Market Commentary Archives

Much has been written about the benefits of investing in passive exchange-traded funds (ETFs), namely market returns with a low management fee. However, investors need to consider the unique risks that arise when an ETF begins to dominate a niche space such as the preferred market.

In this article we will evaluate the largest ETF in the U.S. preferred stock market, the iShares U.S. Preferred Stock ETF (Ticker: PFF), which currently holds nearly $17 billion in assets. As an active preferred stock manager, Ulland Investment Advisors manages just over $225 million in the preferred space. We can offer a unique insight into the hidden risks associated with the PFF ETF, specifically focusing on market size risk, liquidity (or lack thereof) and interest rate risk (duration).