NPFI Alternatives & Similar ETFs

Nuveen Preferred And Income ETF (NPFI) 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 NPFI. Use the tables to find lower-cost options, better risk-adjusted returns, or a closer substitute for your current allocation.

Cheapest Alternatives to NPFI

NPFI charges 0.55% annually. There are 14 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	NPFI vs PFFD
PFFV	Global X Variable Rate Preferred ETF	0.25%	305.03M	Jun 2020	NPFI vs PFFV
EVPF	Eaton Vance Preferred Securities and Income ETF	0.39%	36.71M	Mar 2026	NPFI vs EVPF
PFXF	VanEck Preferred Securities ex Financials ETF	0.40%	2.41B	Jul 2012	NPFI vs PFXF
PSK	SPDR ICE Preferred Securities ETF	0.45%	691.70M	Sep 2009	NPFI vs PSK

Best Risk-Adjusted Alternatives to NPFI

NPFI has a PortfoliosLab risk / return rank of 76. No ETFs in the Preferred Stock category have higher risk-adjusted ranks; the top alternatives shown here go as high as 75.

Symbol	Name	Risk / Return Rank	AUM	Inception
CSPF	Cohen & Steers Preferred and Income Opportunities ...	75	65.77M	Feb 2025	NPFI vs CSPF
FPEI	First Trust Institutional Preferred Securities & I...	74	1.93B	Aug 2017	NPFI vs FPEI
PFLD	AAM Low Duration Preferred and Income Securities E...	74	487.73M	Nov 2019	NPFI vs PFLD
VRP	Invesco Variable Rate Preferred ETF	70	3.00B	May 2014	NPFI vs VRP
PREF	Principal Spectrum Preferred Secs Active ETF	69	1.70B	Jul 2017	NPFI vs PREF

Top Performing NPFI Alternatives (YTD)

NPFI is at 1.83% YTD. There are 8 ETFs in the Preferred Stock category with higher YTD returns, going as high as 4.06%.

Symbol	Name	YTD Return	AUM	Inception
SPFF	Global X SuperIncome Preferred ETF	4.06%	140.63M	Jul 2012	NPFI vs SPFF
CSPF	Cohen & Steers Preferred and Income Opportunities ...	3.26%	65.77M	Feb 2025	NPFI vs CSPF
CSSD	Cohen & Steers Short Duration Preferred and Income...	3.03%	17.00M	Dec 2025	NPFI vs CSSD
PFFV	Global X Variable Rate Preferred ETF	2.94%	305.03M	Jun 2020	NPFI vs PFFV
PFFR	InfraCap REIT Preferred ETF	2.67%	120.46M	Feb 2017	NPFI vs PFFR

Lowest Volatility Alternatives to NPFI

NPFI has 2.93% 1-year volatility. No ETFs in the Preferred Stock category have lower 1-year volatility; the lowest-volatility alternatives shown here go as low as 2.94%.

Symbol	Name	Volatility 1Y	AUM	Inception
VRP	Invesco Variable Rate Preferred ETF	2.94%	3.00B	May 2014	NPFI vs VRP
CSSD	Cohen & Steers Short Duration Preferred and Income...	2.96%	17.00M	Dec 2025	NPFI vs CSSD
FPFD	Fidelity Preferred Securities & Income ETF	3.01%	81.24M	Jun 2021	NPFI vs FPFD
PREF	Principal Spectrum Preferred Secs Active ETF	3.11%	1.70B	Jul 2017	NPFI vs PREF
PRFD	PIMCO Preferred And Capital Securities Active Exch...	3.22%	222.53M	Jan 2023	NPFI vs PRFD

Lowest Drawdown Alternatives to NPFI

NPFI has a 1-year max drawdown of -3.18%. There are 7 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	NPFI vs QTPI
PFLD	AAM Low Duration Preferred and Income Securities E...	-2.23%	487.73M	Nov 2019	NPFI vs PFLD
FPFD	Fidelity Preferred Securities & Income ETF	-2.75%	81.24M	Jun 2021	NPFI vs FPFD
PREF	Principal Spectrum Preferred Secs Active ETF	-2.88%	1.70B	Jul 2017	NPFI vs PREF
VRP	Invesco Variable Rate Preferred ETF	-2.89%	3.00B	May 2014	NPFI vs VRP

Other ETFs from Nuveen

The 10 most viewed Nuveen ETFs shown here include NULG, NCLO, NUDV and span 10 categories. AUM among these funds goes as high as $3B.

