NXG vs PY
NXG NextGen Infrastructure Income Fund vs Principal Value ETF
Which is better, NXG or PY?
Each has led over a different period.
PY has a lower expense ratio. NXG led over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y, PY over 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 | NXG | PY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 3.15% | 0.15%Best |
| AUM | $466M | $238M |
| Dividend Yield | 12.57% | 1.92% |
| Holdings | 76 | 206 |
| YTD Return | +18.94%Best | +10.62% |
| 1Y Return | +25.53%Best | +12.95% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +36.44%Best | +15.76% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +14.96%Best | +8.45% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 31.1% | 19.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -81.4% | -45.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $20,079Best | $15,002 |
| Fund Family | The Cushing Funds | Principal Funds |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Value | Mid Cap Value |
| Inception | Sep 26, 2012 | Mar 21, 2016 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Mar 22, 2016 to Oct 14, 2026 (10.6 years).
NXG vs PY 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 10.6 years both funds cover.
NXG vs PY Performance
NXG NextGen Infrastructure Income Fund (NXG) is an ETF from The Cushing Funds and Principal Value ETF (PY) is an ETF from Principal Funds. Over the past year NXG returned +25.53% while PY returned +12.95%. Year to date, NXG is up 18.94% versus a gain of 10.62% for PY.
Over three years, NXG compounded at +36.44% per year against +15.76% for PY; over five years the annualized figures are +14.96% and +8.45% respectively. Across the full 11-year window we track, PY has the edge at +9.67% annualized vs +5.80%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
NXG has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 31.1% compared with 19.1% for PY. 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 -81.4% for NXG and -45.5% for PY. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.75. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
NXG charges 3.15% per year while PY charges 0.15%. On a $10,000 position that is $315 vs $15 annually, a gap of $300 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, NXG currently yields 12.57% against 1.92% for PY.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.6% of PY's money is in holdings NXG also owns.
Only one direction is shown: for NXG, our book for it lists positions totalling 139.2% of the fund, which is what a leveraged book looks like and is not a denominator we can divide by.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
The two holdings books were reported 123 days apart, NXG as of May 31, 2026 and PY as of Oct 1, 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 53 positions we hold weights for in NXG and 101 in PY, against full books of 76 and 206.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in NXG | Weight in PY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NEENextera Energy Inc | 0.62% | 0.62% | 0.00% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of NXG and PY 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, NXG or PY?
NXG has an expense ratio of 3.15% while PY charges 0.15%. PY is the cheaper option, by $300 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, NXG or PY?
Over the past year NXG returned +25.53% vs +12.95% for PY, so NXG leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (11 years), NXG annualized +5.80% vs +9.67% for PY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, NXG or PY?
NXG has been the more volatile fund at 31.1% annualized versus 19.1% for PY. Worst drawdown: NXG -81.4% vs PY -45.5%.
Should I hold both NXG and PY?
NXG and PY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.75, 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, NXG or PY?
NXG yields 12.57% while PY yields 1.92%, so NXG currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is PY better than NXG?
PY has a lower expense ratio. NXG led over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y, PY over the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.