PQDI vs. PFF
PQDI (Principal Spectrum Preferred and Income ETF) and PFF (iShares Preferred and Income Securities ETF) are both Preferred Stock/Convertible Bonds funds - PQDI tracks the ICE BofA 7% Constrained DRD Eligible Preferred Securities Index while PFF tracks the ICE Exchange-Listed Preferred & Hybrid Securities Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 5 years, PQDI returned 3.17%/yr vs 1.03%/yr for PFF. A 0.63 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. PQDI charges 0.60%/yr vs 0.46%/yr for PFF.
Performance
PQDI vs. PFF - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
The year-to-date returns for both investments are quite close, with PQDI having a 1.39% return and PFF slightly higher at 1.44%.
PQDI
- 1D
- -0.11%
- 1M
- 0.48%
- YTD
- 1.39%
- 6M
- 1.47%
- 1Y
- 6.43%
- 3Y*
- 9.15%
- 5Y*
- 3.17%
- 10Y*
- —
PFF
- 1D
- -0.19%
- 1M
- -1.04%
- YTD
- 1.44%
- 6M
- 1.15%
- 1Y
- 7.10%
- 3Y*
- 6.69%
- 5Y*
- 1.03%
- 10Y*
- 3.21%
PQDI vs. PFF - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PQDI Principal Spectrum Preferred and Income ETF | 1.39% | 8.46% | 9.99% | 6.24% | -9.61% | 3.10% | 9.95% |
PFF iShares Preferred and Income Securities ETF | 1.44% | 4.87% | 7.24% | 9.22% | -18.19% | 7.15% | 13.13% |
Correlation
The correlation between PQDI and PFF is 0.73, which is moderate. They share some common price drivers but move independently often enough to provide real diversification benefit when combined.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.73 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.68 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.65 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jun 17, 2020 | 0.63 |
The correlation between PQDI and PFF has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.63 to 0.73 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
PQDI vs. PFF — Risk / Return Rank
PQDI
PFF
PQDI vs. PFF - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Principal Spectrum Preferred and Income ETF (PQDI) and iShares Preferred and Income Securities ETF (PFF). 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.
| PQDI | PFF | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.96 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +1.42 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.42 | 1.17 | +0.24 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.95 | 1.35 | +0.60 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 8.62 | 4.07 | +4.55 |
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Drawdowns
PQDI vs. PFF - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum PQDI drawdown since its inception was -17.41%, smaller than the maximum PFF drawdown of -65.55%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for PQDI and PFF.
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Drawdown Indicators
| PQDI | PFF | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -17.41% | -65.55% | +48.14% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -3.31% | -5.28% | +1.97% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -3.31% | -10.63% | +7.32% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -17.41% | -21.05% | +3.64% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | — | -34.10% | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.43% | -2.54% | +2.11% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -3.48% | -5.75% | +2.27% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.75% | 1.75% | -1.00% |
Volatility
PQDI vs. PFF - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Principal Spectrum Preferred and Income ETF (PQDI) is 0.89%, while iShares Preferred and Income Securities ETF (PFF) has a volatility of 2.42%. This indicates that PQDI experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than PFF based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| PQDI | PFF | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 0.89% | 2.42% | -1.53% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 2.90% | 5.42% | -2.52% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 3.27% | 7.03% | -3.76% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 4.70% | 10.35% | -5.65% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 4.54% | 12.68% | -8.14% |
PQDI vs. PFF - Expense Ratio Comparison
PQDI has a 0.60% expense ratio, which is higher than PFF's 0.46% expense ratio.
Dividends
PQDI vs. PFF - Dividend Comparison
PQDI's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 5.45%, less than PFF's 5.55% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PFF iShares Preferred and Income Securities ETF | 5.55% | 6.30% | 6.32% | 6.63% | 6.01% | 4.45% | 4.79% | 5.31% | 6.32% | 5.59% | 5.85% | 5.76% |
PQDI Principal Spectrum Preferred and Income ETF | 5.45% | 5.02% | 4.93% | 5.35% | 5.60% | 5.21% | 2.69% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Frequently Asked Questions
PQDI and PFF have a correlation of 0.73, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
PFF has higher volatility (2.42%) compared to PQDI (0.89%). In terms of maximum drawdown, PQDI dropped -17.41% vs PFF's -65.55%.
On 5-year performance, PQDI leads with 3.17% vs 1.03% for PFF. On fees, PFF is cheaper at 0.46% per year. On volatility, PQDI has been the lower-risk option at 0.89%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 5-year period, PQDI has performed better with a 3.17% return vs 1.03%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
PFF is cheaper with a 0.46% expense ratio, compared with 0.60% for PQDI.
PFF has the higher dividend yield at 5.55%, compared with 5.45% for PQDI.
PQDI tracks ICE BofA 7% Constrained DRD Eligible Preferred Securities Index, while PFF tracks ICE Exchange-Listed Preferred & Hybrid Securities Index. They also come from different issuers: Principal and iShares. Their fees differ too: 0.60% for PQDI and 0.46% for PFF.
PQDI currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.97 vs 1.01), 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.
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