PREF Alternatives & Similar ETFs

Principal Spectrum Preferred Secs Active ETF (PREF) 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 PREF. Use the tables to find lower-cost options, better risk-adjusted returns, or a closer substitute for your current allocation.

Cheapest Alternatives to PREF

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

Best Risk-Adjusted Alternatives to PREF

PREF has a PortfoliosLab risk / return rank of 69. There are 5 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	PREF vs NPFI
CSPF	Cohen & Steers Preferred and Income Opportunities ...	75	65.77M	Feb 2025	PREF vs CSPF
FPEI	First Trust Institutional Preferred Securities & I...	74	1.93B	Aug 2017	PREF vs FPEI
PFLD	AAM Low Duration Preferred and Income Securities E...	74	487.73M	Nov 2019	PREF vs PFLD
VRP	Invesco Variable Rate Preferred ETF	70	3.00B	May 2014	PREF vs VRP

Top Performing PREF Alternatives (YTD)

PREF is at 1.65% YTD. There are 11 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	PREF vs SPFF
CSPF	Cohen & Steers Preferred and Income Opportunities ...	3.26%	65.77M	Feb 2025	PREF vs CSPF
CSSD	Cohen & Steers Short Duration Preferred and Income...	3.03%	17.00M	Dec 2025	PREF vs CSSD
PFFV	Global X Variable Rate Preferred ETF	2.94%	305.03M	Jun 2020	PREF vs PFFV
PFFR	InfraCap REIT Preferred ETF	2.67%	120.46M	Feb 2017	PREF vs PFFR

Lowest Volatility Alternatives to PREF

PREF has 3.11% 1-year volatility. There are 4 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	PREF vs NPFI
VRP	Invesco Variable Rate Preferred ETF	2.94%	3.00B	May 2014	PREF vs VRP
CSSD	Cohen & Steers Short Duration Preferred and Income...	2.96%	17.00M	Dec 2025	PREF vs CSSD
FPFD	Fidelity Preferred Securities & Income ETF	3.01%	81.24M	Jun 2021	PREF vs FPFD
PRFD	PIMCO Preferred And Capital Securities Active Exch...	3.22%	222.53M	Jan 2023	PREF vs PRFD

Lowest Drawdown Alternatives to PREF

PREF has a 1-year max drawdown of -2.88%. There are 3 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	PREF vs QTPI
PFLD	AAM Low Duration Preferred and Income Securities E...	-2.23%	487.73M	Nov 2019	PREF vs PFLD
FPFD	Fidelity Preferred Securities & Income ETF	-2.75%	81.24M	Jun 2021	PREF vs FPFD
VRP	Invesco Variable Rate Preferred ETF	-2.89%	3.00B	May 2014	PREF vs VRP
CSPF	Cohen & Steers Preferred and Income Opportunities ...	-3.06%	65.77M	Feb 2025	PREF vs CSPF

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	PREF vs USMC
YLD	Principal Active High Yield ETF	High Yield Bonds	64	3.34%	572.20M	Jul 2015	PREF vs YLD
PSC	Principal U.S. Small Cap Multi-Factor ETF	Small Cap Blend Equities, Multi-factor	73	18.31%	1.30B	Sep 2016	PREF vs PSC
PSET	Principal Quality ETF	Quality Factor, Large Cap Growth Equities	19	3.11%	53.80M	Mar 2016	PREF vs PSET
PQDI	Principal Spectrum Preferred and Income ETF	Preferred Stock	63	1.57%	70.10M	Jun 2020	PREF vs PQDI
PY	Principal Value ETF	Large Cap Value Equities	64	9.01%	124.50M	Mar 2016	PREF vs PY
IG	Principal Investment Grade Corporate Active ETF	Corporate Bonds, Investment Grade Bonds	—	—	133.79M	Apr 2018	PREF vs IG
BYRE	Principal Real Estate Active Opportunities ETF	REIT	47	15.21%	28.20M	May 2022	PREF vs BYRE
BCHP	Principal Focused Blue Chip ETF	Large Cap Growth Equities	10	0.96%	228.00M	Jul 2023	PREF vs BCHP
LCAP	Principal Capital Appreciation Select ETF	Large Cap Blend Equities	67	12.05%	194.16M	Mar 2025	PREF vs LCAP

Often Compared With PREF

Investors most often compare PREF with PFF, PFFA, FPE. These 20 comparison targets span 11 categories, based on PortfoliosLab usage data.

