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 22 ETFs in the Preferred Stock/Convertible Bonds category with lower expense ratios, going as low as 0.20%.
| Symbol | Name | Expense Ratio | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| iShares Convertible Bond ETF | 0.20% | 7.11B | Jun 2015 | PQDI vs ICVT | |
| Global X U.S. Preferred ETF | 0.23% | 2.17B | Sep 2017 | PQDI vs PFFD | |
| Global X Variable Rate Preferred ETF | 0.25% | 306.29M | Jun 2020 | PQDI vs PFFV | |
| American Century Quality Preferred ETF | 0.33% | 78.51M | Feb 2021 | PQDI vs QPFF | |
| Eaton Vance Preferred Securities and Income ETF | 0.39% | 32.18M | Mar 2026 | PQDI vs EVPF |
Best Risk-Adjusted Alternatives to PQDI
PQDI has a PortfoliosLab risk / return rank of 65. There are 11 ETFs in the Preferred Stock/Convertible Bonds category with higher risk-adjusted ranks, going as high as 89.
| Symbol | Name | Risk / Return Rank | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| iShares Convertible Bond ETF | 89 | 7.11B | Jun 2015 | PQDI vs ICVT | |
| First Trust SSI Strategic Convertible Securities E... | 89 | 122.33M | Nov 2015 | PQDI vs FCVT | |
| SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Convertible Securities ETF | 87 | 6.21B | Apr 2009 | PQDI vs CWB | |
| Nuveen Preferred And Income ETF | 77 | 166.00M | Mar 2024 | PQDI vs NPFI | |
| Invesco Variable Rate Preferred ETF | 73 | 2.86B | May 2014 | PQDI vs VRP |
Top Performing PQDI Alternatives (YTD)
PQDI is at 1.32% YTD. There are 20 ETFs in the Preferred Stock/Convertible Bonds category with higher YTD returns, going as high as 27.14%.
| Symbol | Name | YTD Return | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Trust SSI Strategic Convertible Securities E... | 27.14% | 122.33M | Nov 2015 | PQDI vs FCVT | |
| iShares Convertible Bond ETF | 26.51% | 7.11B | Jun 2015 | PQDI vs ICVT | |
| SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Convertible Securities ETF | 24.93% | 6.21B | Apr 2009 | PQDI vs CWB | |
| VanEck Vectors Preferred Securities ex Financials ... | 9.58% | 2.51B | Jul 2012 | PQDI vs PFXF | |
| Global X SuperIncome Preferred ETF | 7.12% | 144.35M | Jul 2012 | PQDI vs SPFF |
Lowest Volatility Alternatives to PQDI
PQDI has 3.22% 1-year volatility. There are 8 ETFs in the Preferred Stock/Convertible Bonds category with lower 1-year volatility, going as low as 0.00%.
| Symbol | Name | Volatility 1Y | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Century Quality Preferred ETF | 0.00% | 78.51M | Feb 2021 | PQDI vs QPFF | |
| Preferred-Plus ETF | 0.00% | 11.44M | Dec 2018 | PQDI vs IPPP | |
| Invesco Variable Rate Preferred ETF | 2.88% | 2.86B | May 2014 | PQDI vs VRP | |
| Nuveen Preferred And Income ETF | 2.91% | 166.00M | Mar 2024 | PQDI vs NPFI | |
| Fidelity Preferred Securities & Income ETF | 2.94% | 83.35M | Jun 2021 | PQDI vs FPFD |
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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Square RCIM Tax-Advantaged Preferred and Inc... | -2.11% | 74.29M | Dec 2024 | PQDI vs QTPI | |
| AAM Low Duration Preferred and Income Securities E... | -2.23% | 487.73M | Nov 2019 | PQDI vs PFLD | |
| Fidelity Preferred Securities & Income ETF | -2.75% | 83.35M | Jun 2021 | PQDI vs FPFD | |
| Principal Spectrum Preferred Secs Active ETF | -2.88% | 1.70B | Jul 2017 | PQDI vs PREF | |
| Invesco Variable Rate Preferred ETF | -2.89% | 2.86B | 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Principal U.S. Mega-Cap ETF | Large Cap Growth Equities | 57 | 9.11% | 3.40B | Oct 2017 | PQDI vs USMC | |
| Principal Active High Yield ETF | High Yield Bonds | 63 | 3.21% | 544.60M | Jul 2015 | PQDI vs YLD | |
| Principal U.S. Small Cap Multi-Factor ETF | Small Cap Blend Equities, Multi-factor | 51 | 14.91% | 1.30B | Sep 2016 | PQDI vs PSC | |
| Principal Healthcare Innovators Index ETF | Health & Biotech Equities | — | — | 16.16M | Aug 2016 | PQDI vs BTEC | |
| Principal Quality ETF | Large Cap Growth Equities | 20 | 0.29% | 53.80M | Mar 2016 | PQDI vs PSET | |
| Principal Value ETF | Large Cap Value Equities | 45 | 4.65% | 124.50M | Mar 2016 | PQDI vs PY | |
| Principal Investment Grade Corporate Active ETF | Corporate Bonds | — | — | 133.79M | Apr 2018 | PQDI vs IG | |
| Principal Real Estate Active Opportunities ETF | REIT | 21 | 10.39% | 25.70M | May 2022 | PQDI vs BYRE | |
| Principal Focused Blue Chip ETF | Large Cap Growth Equities | 16 | 1.71% | 229.00M | Jul 2023 | PQDI vs BCHP | |
| Principal Capital Appreciation Select ETF | Large Cap Blend Equities | 66 | 13.00% | 194.16M | Mar 2025 | PQDI vs LCAP |
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.
Compare PQDI with Any Fund or Stock
Compare PQDI with any ETF, mutual fund, or stock using PortfoliosLab's comparison tool.
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