PQDI Alternatives & Similar ETFs

Principal Spectrum Preferred and Income ETF (PQDI) 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 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 19 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	PQDI vs PFFD
PFFV	Global X Variable Rate Preferred ETF	0.25%	305.03M	Jun 2020	PQDI vs PFFV
EVPF	Eaton Vance Preferred Securities and Income ETF	0.39%	36.71M	Mar 2026	PQDI vs EVPF
PFXF	VanEck Preferred Securities ex Financials ETF	0.40%	2.41B	Jul 2012	PQDI vs PFXF
PSK	SPDR ICE Preferred Securities ETF	0.45%	691.70M	Sep 2009	PQDI vs PSK

Best Risk-Adjusted Alternatives to PQDI

PQDI has a PortfoliosLab risk / return rank of 63. There are 6 ETFs in the Preferred Stock category with higher risk-adjusted ranks, going as high as 76.

Symbol	Name	Risk / Return Rank	AUM	Inception
NPFI	Nuveen Preferred And Income ETF	76	174.03M	Mar 2024	PQDI vs NPFI
CSPF	Cohen & Steers Preferred and Income Opportunities ...	75	65.77M	Feb 2025	PQDI vs CSPF
FPEI	First Trust Institutional Preferred Securities & I...	74	1.93B	Aug 2017	PQDI vs FPEI
PFLD	AAM Low Duration Preferred and Income Securities E...	74	487.73M	Nov 2019	PQDI vs PFLD
VRP	Invesco Variable Rate Preferred ETF	70	3.00B	May 2014	PQDI vs VRP

Top Performing PQDI Alternatives (YTD)

PQDI is at 1.57% YTD. There are 12 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	PQDI vs SPFF
CSPF	Cohen & Steers Preferred and Income Opportunities ...	3.26%	65.77M	Feb 2025	PQDI vs CSPF
CSSD	Cohen & Steers Short Duration Preferred and Income...	3.03%	17.00M	Dec 2025	PQDI vs CSSD
PFFV	Global X Variable Rate Preferred ETF	2.94%	305.03M	Jun 2020	PQDI vs PFFV
PFFR	InfraCap REIT Preferred ETF	2.67%	120.46M	Feb 2017	PQDI vs PFFR

Lowest Volatility Alternatives to PQDI

PQDI has 3.36% 1-year volatility. There are 7 ETFs in the Preferred Stock category with lower 1-year volatility, going as low as 2.93%.

Symbol	Name	Volatility 1Y	AUM	Inception
NPFI	Nuveen Preferred And Income ETF	2.93%	174.03M	Mar 2024	PQDI vs NPFI
VRP	Invesco Variable Rate Preferred ETF	2.94%	3.00B	May 2014	PQDI vs VRP
CSSD	Cohen & Steers Short Duration Preferred and Income...	2.96%	17.00M	Dec 2025	PQDI vs CSSD
FPFD	Fidelity Preferred Securities & Income ETF	3.01%	81.24M	Jun 2021	PQDI vs FPFD
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 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%	81.24M	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%	3.00B	May 2014	PQDI vs VRP

Other ETFs from Principal

The 10 most viewed Principal ETFs shown here include USMC, YLD, PSC and span 11 categories. AUM among these funds goes as high as $4B.

