Some preferred stock ETFs boasting yields of 6% or more are outperforming the S&P 500 this year.
Investors are being rewarded for chasing yield in ETFs that track preferred shares although a potential risk is high concentration in the financial sector.
The iShares S&P U.S. Preferred Stock Index Fund (NYSEArca: PFF) is the largest ETF in the category with $9.9 billion in assets. It pays a 30-day SEC yield of 6.1%, according to manager BlackRock. [Is Dodd-Frank the Death of Preferred Stock ETFs?]
Year to date, PFF has delivered a total return of 15.4%, compared with a 13.8% advance for SPDR S&P 500 ETF (NYSEArca: SPY), according to Morningstar. [Preferred Stock ETF Climbs to One-Year High]
PowerShares Financial Preferred Portfolio (NYSEArca: PGF) yields 6.6% and has gained 19% so far this year.