iShares Preferred and Income Securities ETF (PFF) Performance
PFF total return
Distributions reinvested · as of Oct 23, 2026- YTD
- −3.3% since Dec 31, 2025
- 1 year
- −3.7% total return
- 5 years
- −0.2% a year
- 10 years
- +2.6% a year
- Since first price
- +3.5% a year since 2007
PFF trailing returns vs SPY, QQQ, AGG
| Period | PFF total return | Price only | S&P 500 (SPY) | Nasdaq-100 (QQQ) | U.S. bonds (AGG) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 month | −3.1% | −3.6% | −1.0% | −5.0% | +0.9% |
| 3 months | −3.1% | −4.5% | +3.2% | +1.9% | −0.4% |
| 6 months | −6.0% | −8.6% | +7.8% | +8.4% | −1.5% |
| YTD | −3.3% | −7.1% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 1 year | −3.7% | −8.7% | +14.4% | +15.9% | −1.1% |
| 3 years | +20.9%+6.5%/yr | +0.7% | +87.4%+23.3%/yr | +101.4%+26.3%/yr | +16.6%+5.2%/yr |
| 5 years | −0.9%−0.2%/yr | −26.3% | +79.3%+12.4%/yr | +94.0%+14.2%/yr | −0.8%−0.2%/yr |
| 10 years | +28.8%+2.6%/yr | −26.9% | +315.9%+15.3%/yr | +538.9%+20.4%/yr | +14.0%+1.3%/yr |
| 15 years | +86.7%+4.2%/yr | −21.6% | +696.0%+14.8%/yr | +1,299.3%+19.2%/yr | +32.2%+1.9%/yr |
| Since inceptionMar 30, 2007 | +94.4%+3.5%/yr | −42.6% | — | — | — |
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: PFF vs SPY
From Mar 30, 2007: PFF grew to $19,444, SPY to $76,414.
Year-end values with distributions reinvested, no taxes or trading costs. Start: first common trading day of both funds.
PFF returns by calendar year
13 of 18 full years positive. Best 2009 (+38.5%), worst 2008 (−23.9%). 2026 is year to date.
PFF annual returns table
| Year | PFF | Largest drop | SPY | QQQ | AGG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | −3.3% | −7.1% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 2025 | +4.9% | −8.6% | +17.7% | +20.8% | +7.2% |
| 2024 | +7.2% | −5.3% | +24.9% | +25.6% | +1.3% |
| 2023 | +9.2% | −12.5% | +26.2% | +54.9% | +5.7% |
| 2022 | −18.2% | −20.5% | −18.2% | −32.6% | −13.0% |
| 2021 | +7.1% | −3.0% | +28.7% | +27.4% | −1.8% |
| 2020 | +7.9% | −34.1% | +18.3% | +48.6% | +7.5% |
| 2019 | +15.9% | −1.5% | +31.2% | +39.0% | +8.5% |
| 2018 | −4.6% | −9.7% | −4.6% | −0.1% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | +8.1% | −2.1% | +21.7% | +32.7% | +3.6% |
| 2016 | +1.3% | −7.5% | +12.0% | +7.1% | +2.4% |
| 2015 | +4.3% | −3.8% | +1.2% | +9.4% | +0.5% |
| 2014 | +14.1% | −2.2% | +13.5% | +19.2% | +6.0% |
| 2013 | −1.0% | −8.7% | +32.3% | +36.6% | −2.0% |
| 2012 | +18.2% | −4.2% | +16.0% | +18.1% | +3.8% |
| 2011 | −2.0% | −15.2% | +1.9% | +3.4% | +7.7% |
| 2010 | +13.8% | −10.1% | +15.1% | +19.9% | +6.4% |
| 2009 | +38.5% | −52.5% | +26.4% | +54.7% | +3.0% |
| 2008 | −23.9% | −52.2% | −36.8% | −41.7% | +7.9% |
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.