Symbol	Name	Category	Risk / Return Rank	YTD Return	AUM	Inception
PFF	iShares Preferred and Income Securities ETF	Preferred Stock	20	0.89%	13.15B	Mar 2007	PREF vs PFF
PFFA	Virtus InfraCap U.S. Preferred Stock ETF	Preferred Stock	29	1.20%	2.45B	May 2018	PREF vs PFFA
FPE	First Trust Preferred Securities & Income ETF	Preferred Stock	51	0.79%	6.32B	Feb 2013	PREF vs FPE
COWZ	Pacer US Cash Cows 100 ETF	Mid Cap Value Equities, Dividend	85	11.74%	17.98B	Dec 2016	PREF vs COWZ
SGOV	iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF	Ultrashort Bond	100	2.11%	99.95B	May 2020	PREF vs SGOV
SPY	State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF	S&P 500	67	10.13%	789.06B	Jan 1993	PREF vs SPY
ICVT	iShares Convertible Bond ETF	Convertible Bonds	60	15.73%	7.19B	Jun 2015	PREF vs ICVT
VOO	Vanguard S&P 500 ETF	S&P 500	68	10.16%	1.70T	Sep 2010	PREF vs VOO
PGX	Invesco Preferred ETF	Preferred Stock	12	-1.09%	3.79B	Jan 2008	PREF vs PGX
JAAA	Janus Henderson AAA CLO ETF	CLO	99	2.60%	29.22B	Oct 2020	PREF vs JAAA
FCVT	First Trust SSI Strategic Convertible Securities E...	Convertible Bonds	54	14.79%	100.83M	Nov 2015	PREF vs FCVT
TBF	ProShares Short 20+ Year Treasury	Inverse Bonds	28	6.75%	105.18M	Aug 2009	PREF vs TBF
EPRF	Innovator S&P High Quality Preferred ETF	Preferred Stock	7	-2.35%	68.19M	May 2016	PREF vs EPRF
GHYG	iShares US & Intl High Yield Corp Bond ETF	High Yield Bonds	37	0.94%	197.76M	Apr 2012	PREF vs GHYG
PGF	Invesco Financial Preferred ETF	Preferred Stock	15	-0.42%	673.46M	Dec 2006	PREF vs PGF
CWB	SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Convertible Securities ETF	Convertible Bonds	55	15.00%	5.57B	Apr 2009	PREF vs CWB
FDV	Federated Hermes U.S. Strategic Dividend ETF	Large Cap Value Equities	—	—	799.10M	Nov 2022	PREF vs FDV
VFSIX	Vanguard Short-Term Investment-Grade Fund Institut...	Total Bond Market	74	0.55%	—	Sep 1997	PREF vs VFSIX
FAGIX	Fidelity Capital & Income Fund	High Yield Bonds	74	5.47%	—	Nov 1977	PREF vs FAGIX
GPRF	Goldman Sachs Access U.S. Preferred Stock and Hybr...	Preferred Stock	37	0.94%	131.58M	Jul 2024	PREF vs GPRF

Compare PREF with Any Fund or Stock

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

Symbol name

Diversifiers

Pair PREF with funds that move differently

Principal Spectrum Preferred Secs Active ETF alternatives help with substitution. Diversifiers are the next step when you want funds with lower historical correlation to PREF.

Explore PREF Diversifiers

Principal Spectrum Preferred Secs Active ETF (PREF) Alternatives