LOWV vs PGZ
AB US Low Volatility Equity ETF vs Principal Real Estate Income Fund
Which is better, LOWV or PGZ?
LOWV has been ahead.
LOWV has a lower expense ratio. LOWV led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window.
MarketXLS is not an investment adviser. This comparison is generated automatically from market data and is for information only. A Best mark means the better reading on that one measure, not a recommendation to buy.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | LOWV | PGZ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.39%Best | 2.16% |
| AUM | $206M | $69M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.87% | 12.28% |
| Holdings | 71 | 110 |
| YTD Return | +8.98%Best | -4.14% |
| 1Y Return | +9.29%Best | -4.95% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +16.12%Best | +10.97% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | -0.32% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 9.7%Best | 13.3% |
| Max Drawdown | -13.9%Best | -20.0% |
| $10,000 over 3.6 years | $17,794Best | $14,209 |
| Fund Family | AllianceBernstein L.P. | Principal Funds |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Blend | Mid Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 22, 2023 | Jun 26, 2013 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 3.6 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Mar 22, 2023 to Oct 14, 2026 (3.6 years).
LOWV vs PGZ growth
Month-end closes. Both lines start at 0% in the first month shown, so the gap between them is the difference in growth across that window. The full view covers the 3.6 years both funds cover.
LOWV vs PGZ Performance
AB US Low Volatility Equity ETF (LOWV) is an ETF from AllianceBernstein L.P. and Principal Real Estate Income Fund (PGZ) is an ETF from Principal Funds. Over the past year LOWV returned +9.29% while PGZ returned -4.95%. Year to date, LOWV is up 8.98% versus a loss of 4.14% for PGZ.
Over three years, LOWV compounded at +16.12% per year against +10.97% for PGZ. Across the full 4-year window we track, LOWV has the edge at +17.36% annualized vs +10.25%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
PGZ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 13.3% compared with 9.7% for LOWV. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -13.9% for LOWV and -20.0% for PGZ. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.66. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
LOWV charges 0.39% per year while PGZ charges 2.16%. On a $10,000 position that is $39 vs $216 annually, a gap of $177 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, LOWV currently yields 0.87% against 12.28% for PGZ.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.9% of LOWV's money is in holdings PGZ also owns.
Stated as a floor: for PGZ, our book for it covers 59.8% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
The two holdings books were reported 244 days apart, LOWV as of Oct 2, 2026 and PGZ as of Jan 31, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
1 positions in common, counted across the 68 positions we hold weights for in LOWV and 61 in PGZ, against full books of 71 and 110.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in LOWV | Weight in PGZ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| DLRDigital Realty Trust Inc. | 0.92% | 0.69% | 0.23% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of LOWV and PGZ you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, LOWV or PGZ?
LOWV has an expense ratio of 0.39% while PGZ charges 2.16%. LOWV is the cheaper option, by $177 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, LOWV or PGZ?
Over the past year LOWV returned +9.29% vs -4.95% for PGZ, so LOWV leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (4 years), LOWV annualized +17.36% vs +10.25% for PGZ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, LOWV or PGZ?
PGZ has been the more volatile fund at 13.3% annualized versus 9.7% for LOWV. Worst drawdown: LOWV -13.9% vs PGZ -20.0%.
Should I hold both LOWV and PGZ?
LOWV and PGZ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.66, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, LOWV or PGZ?
LOWV yields 0.87% while PGZ yields 12.28%, so PGZ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is PGZ better than LOWV?
LOWV has a lower expense ratio. LOWV led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.