Symbol	Name	Category	Risk / Return Rank	YTD Return	AUM	Inception
USMC	Principal U.S. Mega-Cap ETF	Large Cap Growth Equities	59	8.72%	3.50B	Oct 2017	PQDI vs USMC
YLD	Principal Active High Yield ETF	High Yield Bonds	64	3.34%	572.20M	Jul 2015	PQDI vs YLD
PSC	Principal U.S. Small Cap Multi-Factor ETF	Small Cap Blend Equities, Multi-factor	73	18.31%	1.30B	Sep 2016	PQDI vs PSC
PSET	Principal Quality ETF	Quality Factor, Large Cap Growth Equities	19	3.11%	53.80M	Mar 2016	PQDI vs PSET
PY	Principal Value ETF	Large Cap Value Equities	64	9.01%	124.50M	Mar 2016	PQDI vs PY
IG	Principal Investment Grade Corporate Active ETF	Corporate Bonds, Investment Grade Bonds	—	—	133.79M	Apr 2018	PQDI vs IG
BYRE	Principal Real Estate Active Opportunities ETF	REIT	47	15.21%	28.20M	May 2022	PQDI vs BYRE
BCHP	Principal Focused Blue Chip ETF	Large Cap Growth Equities	10	0.96%	228.00M	Jul 2023	PQDI vs BCHP
LCAP	Principal Capital Appreciation Select ETF	Large Cap Blend Equities	67	12.05%	194.16M	Mar 2025	PQDI vs LCAP
PIEQ	Principal International Equity ETF	Foreign Large Cap Equities	71	10.07%	—	Nov 2024	PQDI vs PIEQ

Often Compared With PQDI

Investors most often compare PQDI with JEPI, KPRO, SCHD. These 20 comparison targets span 10 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	48	4.52%	45.80B	May 2020	PQDI vs JEPI
KPRO	KraneShares 100% KWEB Defined Outcome January 2026...	Options Trading	7	-4.06%	3.40M	Feb 2024	PQDI vs KPRO
SCHD	Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF	Dividend	95	24.03%	104.16B	Oct 2011	PQDI vs SCHD
HIDV	AB US High Dividend ETF	Large Cap Value Equities	78	12.88%	202.64M	Mar 2023	PQDI vs HIDV
VOO	Vanguard S&P 500 ETF	S&P 500	68	10.16%	1.70T	Sep 2010	PQDI vs VOO
JAAA	Janus Henderson AAA CLO ETF	CLO	99	2.60%	29.22B	Oct 2020	PQDI vs JAAA
SGOV	iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF	Ultrashort Bond	100	2.11%	99.95B	May 2020	PQDI vs SGOV
PVIVX	Paradigm Micro-cap Fund	Small Cap Blend Equities	72	33.64%	—	Dec 2007	PQDI vs PVIVX
EPRF	Innovator S&P High Quality Preferred ETF	Preferred Stock	7	-2.35%	68.19M	May 2016	PQDI vs EPRF
SPY	State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF	S&P 500	67	10.13%	789.06B	Jan 1993	PQDI vs SPY
GPRF	Goldman Sachs Access U.S. Preferred Stock and Hybr...	Preferred Stock	37	0.94%	131.58M	Jul 2024	PQDI vs GPRF
PGX	Invesco Preferred ETF	Preferred Stock	12	-1.09%	3.79B	Jan 2008	PQDI vs PGX
FCVT	First Trust SSI Strategic Convertible Securities E...	Convertible Bonds	54	14.79%	100.83M	Nov 2015	PQDI vs FCVT
FPE	First Trust Preferred Securities & Income ETF	Preferred Stock	51	0.79%	6.32B	Feb 2013	PQDI vs FPE
ICVT	iShares Convertible Bond ETF	Convertible Bonds	60	15.73%	7.19B	Jun 2015	PQDI vs ICVT
JHPI	John Hancock Preferred Income ETF	Preferred Stock	61	1.69%	212.19M	Dec 2021	PQDI vs JHPI
PGF	Invesco Financial Preferred ETF	Preferred Stock	15	-0.42%	673.46M	Dec 2006	PQDI vs PGF
PFF	iShares Preferred and Income Securities ETF	Preferred Stock	20	0.89%	13.15B	Mar 2007	PQDI vs PFF
PFFA	Virtus InfraCap U.S. Preferred Stock ETF	Preferred Stock	29	1.20%	2.45B	May 2018	PQDI vs PFFA
PRFD	PIMCO Preferred And Capital Securities Active Exch...	Preferred Stock	59	1.05%	222.53M	Jan 2023	PQDI vs PRFD

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