With Financial stocks continuing to demonstrate leadership as the 2012 rally continues, it should be no surprise that preferred stock ETFs that have a focus on the sector have also thrived.
Financial Select Sector SPDR (NYSEArca: XLF), for example, is up 18.23% year to date versus the S&P 500 Index which has gained 10.94%.
Specifically, in the “Preferred Stock” ETF category, the best performer year to date is PowerShares Financial Preferred Portfolio (NYSEArca: PGF), having rallied 10.30%.
Outperformance to peers is clearly evident as the second best performer is iShares S&P U.S. Preferred Stock Index (NYSEArca: PFF) which is up 8.93%, and then there is a significant leg down in the remaining funds in the category in terms of YTD performance.
SPDR Wells Fargo Preferred Stock (NYSEArca: PSK) has rallied 6.59% year to date, followed by iShares S&P International Preferred Stock Portfolio (NYSEArca: IPFF) having risen 5.48%, PowerShares Preferred Portfolio (NYSEArca: PGX) is up 4.46%, and finally Global X Canada Preferred (NYSEArca: CNPF) has added 1.95% YTD.