Principal Spectrum Preferred Secs Active ETF (PREF) Alternatives

Principal Spectrum Preferred Secs Active ETF (PREF) 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 PREF. Use the tables to find lower-cost options, better risk-adjusted returns, or funds that fit a different role in your portfolio.

Cheapest Alternatives to PREF

PREF charges 0.55% annually. Among ETFs in the Preferred Stock/Convertible Bonds category, these options have the lowest expense ratios among PREF alternatives.

Symbol	Name	Expense Ratio	Inception
ICVT	iShares Convertible Bond ETF	0.20%	Jun 2, 2015	PREF vs ICVT
PFFD	Global X U.S. Preferred ETF	0.23%	Sep 11, 2017	PREF vs PFFD
PFFV	Global X Variable Rate Preferred ETF	0.25%	Jun 22, 2020	PREF vs PFFV
QPFF	American Century Quality Preferred ETF	0.33%	Feb 16, 2021	PREF vs QPFF
CWB	SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Convertible Securities ETF	0.40%	Apr 14, 2009	PREF vs CWB

Best Risk-Adjusted Alternatives to PREF

Among ETFs in the Preferred Stock/Convertible Bonds category, these options rank highest on PortfoliosLab's risk-adjusted score, which accounts for volatility, drawdown, and return consistency over a 1-year period.

Symbol	Name	Risk / Return Rank	Inception
NPFI	Nuveen Preferred And Income ETF	88	Mar 5, 2024	PREF vs NPFI
FCVT	First Trust SSI Strategic Convertible Securities E...	88	Nov 4, 2015	PREF vs FCVT
ICVT	iShares Convertible Bond ETF	87	Jun 2, 2015	PREF vs ICVT
PQDI	Principal Spectrum Preferred and Income ETF	86	Jun 16, 2020	PREF vs PQDI
FPEI	First Trust Institutional Preferred Securities & I...	83	Aug 22, 2017	PREF vs FPEI

Top Performing PREF Alternatives (YTD)

PREF alternatives from the Preferred Stock/Convertible Bonds category, sorted by year-to-date return.

Symbol	Name	YTD Return	Inception
ICVT	iShares Convertible Bond ETF	3.58%	Jun 2, 2015	PREF vs ICVT
FCVT	First Trust SSI Strategic Convertible Securities E...	2.96%	Nov 4, 2015	PREF vs FCVT
CWB	SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Convertible Securities ETF	2.86%	Apr 14, 2009	PREF vs CWB
PFLD	AAM Low Duration Preferred and Income Securities E...	0.25%	Nov 19, 2019	PREF vs PFLD
PFXF	VanEck Vectors Preferred Securities ex Financials ...	0.10%	Jul 16, 2012	PREF vs PFXF

Lowest Volatility Alternatives to PREF

PREF alternatives from the Preferred Stock/Convertible Bonds category, sorted by annualized volatility over the past year.

Symbol	Name	Volatility 1Y	Inception
IPPP	Preferred-Plus ETF	0.00%	Dec 24, 2018	PREF vs IPPP
QPFF	American Century Quality Preferred ETF	0.00%	Feb 16, 2021	PREF vs QPFF
PQDI	Principal Spectrum Preferred and Income ETF	3.22%	Jun 16, 2020	PREF vs PQDI
NPFI	Nuveen Preferred And Income ETF	3.26%	Mar 5, 2024	PREF vs NPFI
FPFD	Fidelity Preferred Securities & Income ETF	3.54%	Jun 15, 2021	PREF vs FPFD

Lowest Drawdown Alternatives to PREF

PREF alternatives from the Preferred Stock/Convertible Bonds category, sorted by maximum drawdown over the past year.

Symbol	Name	Max Drawdown 1Y	Inception
JHPI	John Hancock Preferred Income ETF	-3.08%	Dec 14, 2021	PREF vs JHPI
NPFI	Nuveen Preferred And Income ETF	-3.18%	Mar 5, 2024	PREF vs NPFI
FPFD	Fidelity Preferred Securities & Income ETF	-3.18%	Jun 15, 2021	PREF vs FPFD
PRFD	PIMCO Preferred And Capital Securities Active Exch...	-3.28%	Jan 18, 2023	PREF vs PRFD
PQDI	Principal Spectrum Preferred and Income ETF	-3.31%	Jun 16, 2020	PREF vs PQDI

Other ETFs from Principal

Most popular Principal ETFs on PortfoliosLab, across asset classes.

