PGZ vs. USCI

Last updated Jun 26, 2026

PGZ (Principal Real Estate Income Fund) is a stock, while USCI (United States Commodity Index Fund) is Commodities fund tracking the SummerHaven Dynamic Commodity (TR). Over the past 10 years, PGZ returned 4.31%/yr vs 8.14%/yr for USCI. At a 0.14 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.

Performance

PGZ vs. USCI - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Principal Real Estate Income Fund (PGZ) and United States Commodity Index Fund (USCI). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, PGZ achieves a 7.04% return, which is significantly lower than USCI's 19.39% return. Over the past 10 years, PGZ has underperformed USCI with an annualized return of 4.31%, while USCI has yielded a comparatively higher 8.14% annualized return.

PGZ

• 1D: 0.30%
• 1M: 4.15%
• YTD: 7.04%
• 6M: 7.58%
• 1Y: 8.45%
• 3Y*: 16.42%
• 5Y*: 3.29%
• 10Y*: 4.31%

USCI

• 1D: 1.60%
• 1M: -6.12%
• YTD: 19.39%
• 6M: 17.45%
• 1Y: 27.31%
• 3Y*: 19.78%
• 5Y*: 18.55%
• 10Y*: 8.14%

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

PGZ vs. USCI - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
PGZ Principal Real Estate Income Fund	7.04%	14.50%	17.99%	4.05%	-27.98%	38.70%	-36.50%	36.77%	3.92%	18.23%
USCI United States Commodity Index Fund	19.39%	17.63%	17.24%	-0.00%	29.47%	33.07%	-11.47%	-1.68%	-11.76%	6.32%

Correlation

The correlation between PGZ and USCI is -0.08, meaning there is essentially no relationship between their price movements. Each responds to its own set of market drivers, making them strong candidates for combining in a diversified portfolio.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	-0.08
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.03
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.09
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.14
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jun 26, 2013	0.14

The correlation between PGZ and USCI shifts across timeframes, from -0.08 (1 year) to 0.14 (all time), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.

Return for Risk

PGZ vs. USCI — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.

PGZ

PGZ Risk / Return Rank: 65
PGZ Sharpe Ratio Rank: 69
PGZ Sortino Ratio Rank: 62
PGZ Omega Ratio Rank: 62
PGZ Calmar Ratio Rank: 61
PGZ Martin Ratio Rank: 69

USCI

USCI Risk / Return Rank: 55
USCI Sharpe Ratio Rank: 56
USCI Sortino Ratio Rank: 52
USCI Omega Ratio Rank: 51
USCI Calmar Ratio Rank: 57
USCI Martin Ratio Rank: 58

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.

PGZ vs. USCI - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Principal Real Estate Income Fund (PGZ) and United States Commodity Index Fund (USCI). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.

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.

	PGZ	USCI	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	0.81	1.65	-0.84
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	1.21	2.23	-1.01
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.16	1.28	-0.12
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	0.86	2.45	-1.59
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	3.21	8.98	-5.77

PGZ vs. USCI - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current PGZ Sharpe Ratio is 0.81, which is lower than the USCI Sharpe Ratio of 1.65. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of PGZ and USCI, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Drawdowns

PGZ vs. USCI - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum PGZ drawdown since its inception was -53.58%, smaller than the maximum USCI drawdown of -66.41%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for PGZ and USCI.

Drawdown Indicators

	PGZ	USCI	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-53.58%	-66.41%	+12.83%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-9.82%	-11.19%	+1.37%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-10.56%	-12.01%	+1.45%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-35.34%	-18.84%	-16.50%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-53.58%	-45.82%	-7.76%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-8.81%	-9.77%	+0.96%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-16.10%	-29.42%	+13.32%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	2.64%	3.05%	-0.41%

Volatility

PGZ vs. USCI - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for Principal Real Estate Income Fund (PGZ) is 3.26%, while United States Commodity Index Fund (USCI) has a volatility of 3.83%. This indicates that PGZ experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than USCI based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	PGZ	USCI	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	3.26%	3.83%	-0.57%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	9.08%	14.14%	-5.06%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	10.49%	16.64%	-6.15%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	14.85%	18.37%	-3.52%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	21.81%	15.85%	+5.96%

Dividends

PGZ vs. USCI - Dividend Comparison

PGZ's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 12.51%, while USCI has not paid dividends to shareholders.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
PGZ Principal Real Estate Income Fund	12.51%	12.59%	12.75%	13.33%	11.86%	6.32%	10.34%	6.25%	7.98%	9.51%	10.90%	10.40%
USCI United States Commodity Index Fund	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both PGZ and USCI in my portfolio?

PGZ and USCI have a correlation of -0.08, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, PGZ or USCI?

USCI has higher volatility (3.83%) compared to PGZ (3.26%). In terms of maximum drawdown, PGZ dropped -53.58% vs USCI's -66.41%.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

USCI currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.65 vs 0.81), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.