PFF largest drawdowns
Now 7.1% below the high| Peak | Decline | Bottom | Recovered | Fall | Underwater |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 14, 2007 | −65.5% | Mar 6, 2009 | Jul 26, 2010 | 1.8 years | 3.2 years |
| Feb 11, 2020 | −34.1% | Mar 18, 2020 | Oct 7, 2020 | 36 days | 8 months |
| Dec 31, 2021 | −21.1% | Oct 21, 2022 | Sep 24, 2024 | 10 months | 2.7 years |
| May 19, 2011 | −15.2% | Aug 8, 2011 | Feb 3, 2012 | 3 months | 9 months |
| Oct 16, 2024 | −10.6% | Apr 8, 2025 | Sep 5, 2025 | 6 months | 11 months |
Declines from a closing high (distributions reinvested) of 10% or more. Underwater = time from the peak until the old high was regained.
PFF risk statistics
| Statistic | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years | Since 2007 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annualized return | +5.5% | +0.4% | +2.8% | +3.6% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 8.8% | 11.1% | 10.2% | 15.5% |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.16 | -0.23 | 0.10 | 0.22 |
| Sortino ratio | 0.23 | -0.33 | 0.14 | 0.31 |
| Best month | +7.9% | +10.1% | +10.1% | +20.6% |
| Worst month | −4.7% | −6.4% | −11.9% | −25.4% |
| Best 12 months | +22.6% | +22.6% | +26.9% | +120.1% |
| Worst 12 months | −1.6% | −18.8% | −18.8% | −54.3% |
| Positive months | 64% | 55% | 60% | 62% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 0.56 | 0.54 | 0.50 | — |
| Correlation with S&P 500 | 0.79 | 0.76 | 0.75 | — |
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.
PFF rolling returns
| Holding period | Periods | Worst | Median | Best | Positive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-year | 224 | −54.3% | +4.4% | +120.1% | 80% |
| 3-year (a year) | 200 | −2.6% | +5.2% | +37.3% | 89% |
| 5-year (a year) | 176 | −0.3% | +4.7% | +23.6% | 99% |
| 10-year (a year) | 116 | +2.7% | +4.5% | +13.7% | 100% |
Every holding period starting at a month-end since 2007. Returns for 3 years and longer are annualized.
PFF performance overview
iShares Preferred and Income Securities ETF (PFF) returned −3.7% over the past year and +2.6% a year over ten years, with distributions reinvested. Since its first recorded price in 2007 it has returned +3.5% a year, turning $10,000 into about $19,444. Over the same year S&P 500 (SPY) returned +14.4%.
The deepest decline was −65.5%, from May 14, 2007 to Mar 6, 2009, and it took 1.4 years to get back to the old high. PFF finished 13 of its 18 full calendar years with a gain; the best year was 2009 (+38.5%) and the worst 2008 (−23.9%). Volatility has been 15.5% a year.
Related: PFF chart, PFF dividends. See the PFF overview for the latest quote and fund facts.
PFF performance FAQ
What is the PFF return over the past year?
PFF returned −3.7% over the 12 months to October 23, 2026, including reinvested distributions. On price alone it fell 8.7%.
What is the average annual return of PFF?
PFF has returned −0.2% a year over 5 years, +2.6% a year over 10 years, +3.5% a year since March 30, 2007 (total return, distributions reinvested).
How much would $10,000 invested in PFF be worth?
$10,000 invested in PFF at its first recorded close on March 30, 2007 would be worth about $19,444 on October 23, 2026 with distributions reinvested.
What was the worst year for PFF?
The worst calendar year was 2008, with a total return of −23.9%. The best was 2009 at +38.5%.
What is the biggest drawdown of PFF?
The largest peak-to-trough decline was −65.5% between May 14, 2007 and March 6, 2009. It recovered to the old high on July 26, 2010, 1.4 years after the bottom.
How volatile is PFF?
Over the past 3 years PFF had an annualized volatility of 8.8% and a Sharpe ratio of 0.16 (excess return over 1–3 month T-bills per unit of risk).