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ISIN
US74255Y8883
CUSIP
74255Y888
Issuer
Principal
Inception Date
Jul 10, 2017
Region
Developed Markets (Broad)
Leveraged
1x (No leverage)
Index Tracked
No Index (Active)
Distribution Policy
Distributing
Asset Class
Preferred Stock
Asset Class Size
Multi-Cap
Assets Under Management
$2B

Share Price Chart


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Performance

PREF Performance Chart

Principal Spectrum Preferred Secs Active ETF (PREF) is up 2.0% since the beginning of the year. PREF is currently trading at $19 per share. Investors who bought $1,000 worth of PREF shares 5 years ago would now be looking at an investment worth $1,164.


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S&P 500 Index

Returns By Period

Principal Spectrum Preferred Secs Active ETF (PREF) has returned 1.95% so far this year and 6.17% over the past 12 months.


Principal Spectrum Preferred Secs Active ETF

1D
-0.03%
1M
0.71%
YTD
1.95%
6M
2.02%
1Y
6.17%
3Y*
9.30%
5Y*
3.09%
10Y*

Benchmark (S&P 500 Index)

1D
-0.37%
1M
-0.01%
YTD
9.16%
6M
8.64%
1Y
25.22%
3Y*
19.78%
5Y*
11.99%
10Y*
13.88%
*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

PREF Monthly Returns History

Based on dividend-adjusted daily data since Jul 26, 2017, PREF's average daily return is +0.02%, while the average monthly return is +0.36%. At this rate, an investment would double in approximately 16.1 years.

Historically, 66% of months were positive and 34% were negative. The best month was Apr 2020 with a return of +8.8%, while the worst month was Mar 2020 at -13.2%. The longest winning streak lasted 13 consecutive months, and the longest losing streak was 6 months.

On a daily basis, PREF closed higher 53% of trading days. The best single day was Mar 13, 2020 with a return of +3.5%, while the worst single day was Mar 18, 2020 at -9.4%.


JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecTotal
20260.31%1.00%-1.76%1.52%0.60%0.29%1.95%
20250.81%0.55%-0.07%-0.69%1.75%1.57%0.19%0.99%0.93%0.68%0.12%0.56%7.64%
20242.34%0.56%1.53%-0.44%1.46%0.57%1.42%1.13%1.85%-0.65%1.15%0.00%11.43%
20235.26%-1.84%-3.12%0.13%-0.32%1.11%2.41%-0.61%-1.10%-2.49%4.80%3.30%7.36%
2022-2.07%-3.17%-0.59%-3.14%-1.76%-3.43%5.20%-1.68%-4.95%-0.25%2.89%0.91%-11.80%
2021-0.15%-0.70%0.05%1.46%0.38%0.88%0.70%0.59%-0.16%-0.50%-1.54%1.09%2.08%

Benchmark Metrics

Principal Spectrum Preferred Secs Active ETF has an annualized alpha of 2.49%, beta of 0.13, and R2 of 0.15 versus S&P 500 Index. Calculated based on daily prices since July 26, 2017.

  • This ETF participated in 33.82% of S&P 500 Index downside but only 25.95% of its upside - more exposed to losses than it benefited from rallies.
  • Beta of 0.13 may look defensive, but with R2 of 0.15 this ETF is largely uncorrelated with S&P 500 Index - low beta reflects independence, not downside protection. See the Volatility section for a true picture of this ETF's risk.
  • R2 of 0.15 means this ETF moves largely independently of S&P 500 Index - capture ratios reflect limited market correlation rather than active downside protection. Consider using a more representative benchmark.

Alpha
2.49%
Beta
0.13
0.15
Upside Capture
25.95%
Downside Capture
33.82%

Expense Ratio

PREF has an expense ratio of 0.55%, placing it in the medium range.


Return for Risk

Risk / Return Rank

PREF ranks 61 for risk / return — better than 61% of ETFs on our site. You're getting solid returns for the risk taken. A good sign, especially for investors who want growth without excessive volatility.


PREF Risk / Return Rank: 6161
Overall Rank
PREF Sharpe Ratio Rank: 6262
Sharpe Ratio Rank
PREF Sortino Ratio Rank: 6464
Sortino Ratio Rank
PREF Omega Ratio Rank: 7272
Omega Ratio Rank
PREF Calmar Ratio Rank: 4444
Calmar Ratio Rank
PREF Martin Ratio Rank: 6363
Martin Ratio Rank
The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

Return / Risk — by metrics

The table below present risk-adjusted performance metrics for Principal Spectrum Preferred Secs Active ETF (PREF) and compare them to S&P 500 Index.

Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.


PREFBenchmarkDifference
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility

-0.04

Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk

+0.10

Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability

1.41

1.37

+0.04

Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown

2.15

2.78

-0.64

Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown

11.17

12.44

-1.26

Dividends

Dividend History

Principal Spectrum Preferred Secs Active ETF provided a 5.14% dividend yield over the last twelve months, with an annual payout of $0.98 per share. The fund has been increasing its distributions for 3 consecutive years.


2.00%3.00%4.00%5.00%6.00%$0.00$0.20$0.40$0.60$0.80$1.00201720182019202020212022202320242025
Dividends
Dividend Yield
PeriodTTM202520242023202220212020201920182017
Dividend$0.98$0.93$0.87$0.82$0.79$0.82$0.90$0.94$0.99$0.47

Dividend yield

5.14%4.87%4.65%4.67%4.63%4.07%4.35%4.67%5.49%2.35%

Monthly Dividends

The table displays the monthly dividend distributions for Principal Spectrum Preferred Secs Active ETF. The dividends shown in the table have been adjusted to account for any splits that may have occurred.


JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecTotal
2026$0.00$0.08$0.08$0.08$0.08$0.08$0.42
2025$0.00$0.07$0.08$0.07$0.07$0.07$0.08$0.08$0.08$0.08$0.08$0.17$0.93
2024$0.00$0.07$0.07$0.07$0.07$0.07$0.07$0.07$0.07$0.07$0.07$0.14$0.87
2023$0.00$0.07$0.07$0.06$0.07$0.07$0.06$0.07$0.07$0.07$0.07$0.14$0.82
2022$0.00$0.06$0.07$0.07$0.07$0.07$0.06$0.07$0.07$0.07$0.06$0.13$0.79
2021$0.00$0.07$0.07$0.07$0.07$0.07$0.08$0.07$0.07$0.07$0.06$0.13$0.82

Drawdowns

Drawdowns Chart

The Drawdowns chart displays portfolio losses from any high point along the way. Drawdowns are calculated considering price movements and all distributions paid, if any.


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Worst Drawdowns

The table below displays the maximum drawdowns of the Principal Spectrum Preferred Secs Active ETF. A maximum drawdown is a measure of risk, indicating the largest reduction in portfolio value due to a series of losing trades.

The maximum drawdown for the Principal Spectrum Preferred Secs Active ETF was 22.99%, occurring on Mar 19, 2020. Recovery took 110 trading sessions.

The current Principal Spectrum Preferred Secs Active ETF drawdown is 0.03%.


Related event

Drawdown

Fall

Recovery

Underwater

COVID crash2020
-22.99%Mar 2020
24d5mo 9d
6mo 3dFeb 2020 - Aug 2020
Bear market2022
-16.99%Oct 2022
1y 1mo1y 8mo
2y 9moSep 2021 - Jul 2024
Rate-hike selloffLate 2018
-6.42%Dec 2018
11mo 11d2mo 26d
1y 2moJan 2018 - Mar 2019
2026 pullback2026
-2.88%Mar 2026
1mo2mo 1d
3mo 1dFeb 2026 - May 2026
2025 selloff2025
-2.56%Apr 2025
20d1mo 2d
1mo 22dMar 2025 - May 2025

Drawdown Indicators


PREFBenchmarkDifference

Max Drawdown

Largest peak-to-trough decline

-22.99%

-56.78%

+33.79%

Max Drawdown (1Y)

Largest decline over 1 year

-2.88%

-9.10%

+6.22%

Max Drawdown (3Y)

Largest decline over 3 years

-4.39%

-18.90%

+14.51%

Max Drawdown (5Y)

Largest decline over 5 years

-16.99%

-25.43%

+8.44%

Max Drawdown (10Y)

Largest decline over 10 years

-33.92%

Current Drawdown

Current decline from peak

-0.03%

-1.80%

+1.77%

Average Drawdown

Average peak-to-trough decline

-3.64%

-10.71%

+7.07%

Ulcer Index

Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks

0.55%

2.03%

-1.48%

Volatility

Volatility Chart

The chart below shows the rolling one-month volatility.


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Portfolio Analyzer

Build a portfolio with PREF

Add Principal Spectrum Preferred Secs Active ETF to a portfolio and analyze allocations for your target — whether that's maximizing returns, minimizing drawdowns, or balancing risk across holdings.

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