FPEI vs AGZD
GTIP	Goldman Sachs Access Inflation Protected USD Bond ...	Inflation-Protected Bonds	25	0.58%	294.96M	Oct 2018	FPEI vs GTIP
PSK	SPDR ICE Preferred Securities ETF	Preferred Stock	11	-0.90%	691.70M	Sep 2009	FPEI vs PSK
FTCB	First Trust Core Investment Grade ETF	Intermediate Core Bond, Investment Grade Bonds	27	-0.41%	2.54B	Nov 2023	FPEI vs FTCB
DALI	First Trust Dorsey Wright DALI 1 ETF	Tactical Allocation	21	-0.64%	97.03M	May 2018	FPEI vs DALI
FPEIX	First Trust Preferred Securities and Income Fund	Preferred Stock	55	0.24%	—	Jan 2011	FPEI vs FPEIX
PGX	Invesco Preferred ETF	Preferred Stock	14	-0.90%	3.79B	Jan 2008	FPEI vs PGX
ICVT	iShares Convertible Bond ETF	Convertible Bonds	68	17.80%	7.19B	Jun 2015	FPEI vs ICVT
EPRF	Innovator S&P High Quality Preferred ETF	Preferred Stock	9	-1.56%	68.19M	May 2016	FPEI vs EPRF
PQDI	Principal Spectrum Preferred and Income ETF	Preferred Stock	60	1.64%	70.10M	Jun 2020	FPEI vs PQDI
JHPI	John Hancock Preferred Income ETF	Preferred Stock	59	1.91%	212.19M	Dec 2021	FPEI vs JHPI
FCVT	First Trust SSI Strategic Convertible Securities E...	Convertible Bonds	61	17.32%	100.83M	Nov 2015	FPEI vs FCVT
CWB	SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Convertible Securities ETF	Convertible Bonds	62	16.87%	5.57B	Apr 2009	FPEI vs CWB
PFFR	InfraCap REIT Preferred ETF	REIT, Preferred Stock	25	2.79%	120.46M	Feb 2017	FPEI vs PFFR
PRFD	PIMCO Preferred And Capital Securities Active Exch...	Preferred Stock	57	1.36%	222.53M	Jan 2023	FPEI vs PRFD
SPY	State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF	S&P 500	78	11.70%	789.06B	Jan 1993	FPEI vs SPY

Compare FPEI with Any Fund or Stock

Compare FPEI with any ETF, mutual fund, or stock using PortfoliosLab's comparison tool.

Symbol name

Diversifiers

Pair FPEI with funds that move differently

First Trust Institutional Preferred Securities & Income ETF alternatives help with substitution. Diversifiers are the next step when you want funds with lower historical correlation to FPEI.

Explore FPEI Diversifiers

First Trust Institutional Preferred Securities & Income ETF (FPEI) Alternatives