Preferred stock ETFs
Introduction
There are 17 ETFs that invest in preferred stocks. If you new to preferred stocks, you can read what is a preferred stock? Virtually all of these ETFs invest primarily in exchange traded preferred stocks.
See our list of preferred stocks.
But these ETFs typically also invest a portion of their assets in certain "hybrid" securities that are considered to be similar in nature to preferred stocks. This primarily includes certain long-term subordinated notes that are traded on U.S. exchanges. These are considered to be hybrid preferreds because of their long-term nature and because many of them include a provision that allows the company to defer payment of interest under terms specified in the prospectus.
See our list of exchange traded debt.
But not all of these exchange traded debts are considered to be hybrid preferreds and are eligible to be purchased by a preferred stock ETF. Their is no standard definition, as every preferred stock ETF and preferred stock index uses its own definition of what makes up a "hybrid security".
Preferred stock ETFs may also hold a small number of units. A unit is a security that trades as one symbol but that consists of two securities. The two different securities can be different combinations of securities: a common stock and a warrant, or a common stock warrant and an exchange traded note.
See our list of units. Many preferred stock ETFs that include "hybrid securities" in their list of eligible investments will include units that contain a preferred stock or a long-term exchange traded note.
What do they not invest in?
Virtually all ETFs primarily buy exchange traded securities, so they don't have a lot of exposure to preferred stocks that are traded over the counter, or OTC. We don't currently have in our database OTC preferred stocks, but we believe that there are around 400 to 500 preferred stocks that trade OTC. These have symbols just like OTC stocks and are available to all investors.
Preferred stock ETFs also don't currently have a lot of exposure to Rule 144A preferred stocks. Rule 144A is a Securities and Exchange Commission rule that allows qualified institutions to trade securities amongst themselves without registering the securities with the S.E.C. We don't currently have in our database Rule 144A preferred stocks, but we believe that there are usually several thousand Rule 144A preferred stocks being traded. Since they are not widely traded in the public, they don't have symbols but rather are identified using ISINs or CUSIPs.
Preferred stock ETFs don't usually have any exposure to contingent capital securities, which are traded OTC or as Rule 144A securities. Contingent capital securities (sometimes referred to as “CoCos”) were invented after the financial crisis in 2008/2009 and are primarily issued by U.S. and foreign banks. CoCos are debt or preferred securities with loss absorption characteristics built into the terms of the security, for example a mandatory conversion into common stock of the issuer under certain circumstances, such as the issuer’s capital ratio falling below a certain level. Since the common stock of the issuer may not pay a dividend, investors in these instruments could experience a reduced income rate, potentially to zero, and conversion would deepen the subordination of the investor, hence worsening the investor’s standing in a bankruptcy. Some CoCos provide for a reduction in the value or principal amount of the security under such circumstances. In addition, most CoCos are considered to be high yield or “junk” securities and are therefore subject to the risks of investing in below-investment-grade securities.
Current ETFs
Here are the preferred stock ETFs that are currently in our database:
| Name | Symbol | Last price | Currency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtus InfraCap U.S. Preferred Stock | ARCX:PFFA | 22.03 | USD |
| Global X Variable Rate Preferred ETF | ARCX:PFFV | 23.84 | USD |
| SPDR Wells Fargo Preferred Stock ETF | ARCX:PSK | 33.31 | USD |
| AAM LOW DUR PREF & INC SEC | ARCX:PFLD | 20.73 | USD |
| PRNCPAL SPCTRM PREF SEC ACTV | ARCX:PREF | 18.65 | USD |
| American Century ETF Trust American Century Quality Preferred ETF | BATS:QPFF | 36.16 | USD |
| John Hancock Exchange-Traded Fund Trust John Hancock Preferred Income ETF | ARCX:JHPI | 22.85 | USD |
| ETRACS 2xMonthly Pay Leveraged Preferred Stock Index ETN | ARCX:PFFL | 9.33 | USD |
| INFRACAP REIT PREFERRED ETF | ARCX:PFFR | 18.68 | USD |
| VanEck Vect Preferred Securities ex Fina | ARCX:PFXF | 17.71 | USD |
| iShares US Preferred Stock | XNAS:PFF | 31.65 | USD |
| Global X SuperIncome Preferred ETF | ARCX:SPFF | 9.39 | USD |
| Global X US Preferred | ARCX:PFFD | 19.76 | USD |
| Invesco Variable Rate Preferred ETF | XNYS:VRP | 24.32 | USD |
| Invesco Preferred ETF | XNYS:PGX | 11.64 | USD |
| Invesco Financial Preferred ETF | XNYS:PGF | 14.75 | USD |
| Innovator S&P Investment Grade Preferred ETF | BATS:EPRF | 18.50 | USD |
Let's look at the approaches used by these ETFs.
