PQDI Alternatives & Similar ETFs

Principal Spectrum Preferred and Income ETF (PQDI) belongs to the Preferred Stock/Convertible Bonds category. Below you'll find alternative ETFs from the same category, ranked by key criteria, plus funds that investors commonly compare with PQDI. Use the tables to find lower-cost options, better risk-adjusted returns, or a closer substitute for your current allocation.

Cheapest Alternatives to PQDI

PQDI charges 0.60% annually. There are 21 ETFs in the Preferred Stock/Convertible Bonds category with lower expense ratios, going as low as 0.20%.

Symbol	Name	Expense Ratio	AUM	Inception
ICVT	iShares Convertible Bond ETF	0.20%	7.46B	Jun 2015	PQDI vs ICVT
PFFD	Global X U.S. Preferred ETF	0.23%	2.17B	Sep 2017	PQDI vs PFFD
PFFV	Global X Variable Rate Preferred ETF	0.25%	305.93M	Jun 2020	PQDI vs PFFV
EVPF	Eaton Vance Preferred Securities and Income ETF	0.39%	35.16M	Mar 2026	PQDI vs EVPF
CWB	SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Convertible Securities ETF	0.40%	6.40B	Apr 2009	PQDI vs CWB

Best Risk-Adjusted Alternatives to PQDI

PQDI has a PortfoliosLab risk / return rank of 61. There are 10 ETFs in the Preferred Stock/Convertible Bonds category with higher risk-adjusted ranks, going as high as 84.

Symbol	Name	Risk / Return Rank	AUM	Inception
ICVT	iShares Convertible Bond ETF	84	7.46B	Jun 2015	PQDI vs ICVT
FCVT	First Trust SSI Strategic Convertible Securities E...	84	122.72M	Nov 2015	PQDI vs FCVT
CWB	SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Convertible Securities ETF	80	6.40B	Apr 2009	PQDI vs CWB
NPFI	Nuveen Preferred And Income ETF	74	169.20M	Mar 2024	PQDI vs NPFI
CSPF	Cohen & Steers Preferred and Income Opportunities ...	70	65.77M	Feb 2025	PQDI vs CSPF

Top Performing PQDI Alternatives (YTD)

PQDI is at 1.39% YTD. There are 19 ETFs in the Preferred Stock/Convertible Bonds category with higher YTD returns, going as high as 24.74%.

Symbol	Name	YTD Return	AUM	Inception
FCVT	First Trust SSI Strategic Convertible Securities E...	24.74%	122.72M	Nov 2015	PQDI vs FCVT
ICVT	iShares Convertible Bond ETF	24.42%	7.46B	Jun 2015	PQDI vs ICVT
CWB	SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Convertible Securities ETF	22.11%	6.40B	Apr 2009	PQDI vs CWB
PFXF	VanEck Vectors Preferred Securities ex Financials ...	5.24%	2.50B	Jul 2012	PQDI vs PFXF
SPFF	Global X SuperIncome Preferred ETF	4.37%	143.01M	Jul 2012	PQDI vs SPFF

Lowest Volatility Alternatives to PQDI

PQDI has 3.27% 1-year volatility. There are 6 ETFs in the Preferred Stock/Convertible Bonds category with lower 1-year volatility, going as low as 2.90%.

Symbol	Name	Volatility 1Y	AUM	Inception
VRP	Invesco Variable Rate Preferred ETF	2.90%	2.97B	May 2014	PQDI vs VRP
NPFI	Nuveen Preferred And Income ETF	2.95%	169.20M	Mar 2024	PQDI vs NPFI
FPFD	Fidelity Preferred Securities & Income ETF	2.98%	83.02M	Jun 2021	PQDI vs FPFD
CSSD	Cohen & Steers Short Duration Preferred and Income...	3.08%	17.00M	Dec 2025	PQDI vs CSSD
PREF	Principal Spectrum Preferred Secs Active ETF	3.11%	1.70B	Jul 2017	PQDI vs PREF

Lowest Drawdown Alternatives to PQDI

PQDI has a 1-year max drawdown of -3.31%. There are 10 ETFs in the Preferred Stock/Convertible Bonds 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	PQDI vs QTPI
PFLD	AAM Low Duration Preferred and Income Securities E...	-2.23%	487.73M	Nov 2019	PQDI vs PFLD
FPFD	Fidelity Preferred Securities & Income ETF	-2.75%	83.02M	Jun 2021	PQDI vs FPFD
PREF	Principal Spectrum Preferred Secs Active ETF	-2.88%	1.70B	Jul 2017	PQDI vs PREF
VRP	Invesco Variable Rate Preferred ETF	-2.89%	2.97B	May 2014	PQDI vs VRP

Other ETFs from Principal

The 10 most viewed Principal ETFs shown here include USMC, YLD, PSC and span 9 categories. AUM among these funds goes as high as $3B.

