Innovator S&P Investment Grade Preferred ETF (EPRF) Performance
EPRF total return
Distributions reinvested · as of Oct 23, 2026- YTD
- −7.3% since Dec 31, 2025
- 1 year
- −8.4% total return
- 5 years
- −3.1% a year
- 10 years
- +0.7% a year
- Since first price
- +0.8% a year since 2016
EPRF trailing returns vs SPY, QQQ, AGG
| Period | EPRF total return | Price only | S&P 500 (SPY) | Nasdaq-100 (QQQ) | U.S. bonds (AGG) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 month | −2.3% | −2.9% | −1.0% | −5.0% | +0.9% |
| 3 months | −4.2% | −5.7% | +3.2% | +1.9% | −0.4% |
| 6 months | −6.1% | −8.9% | +7.8% | +8.4% | −1.5% |
| YTD | −7.3% | −11.4% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 1 year | −8.4% | −13.7% | +14.4% | +15.9% | −1.1% |
| 3 years | +11.5%+3.7%/yr | −6.9% | +87.4%+23.3%/yr | +101.4%+26.3%/yr | +16.6%+5.2%/yr |
| 5 years | −14.6%−3.1%/yr | −35.6% | +79.3%+12.4%/yr | +94.0%+14.2%/yr | −0.8%−0.2%/yr |
| 10 years | +7.5%+0.7%/yr | −37.9% | +315.9%+15.3%/yr | +538.9%+20.4%/yr | +14.0%+1.3%/yr |
| Since inceptionMay 24, 2016 | +8.8%+0.8%/yr | −38.0% | — | — | — |
Total return from adjusted closes (distributions reinvested, before tax). Periods of 3 years or more are also shown annualized. Price only excludes distributions.
Growth of $10,000: EPRF vs SPY
From May 24, 2016: EPRF grew to $10,879, SPY to $43,251.
Year-end values with distributions reinvested, no taxes or trading costs. Start: first common trading day of both funds.
EPRF returns by calendar year
7 of 9 full years positive. Best 2019 (+19.5%), worst 2022 (−20.7%). 2026 is year to date.
EPRF annual returns table
| Year | EPRF | Largest drop | SPY | QQQ | AGG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | −7.3% | −10.3% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 2025 | +2.7% | −8.4% | +17.7% | +20.8% | +7.2% |
| 2024 | +3.5% | −8.6% | +24.9% | +25.6% | +1.3% |
| 2023 | +9.4% | −16.1% | +26.2% | +54.9% | +5.7% |
| 2022 | −20.7% | −23.0% | −18.2% | −32.6% | −13.0% |
| 2021 | +1.4% | −3.6% | +28.7% | +27.4% | −1.8% |
| 2020 | +7.4% | −26.8% | +18.3% | +48.6% | +7.5% |
| 2019 | +19.5% | −1.9% | +31.2% | +39.0% | +8.5% |
| 2018 | −5.2% | −10.6% | −4.6% | −0.1% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | +8.8% | −2.9% | +21.7% | +32.7% | +3.6% |
Largest drop = deepest fall from a high within that calendar year.
Calendar-year return vs largest drop within the year
Most years include a sizable fall at some point even when the year ends higher.
EPRF largest drawdowns
Now 15.5% below the high| Peak | Decline | Bottom | Recovered | Fall | Underwater |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 12, 2020 | −26.8% | Mar 18, 2020 | Jul 29, 2020 | 35 days | 6 months |
| Nov 5, 2021 | −25.2% | Oct 19, 2023 | not yet | 2.0 years | 5.0 years so far |
| Jul 9, 2018 | −10.6% | Dec 27, 2018 | Mar 13, 2019 | 6 months | 8 months |
Declines from a closing high (distributions reinvested) of 10% or more. Underwater = time from the peak until the old high was regained.
EPRF risk statistics
| Statistic | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years | Since 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annualized return | +2.2% | −2.9% | +0.8% | +0.9% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 10.4% | 12.8% | 10.8% | 10.6% |
| Sharpe ratio | -0.16 | -0.45 | -0.09 | -0.07 |
| Sortino ratio | -0.22 | -0.62 | -0.12 | -0.10 |
| Best month | +9.5% | +12.2% | +12.2% | +12.2% |
| Worst month | −5.6% | −7.7% | −7.7% | −7.7% |
| Best 12 months | +22.4% | +22.4% | +22.4% | +22.4% |
| Worst 12 months | −8.8% | −22.3% | −22.3% | −22.3% |
| Positive months | 61% | 53% | 57% | 58% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 0.63 | 0.58 | 0.46 | — |
| Correlation with S&P 500 | 0.75 | 0.71 | 0.66 | — |
From monthly total returns. Sharpe and Sortino use 1–3 month T-bills (BIL) as the risk-free rate, so they need history from 2007 on.
EPRF rolling returns
| Holding period | Periods | Worst | Median | Best | Positive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-year | 114 | −22.3% | +2.4% | +22.4% | 67% |
| 3-year (a year) | 90 | −6.6% | +2.4% | +9.2% | 63% |
| 5-year (a year) | 66 | −3.2% | +0.4% | +6.1% | 61% |
| 10-year (a year) | 6 | +0.8% | +1.1% | +1.5% | 100% |
Every holding period starting at a month-end since 2016. Returns for 3 years and longer are annualized.
EPRF performance overview
Innovator S&P Investment Grade Preferred ETF (EPRF) returned −8.4% over the past year and +0.7% a year over ten years, with distributions reinvested. Since its first recorded price in 2016 it has returned +0.8% a year, turning $10,000 into about $10,879. Over the same year S&P 500 (SPY) returned +14.4%.
The deepest decline was −26.8%, from Feb 12, 2020 to Mar 18, 2020, and it took 4 months to get back to the old high. EPRF finished 7 of its 9 full calendar years with a gain; the best year was 2019 (+19.5%) and the worst 2022 (−20.7%). Volatility has been 10.6% a year.
Related: EPRF chart, EPRF dividends. See the EPRF overview for the latest quote and fund facts.
EPRF performance FAQ
What is the EPRF return over the past year?
EPRF returned −8.4% over the 12 months to October 23, 2026, including reinvested distributions. On price alone it fell 13.7%.
What is the average annual return of EPRF?
EPRF has returned −3.1% a year over 5 years, +0.7% a year over 10 years, +0.8% a year since May 24, 2016 (total return, distributions reinvested).
How much would $10,000 invested in EPRF be worth?
$10,000 invested in EPRF at its first recorded close on May 24, 2016 would be worth about $10,879 on October 23, 2026 with distributions reinvested.
What was the worst year for EPRF?
The worst calendar year was 2022, with a total return of −20.7%. The best was 2019 at +19.5%.
What is the biggest drawdown of EPRF?
The largest peak-to-trough decline was −26.8% between February 12, 2020 and March 18, 2020. It recovered to the old high on July 29, 2020, 4 months after the bottom.
How volatile is EPRF?
Over the past 3 years EPRF had an annualized volatility of 10.4% and a Sharpe ratio of -0.16 (excess return over 1–3 month T-bills per unit of risk).