The 3 Best Preferred Stock ETFs (iShares, Invesco, & SPDR)
Preferred stock shares typically trade some capital appreciation for higher dividend yields. Here we’ll look at the best preferred stock ETFs.
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Introduction — Why Preferred Stock?
Preferred stock shares — as opposed to common stock — have preferential claim to dividend distributions. Dividends are typically higher for preferred shares than for common shares, so preferred stock is common among dividend investors.
Preferred stock also has more stability than common stock. It exhibits aspects of common stock and bonds, and can be seen as somewhat of an in-between asset. Preferred shareholders trade voting rights for higher yields. Preferred stock holders also take priority in cases of financial troubles or liquidations. Preferred stock is ideal for risk-averse investors seeking fixed, predictable dividend payments.
Below we’ll look at the best preferred stock ETFs.
The 3 Best Preferred Stock ETFs
Below are the 3 best preferred stock ETFs.
PFF — iShares Preferred and Income Securities ETF
The iShares Preferred and Income Securities ETF (PFF) seeks to track the S&P U.S. Preferred Stock Index, providing broad, diversified exposure to preferred stock traded on the NYSE and NASDAQ. The fund has over $16 billion and an expense ratio of 0.46%. Note that this ETF inherently overweights the Financials sector due to its holdings.
PGX — Invesco Preferred ETF
Unlike PFF above, the Invesco Preferred ETF (PGX) screens for credit rating. Its holdings can thus be considered higher quality. This usually means lower volatility; PGX has historically had the lowest volatility of the 3 funds on this list. The fund seeks to track the ICE BofAML Core Plus Fixed Rate Preferred Securities Index and has an expense ratio of 0.52%.
PSK — SPDR Wells Fargo Preferred Stock ETF
The SPDR Wells Fargo Preferred Stock ETF (PSK) achieves arguably better diversification than the above funds because it limits any individual holding to a 5% weight, meaning it is not financials-heavy. PSK has had the smallest historical drawdown of the funds on this list. This ETF is comparatively less liquid but is also slightly cheaper than the above funds with an expense ratio of 0.45%.
If I were choosing one of these, I would probably go with PGX from Invesco. You can see it in red in the backtest below. The slightly higher expense ratio seems like a worthy trade-off for its credit rating screen, and historically it has delivered the highest return with the lowest volatility, meaning it has the highest risk-adjusted return of these funds:
Where To Buy These Preferred Stock ETFs
All the above preferred stock ETFs should be available at any major broker. My choice is M1 Finance. M1 has zero trade commissions and zero account fees, and offers fractional shares, dynamic rebalancing, intuitive pie visualization, and a sleek, user-friendly interface and mobile app. I wrote a comprehensive review of M1 Finance here.
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Disclaimer: While I love diving into investing-related data and playing around with backtests, I am in no way a certified expert. I have no formal financial education. I am not a financial advisor, portfolio manager, or accountant. This is not financial advice, investing advice, or tax advice. The information on this website is for informational and recreational purposes only. Investment products discussed (ETFs, mutual funds, etc.) are for illustrative purposes only. It is not a recommendation to buy, sell, or otherwise transact in any of the products mentioned. Do your own due diligence. Past performance does not guarantee future returns. Read my lengthier disclaimer here.
Originally published here at OptimizedPortfolio.com.