Symbol	Name	Category	Risk / Return Rank	YTD Return	AUM	Inception
NULG	Nuveen ESG Large-Cap Growth ETF	Large Cap Growth Equities	33	14.65%	2.67B	Dec 2016	NPFI vs NULG
NCLO	Nuveen AA-BBB CLO ETF	CLO	69	2.93%	—	Dec 2024	NPFI vs NCLO
NUDV	Nuveen ESG Dividend ETF	Large Cap Value Equities	87	13.60%	50.18M	Sep 2021	NPFI vs NUDV
NURE	Nuveen Short-Term REIT ETF	REIT	52	18.24%	35.73M	Dec 2016	NPFI vs NURE
NULV	Nuveen ESG Large-Cap Value ETF	Large Cap Value Equities	90	14.74%	2.20B	Dec 2016	NPFI vs NULV
NUSC	Nuveen ESG Small-Cap ETF	Small Cap Growth Equities	67	14.06%	1.29B	Dec 2016	NPFI vs NUSC
NUMG	Nuveen ESG Mid-Cap Growth ETF	Mid Cap Growth Equities	7	-3.57%	349.73M	Dec 2016	NPFI vs NUMG
NUMV	Nuveen ESG Mid-Cap Value ETF	Mid Cap Value Equities, ESG	76	12.97%	443.69M	Dec 2016	NPFI vs NUMV
NUBD	Nuveen ESG U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF	Intermediate Core Bond	26	-0.72%	463.17M	Sep 2017	NPFI vs NUBD
NUSB	Nuveen Ultra Short Income ETF	Ultrashort Bond	100	2.15%	156.61M	Mar 2024	NPFI vs NUSB

Often Compared With NPFI

Investors most often compare NPFI with PFFA, SDCP, SDSI. These 20 comparison targets span 12 categories, based on PortfoliosLab usage data.

Symbol	Name	Category	Risk / Return Rank	YTD Return	AUM	Inception
PFFA	Virtus InfraCap U.S. Preferred Stock ETF	Preferred Stock	29	1.20%	2.45B	May 2018	NPFI vs PFFA
SDCP	Virtus Newfleet Short Duration Core Plus Bond ETF	Short-Term Bond	95	1.52%	13.38M	Nov 2023	NPFI vs SDCP
SDSI	American Century Short Duration Strategic Income E...	Short-Term Bond	94	1.61%	255.74M	Oct 2022	NPFI vs SDSI
BFIX	Build Bond Innovation ETF	Intermediate Core Bond	57	0.69%	10.78M	Feb 2022	NPFI vs BFIX
PFF	iShares Preferred and Income Securities ETF	Preferred Stock	20	0.89%	13.15B	Mar 2007	NPFI vs PFF
JEPI	JPMorgan Equity Premium Income ETF	Dividend, Derivative Income	48	4.52%	45.80B	May 2020	NPFI vs JEPI
SPY	State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF	S&P 500	67	10.13%	789.06B	Jan 1993	NPFI vs SPY
GSY	Invesco Ultra Short Duration ETF	Ultrashort Bond	99	2.23%	3.91B	Feb 2008	NPFI vs GSY
NPSRX	Nuveen Preferred Securities & Income Fund	Preferred Stock	73	0.35%	—	Dec 2006	NPFI vs NPSRX
GSST	Goldman Sachs Ultra Short Bond ETF	Ultrashort Bond	99	2.20%	1.59B	Apr 2019	NPFI vs GSST
NUEM	Nuveen ESG Emerging Markets Equity ETF	Emerging Markets Equities	48	12.56%	372.83M	Jun 2017	NPFI vs NUEM
BINC	iShares Flexible Income Active ETF	Multisector Bonds	70	1.11%	16.09B	May 2023	NPFI vs BINC
AVIGX	Avantis Core Fixed Income Fund	Intermediate Core Bond	18	-0.95%	—	Feb 2021	NPFI vs AVIGX
WIP	SPDR FTSE International Government Inflation-Prote...	Inflation-Protected Bonds	45	3.55%	470.78M	Mar 2008	NPFI vs WIP
NHYM	Nuveen High Yield Municipal Income ETF	High Yield Muni	86	1.57%	136.17M	Jan 2025	NPFI vs NHYM
PGX	Invesco Preferred ETF	Preferred Stock	12	-1.09%	3.79B	Jan 2008	NPFI vs PGX
ICVT	iShares Convertible Bond ETF	Convertible Bonds	60	15.73%	7.19B	Jun 2015	NPFI vs ICVT
PGF	Invesco Financial Preferred ETF	Preferred Stock	15	-0.42%	673.46M	Dec 2006	NPFI vs PGF
PQDI	Principal Spectrum Preferred and Income ETF	Preferred Stock	63	1.57%	70.10M	Jun 2020	NPFI vs PQDI
CWB	SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Convertible Securities ETF	Convertible Bonds	55	15.00%	5.57B	Apr 2009	NPFI vs CWB

Compare NPFI with Any Fund or Stock

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

Symbol name

Diversifiers

Pair NPFI with funds that move differently

Nuveen Preferred And Income ETF alternatives help with substitution. Diversifiers are the next step when you want funds with lower historical correlation to NPFI.

Explore NPFI Diversifiers

Nuveen Preferred And Income ETF (NPFI) Alternatives