EPRF - S&P High Quality Preferred ETF
Seeks to track, before fees and expenses, S&P U.S. High Quality Preferred Stock Index.The Index selects fixed-rate investment grade preferred issues (BBB- or higher) from U.S. listed preferred stocks and maintains an allocation of 75% to cumulative preferreds.
JHPI - John Hancock Preferred Income ETF
This is an actively managed fund that seeks a high level of current income, consistent with preservation of capital. Seeks a portfolio of preferred securities with above average yields that can generate high income and protection of capital. Focusing on preferred securities that include preferred stock, junior subordinated notes, baby bonds, and convertible preferreds.
PFF - iShares Preferred and Income Securities ETF
Seeks to track, before fees and expenses, the ICE Exchange-Listed Preferred & Hybrid Securities Index. The Index measures the performance of a select group of exchange-listed, U.S. dollar denominated preferred securities, hybrid securities and convertible preferred securities. The Index includes issuances of preferred stocks with amounts outstanding over $100 million, convertible preferred stock with at least $50 million face amount outstanding, and hybrid securities with at least $250 million face amount outstanding.
PFFA - Virtus InfraCap U.S. Preferred Stock ETF
This is an actively managed fund. The Fund seeks current income and, secondarily, capital appreciation through a portfolio of over 100 preferred securities issued by U.S. companies with market capitalizations of over $100 million. Security selection and weightings are based on a variety of quantitative, qualitative, and relative valuation factors. Modest leverage (typically 20-30%) is utilized to enhance portfolio beta, and options strategies are used in an effort to enhance current income.
PFFD - Global X U.S. Preferred ETF
Seeks to track, before fees and expenses, the ICE BofAML Diversified Core U.S. Preferred Securities Index.The Index tracks the performance of exchange-listed U.S. dollar denominated preferred stock and convertible preferred stock publicly issued by corporations in the U.S. domestic market. Qualifying securities must have a traded market value of at least $6 million on in each of the previous three calendar months in order to qualify for inclusion.
PFFR - InfraCap REIT Preferred ETF
S eeks to track, before fees and expenses, the Indxx REIT Preferred Stock Index. The Index is a market cap weighted index designed to provide diversified exposure to high yielding liquid preferred securities issued by Real Estate Investment Trusts listed in the U.S. The index is calculated on a total return basis. Preferred stocks must be listed on a stock exchange and have a minimum market capitalization of $75 million. Stocks with mandatory conversion provisions are excluded.
PFFV - Global X Variable Rate Preferred ETF
Seeks to track, before fees and expenses, the ICE U.S. Variable Rate Preferred Securities Index.The Index is designed to track the broad-based performance of the U.S.-listed variable rate preferred securities market. Qualifying preferred securities must be listed on a U.S. exchange, denominated in U.S. dollars, have floating or variable dividends or coupons, and have a minimum amount outstanding of $50 million. Qualifying preferred securities may, however, be issued by non-U.S. companies. Qualifying securities must be issued in $25, $50, $100, or $1000 par/liquidation preference increments, must have a traded market value of greater than $6 million in each of the previous three calendar months, and must have at least one year remaining to maturity. Constituents in the Underlying Index are capitalization-weighted based on their current amount outstanding times the market price plus accrued interest.
PFLD - AAM Low Duration Preferred and Income Securities ETF
Seeks to track, before fees and expenses, the ICE 0-5 Year Duration Exchange-Listed Preferred & Hybrid Securities Index.The Index is composed of shorter duration exchange-listed U.S. dollar denominated hybrid debt and preferred stock publicly issued by corporations in the U.S. domestic market. The securities must have an option-adjusted duration of less than 5 years. The Index includes issuances of preferred stocks and notes with at least $100 million face amount outstanding and hybrid securities with at least $250 million face amount outstanding.
PFXF - Market Vectors Preferred Securities ex Financials ETF
S eeks to track, before fees and expenses, the Wells Fargo Hybrid and Preferred Securities ex Financials Index.The Index tracks the overall performance of publicly traded non-financial preferred securities including those that, in Wells Fargo Securities, LLC’s judgment, are functionally equivalent to preferred securities such as convertible securities, depository preferred securities and perpetual subordinated debt.
