AAM Low Duration Preferred and Income Securities ETF offers a 7.36% dividend yield, balancing income with moderate risk through a diversified portfolio of preferred securities and baby bonds. The PFLD fund's holdings include fixed-rate, fixed-to-floating, resettable preferreds, and baby bonds, providing exposure to varied interest rate scenarios. With a 0.45% expense ratio, PFLD is suitable for investors seeking steady income and moderate risk in a changing rate environment.
PFLD ETF tracks the ICE 0-5 Year Duration Exchange-Listed Preferred & Hybrid Securities Index, focusing on preferred stocks with $500M in assets and a 0.45% expense ratio. The fund's portfolio includes 17% bonds and 83% preferred stocks, with detailed breakdowns of their yields, call dates, and trading statuses. Preferred stocks are categorized into cumulative, non-cumulative, floating, and resettable rates, with specific yield metrics and maturity dates provided for each type.
While PFLD has delivered positive returns since the previous "Buy" rating, primarily driven by its dividend yield, the current market conditions warrant a more cautious approach. PFLD markets itself as having a low duration portfolio (1.28 years), making it less sensitive to interest rate changes. However, the analysis argues that this claim is debatable. When compared to the iShares Preferred and Income Securities ETF, PFLD's performance is highly correlated, suggesting that its actual duration is likely longer than advertised.
AAM Low Duration Preferred and Income Securities ETF holds 209 US-listed hybrid securities with lower sensitivity to interest rate changes. The PFLD ETF is diversified but heavily concentrated in the financial sector, with significant exposure to banks. PFLD has suffered a significant decay in price since its inception, amplified by inflation.
AAM's Low Duration Preferred ETF offers monthly income, diversification, potential tax advantages, and lower interest rate risk compared to common shares. With a 6.54% 30 day SEC yield and 0.46% expense ratio, this ETF is recommended for investors seeking steady income and reduced risk. Preferred shares in PFLD provide fixed dividends, equity status, and higher priority in dividend payments than common shares, with lower default and call risks due to screening process.
AAM Low Duration Preferred and Income Securities ETF offers stable returns and low duration for investors seeking income streams with minimal rate risk. PFLD is the first ETF of its kind, targeting short-duration preferred securities with a duration of less than 5 years. The PFLD fund is heavily diversified and has a high concentration in the banking and financial services sectors, offering attractive relative yield.