Symbol	Name	Category	Risk / Return Rank	YTD Return	AUM	Inception
USMC	Principal U.S. Mega-Cap ETF	Large Cap Growth Equities	47	6.42%	3.40B	Oct 2017	PQDI vs USMC
YLD	Principal Active High Yield ETF	High Yield Bonds	53	2.78%	566.30M	Jul 2015	PQDI vs YLD
PSC	Principal U.S. Small Cap Multi-Factor ETF	Small Cap Blend Equities, Multi-factor	57	17.73%	1.30B	Sep 2016	PQDI vs PSC
PSET	Principal Quality ETF	Large Cap Growth Equities	14	-2.63%	53.80M	Mar 2016	PQDI vs PSET
PY	Principal Value ETF	Large Cap Value Equities	39	3.40%	124.50M	Mar 2016	PQDI vs PY
IG	Principal Investment Grade Corporate Active ETF	Corporate Bonds	—	—	133.79M	Apr 2018	PQDI vs IG
BYRE	Principal Real Estate Active Opportunities ETF	REIT	22	13.03%	25.20M	May 2022	PQDI vs BYRE
BCHP	Principal Focused Blue Chip ETF	Large Cap Growth Equities	9	-4.91%	221.70M	Jul 2023	PQDI vs BCHP
LCAP	Principal Capital Appreciation Select ETF	Large Cap Blend Equities	58	9.75%	194.16M	Mar 2025	PQDI vs LCAP
PIEQ	Principal International Equity ETF	Foreign Large Cap Equities	53	6.28%	—	Nov 2024	PQDI vs PIEQ

Often Compared With PQDI

Investors most often compare PQDI with JEPI, SCHD, KPRO. These 20 comparison targets span 9 categories, based on PortfoliosLab usage data.

Symbol	Name	Category	Risk / Return Rank	YTD Return	AUM	Inception
JEPI	JPMorgan Equity Premium Income ETF	Dividend, Derivative Income	27	0.91%	44.26B	May 2020	PQDI vs JEPI
SCHD	Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF	Dividend	77	17.72%	99.95B	Oct 2011	PQDI vs SCHD
KPRO	KraneShares 100% KWEB Defined Outcome January 2026...	Options Trading	5	-6.19%	3.99M	Feb 2024	PQDI vs KPRO
HIDV	AB US High Dividend ETF	Large Cap Value Equities	64	8.94%	204.83M	Mar 2023	PQDI vs HIDV
VOO	Vanguard S&P 500 ETF	S&P 500	59	8.19%	1.70T	Sep 2010	PQDI vs VOO
JAAA	Janus Henderson AAA CLO ETF	CLO	98	2.07%	28.22B	Oct 2020	PQDI vs JAAA
SGOV	iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF	Ultrashort Bond	100	1.71%	95.28B	May 2020	PQDI vs SGOV
PVIVX	Paradigm Micro-cap Fund	Small Cap Blend Equities	60	36.98%	—	Dec 2007	PQDI vs PVIVX
EPRF	Innovator S&P High Quality Preferred ETF	Preferred Stock/Convertible Bonds	10	-2.88%	70.31M	May 2016	PQDI vs EPRF
SPY	State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF	S&P 500	59	8.15%	765.27B	Jan 1993	PQDI vs SPY
PGX	Invesco Preferred ETF	Preferred Stock/Convertible Bonds	19	-0.64%	3.87B	Jan 2008	PQDI vs PGX
GPRF	Goldman Sachs Access U.S. Preferred Stock and Hybr...	Preferred Stock/Convertible Bonds	43	1.29%	87.26M	Jul 2024	PQDI vs GPRF
FPE	First Trust Preferred Securities & Income ETF	Preferred Stock/Convertible Bonds	54	0.91%	6.35B	Feb 2013	PQDI vs FPE
PFF	iShares Preferred and Income Securities ETF	Preferred Stock/Convertible Bonds	28	1.44%	13.45B	Mar 2007	PQDI vs PFF
FPEI	First Trust Institutional Preferred Securities & I...	Preferred Stock/Convertible Bonds	69	1.95%	1.89B	Aug 2017	PQDI vs FPEI
PFFA	Virtus InfraCap U.S. Preferred Stock ETF	Preferred Stock/Convertible Bonds	44	2.26%	2.42B	May 2018	PQDI vs PFFA
PGF	Invesco Financial Preferred ETF	Preferred Stock/Convertible Bonds	16	-0.57%	692.72M	Dec 2006	PQDI vs PGF
PRFD	PIMCO Preferred And Capital Securities Active Exch...	Preferred Stock/Convertible Bonds	67	1.77%	219.37M	Jan 2023	PQDI vs PRFD
JHPI	John Hancock Preferred Income ETF	Preferred Stock/Convertible Bonds	64	1.69%	206.66M	Dec 2021	PQDI vs JHPI
PSK	SPDR ICE Preferred Securities ETF	Preferred Stock/Convertible Bonds	15	-0.93%	713.44M	Sep 2009	PQDI vs PSK

Compare PQDI with Any Fund or Stock

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

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Diversifiers

Pair PQDI with funds that move differently

Principal Spectrum Preferred and Income ETF alternatives help with substitution. Diversifiers are the next step when you want funds with lower historical correlation to PQDI.

Explore PQDI Diversifiers

Principal Spectrum Preferred and Income ETF (PQDI) Alternatives