PGF - Invesco Financial Preferred ETF
Seeks to track, before fees and expenses, the Wells Fargo Hybrid and Preferred Securities Financial Index. The Index is a market capitalization weighted index designed to track the performance of preferred securities traded in the US market by financial institutions. The Index is composed of preferred securities with either fixed or floating rate dividends issued by financial institutions that have received an industrial sector classification of "financial" from the Bloomberg Professional Service.
PGX - Invesco Preferred Portfolio ETF
Seeks to track, before fees and expenses, the ICE BofAML Core Plus Fixed Rate Preferred Securities Index. The Index tracks the performance of fixed rate US dollar-denominated preferred securities issued in the US domestic market. Securities must be rated at least B3, based on an average of three leading ratings agencies: Moody’s, S&P and Fitch, and must have an investment-grade country risk profile (based on an average of Moody’s, S&P and Fitch foreign currency long-term sovereign debt ratings). The Index includes both traditional and other preferred securities, including preferred securities issued by foreign companies in the form of American depositary receipts (“ADRs”), as well as senior and subordinate debt securities. Unlisted preferred securities are excluded from the Index, but unlisted senior or subordinated debt-like securities are eligible for inclusion. The Index may include Rule 144A securities.
PREF - Principal Spectrum Preferred Securities Active ETF
This is an actively managed fund that seeks to provide current income. Under normal circumstances, the fund invests at least 80% of its net assets, plus any borrowings for investment purposes, in preferred securities at the time of purchase. Examples of preferred securities include preferred stock, certain depositary receipts, and various types of junior subordinated debt (such debt generally includes the contractual ability to defer payment of interest without accelerating an immediate default event). It concentrates its investments (invests more than 25% of its net assets) in securities in the financial services (i.e., banking, insurance and commercial finance) industry.
PSK - SPDR Wells Fargo Preferred Stock ETF
S eeks to track, before fees and expenses, the Wells Fargo Hybrid and Preferred Securities Aggregate Index.The Index is designed to track the performance of non-convertible, $25 par preferred securities listed on US exchanges. The index is composed of preferred stock and securities that, in Wells Fargo's judgment, are functionally equivalent to preferred stock including, but not limited to, depositary preferred securities, perpetual subordinated debt and certain securities issued by banks and other financial institutions that are eligible for capital treatment with respect to such instruments akin to that received for issuance of straight preferred stock.
QPFF - American Century Quality Preferred ETF
This is an actively managed fund that seeks current income and capital appreciation. An actively managed preferred portfolio that focuses on quality, diversification and risk management to generate attractive yield and optimize risk/return potential. Identifies issuers believed able to sustain dividends throughout the market cycle by emphasizing earnings quality and profitability while avoiding highly levered names with poor credit quality. Manages credit, liquidity, rate and other structural and market risks in an effort to deliver attractive yield and with potentially less downside.
SPFF - Global X SuperIncome Preferred ETF
S eeks to track, before fees and expenses, the S&P Enhanced Yield North American Preferred Stock Index. The Index is designed to track 50 of the highest yielding preferred securities from the U.S. and Canada, the two largest preferred stock markets (S&P, 2012). The underlying universe for the index is all preferred securities in the S&P/TSX Preferred Share Index and the S&P U.S. Preferred Stock Index, with a total market capitalization of more than $250 million. Preferred stocks must have a three-month average daily value traded (ADVT) of $1 million. The maximum number of lines per issuer is set to three (3) and a maximum index weight of 5% is set per issuer. In such a case, all three eligible issuer lines are included in the index and capped on a pro-rata basis to a maximum of 5% for the issuer as a whole.
VRP - Invesco Variable Rate Preferred ETF
Seeks to track, before fees and expenses, the Wells Fargo Hybrid and Preferred Securities Floating and Variable Rate Total Return Index. The Index is a market capitalization-weighted index designed to track the performance of exchange and non-exchange traded preferred stock, as well as certain types of “hybrid securities” that are functionally equivalent to preferred stock, that are issued by US-based or foreign issuers and that pay a floating or variable rate dividend or coupon. “Hybrid Securities” are debt securities that have equity features such as deferral of interest payment obligations and the extendibility of maturity dates. The Index does not include contingent capital securities, auction rate securities, private placement securities, and Rule 144A securities.