Symbol	Name	Category	Risk / Return Rank	YTD Return	Inception
USMC	Principal U.S. Mega-Cap ETF	Large Cap Growth Equities	50	-6.05%	Oct 12, 2017	PREF vs USMC
YLD	Principal Active High Yield ETF	High Yield Bonds, Actively Managed	67	0.96%	Jul 9, 2015	PREF vs YLD
PSC	Principal U.S. Small Cap Multi-Factor ETF	Small Cap Blend Equities, Multi-factor	53	-0.70%	Sep 21, 2016	PREF vs PSC
BTEC	Principal Healthcare Innovators Index ETF	Health & Biotech Equities	—	—	Aug 19, 2016	PREF vs BTEC
PSET	Principal Quality ETF	Large Cap Growth Equities	23	-8.82%	Mar 21, 2016	PREF vs PSET
PY	Principal Value ETF	Large Cap Value Equities	28	-1.34%	Mar 21, 2016	PREF vs PY
IG	Principal Investment Grade Corporate Active ETF	Corporate Bonds, Actively Managed	46	-0.41%	Apr 18, 2018	PREF vs IG
BYRE	Principal Real Estate Active Opportunities ETF	REIT	14	2.60%	May 18, 2022	PREF vs BYRE
BCHP	Principal Focused Blue Chip ETF	Large Cap Growth Equities	13	-12.70%	Jul 12, 2023	PREF vs BCHP
LCAP	Principal Capital Appreciation Select ETF	Large Cap Blend Equities	60	-1.86%	Mar 25, 2025	PREF vs LCAP

Often Compared With PREF

What investors most often compare with PREF, based on PortfoliosLab usage data.

Symbol	Name	Category	Risk / Return Rank	YTD Return	Inception
PFF	iShares Preferred and Income Securities ETF	Preferred Stock/Convertible Bonds	31	-1.42%	Mar 30, 2007	PREF vs PFF
SPFF	Global X SuperIncome Preferred ETF	Preferred Stock/Convertible Bonds	29	-3.61%	Jul 17, 2012	PREF vs SPFF
SGOV	iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF	Ultrashort Bond	100	0.86%	May 26, 2020	PREF vs SGOV
PFFA	Virtus InfraCap U.S. Preferred Stock ETF	Preferred Stock/Convertible Bonds, Actively Managed	30	-3.22%	May 15, 2018	PREF vs PFFA
COWZ	Pacer US Cash Cows 100 ETF	Mid Cap Value Equities, Dividend	60	4.30%	Dec 16, 2016	PREF vs COWZ
FPE	First Trust Preferred Securities & Income ETF	Preferred Stock/Convertible Bonds, Actively Managed	75	-1.22%	Feb 12, 2013	PREF vs FPE
SPY	State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF	S&P 500	64	-4.37%	Jan 22, 1993	PREF vs SPY
VOO	Vanguard S&P 500 ETF	S&P 500	65	-4.42%	Sep 7, 2010	PREF vs VOO
JAAA	Janus Henderson AAA CLO ETF	CLO	97	0.73%	Oct 16, 2020	PREF vs JAAA
GHYG	iShares US & Intl High Yield Corp Bond ETF	High Yield Bonds	77	-1.26%	Apr 3, 2012	PREF vs GHYG
IEF	iShares 7-10 Year Treasury Bond ETF	Government Bonds	43	-0.14%	Jul 26, 2002	PREF vs IEF
FAGIX	Fidelity Capital & Income Fund	High Yield Bonds	91	-0.85%	Nov 1, 1977	PREF vs FAGIX
CLS	Celestica Inc.		96	-4.71%	—	PREF vs CLS
TBF	ProShares Short 20+ Year Treasury	Inverse Bonds	27	0.84%	Aug 20, 2009	PREF vs TBF
VFSIX	Vanguard Short-Term Investment-Grade Fund Institut...	Total Bond Market	93	-0.38%	Sep 30, 1997	PREF vs VFSIX
VRP	Invesco Variable Rate Preferred ETF	Preferred Stock/Convertible Bonds	72	-0.19%	May 1, 2014	PREF vs VRP
EIS	iShares MSCI Israel ETF	Foreign Large Cap Equities	96	5.46%	Mar 26, 2008	PREF vs EIS
PFFR	InfraCap REIT Preferred ETF	Preferred Stock/Convertible Bonds, REIT	21	-2.23%	Feb 7, 2017	PREF vs PFFR
PGF	Invesco Financial Preferred ETF	Preferred Stock/Convertible Bonds	20	-1.24%	Dec 1, 2006	PREF vs PGF
PGX	Invesco Preferred ETF	Preferred Stock/Convertible Bonds	23	-1.70%	Jan 31, 2008	PREF vs PGX

Compare PREF with Any Fund or Stock

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

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Principal Spectrum Preferred Secs Active ETF

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