ETF Evaluator:
Principal International Equity ETF ()
Follow This ETF
(as of Aug 26)
Best Performing in Foreign Large Blend Over the Last Year
| 53.2% | Pacer Nasdaq International Ptnt Ldrs ETF (PATN) |
| 37.0% | Touchstone Dynamic International ETF (TDI) |
| 36.8% | Harbor International Equity ETF (EPIN) |
| 34.8% | First Eagle Overseas Equity ETF (FEOE) |
| 33.8% | Lazard International Dynamic Equity ETF (IDEQ) |
Risk
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Risk
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ETF Details
Principal International Equity ETF Overview
Principal International Equity ETF (PIEQ) is an actively managed International Equity Foreign Large Blend exchange-traded fund (ETF). Principal Funds launched the ETF in 2024.
The investment seeks long-term growth of capital.
Under normal circumstances, the fund invests at least 80% of its net assets, plus any borrowings for investment purposes, in equity securities. The fund invests primarily in foreign equity securities, including emerging market securities, such as China. It invests in equity securities of small, medium, and large market capitalization companies.
About Principal International Equity ETF (PIEQ)
There are 3 members of the management team with an average tenure of 1.60 years: Matthew Peron (2025), Paul Blankenhagen (2024) and George Maris (2024). Management tenure is more important for actively managed ETFs than passive index ETFs.
The ETF has 1 primary benchmark: MSCI ACWI Ex USA NR USD index with a weighting of 100%. Principal International Equity ETF has 38 securities in its portfolio. The top 10 holdings constitute 44.1% of the ETF’s assets. The ETF meets the SEC requirement of being classified as a diversified fund. The ETF is not considered to have an ESG focus with its investment selection and management.
Principal International Equity ETF is part of the Equity global asset class and is within the International Equity ETF group. Principal International Equity ETF has 89.5% of its portfolio invested in foreign issues. The overall assets allocated to domestic stock is 8.9% There is 89.5% allocated to foreign stock, and 0.0% is allocated to preferred stocks. The bond allocation as a percentage of total assets is 0.0% (0.0% domestic bond, 0.0% foreign bond and 0.0% convertible bond). Principal International Equity ETF has 1.6% of the portfolio in cash.
Assets Under Management
The fund has $1 billion in total assets, which is below the $9 billion average for the Foreign Large Blend category. Normally, lower assets under management translates to higher average expense ratios, and greater total assets are desired. However, for some investment categories, such as small-cap investing, it may be difficult for the manager to fully employ the desired active strategy if assets grow too large or too quickly.
PIEQ Performance and Fees
The expense ratio measures how much of a fund’s assets are used for administrative expenses and operating expenses, including adviser fees and fees for the transfer agent and custodial services. The Principal International Equity ETF expense ratio is average compared to funds in the Foreign Large Blend category. Principal International Equity ETF has an expense ratio of 0.48%, which is 21% higher than its category average, making the fund expense ratio grade a D. While it is difficult to predict returns, it is known that high annual expense ratios reduce your rate of return, and excessive fees are difficult to overcome. Active management normally comes with higher expense ratios than passive index management. Certain investment categories such as small company and foreign also normally have higher expense ratios. It is best to compare fund expense ratios against the category averages for meaningful assessments.
High portfolio turnover can translate to higher expenses and lower aftertax returns. Principal International Equity ETF has a portfolio turnover rate of 20%, which indicates that it holds its assets around / 0.0 years. By way of comparison, the average portfolio turnover is 38% for the Foreign Large Blend category.
Recently, in the month of July 2026, Principal International Equity ETF returned 1.9%, which earned it a grade of B, as the Foreign Large Blend category had an average return of 1.1%. The letter grades of A, B, C, D and F are based upon relative rankings within the investment category. A grade of A, for example, would indicate that the return is in the highest 20% for that time period compared to all ETFs in that category.
Principal International Equity ETF has a trailing yield of 1.16%, which is below the 2.56% category average.
The fund normally distributes its income annually and its capital gains annually.
It’s natural to seek the best-performing investments, but you must consider the relationship between risk and return and the impact of costs and taxes on your realized returns.
Principal International Equity ETF Grades
Year to date, the ETF has returned 10.7%, 1.4 percentage points worse than the category, which translates into a grade of D. The fund has returned 27.1% over the past year (grade of B).
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PIEQ Trailing NAV Total Returns Data as of 7/31/26
| Last Month |
Last Quarter |
Ann'l. 1Yr |
Ann'l. 3Yr |
Ann'l. 5Yr |
Ann'l. 10Yr |
|
| PIEQ Return (NAV) | 1.9% | 5.1% | 27.1% | na | na | na |
| PIEQ Return (Price) | 1.1% | 3.7% | 26.5% | na | na | na |
| NAV +/- Price Return | 0.836% | 1.307% | 0.521% | na | na | na |
| Foreign Large Blend Avg | 1.1% | 4.4% | 25.0% | 16.4% | 9.2% | 9.3% |
| PIEQ Grade (NAV) | B | B | B | na | na | na |
| +/- Category (NAV) | 0.8% | 0.7% | 2.0% | na | na | na |
| PIEQ Tax-Cost Ratio | na | na | 0.5% | na | na | na |
PIEQ Annual NAV Total ReturnsData as of 7/31/26
| 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |
| PIEQ Return (NAV) | 10.7% | 37.6% | na | na | na | na | na | na | na | na | na |
| PIEQ Return (Price) | 10.1% | 38.1% | na | na | na | na | na | na | na | na | na |
| NAV +/- Price Ret | -0.061% | 0.015% | na | na | na | na | na | na | na | na | na |
| Foreign Large Blend Avg | 12.1% | 31.2% | 5.2% | 16.9% | -14.7% | 10.3% | 8.8% | 22.0% | -13.2% | 24.6% | 1.9% |
| PIEQ Grade (NAV) | D | A | na | na | na | na | na | na | na | na | na |
| +/- Category | -1.4% | 6.4% | na | na | na | na | na | na | na | na | na |
| Risk Measures | |
| Beta: | na |
| R-Squared: | na |
| Standard Deviation: | na |
| Category Risk Index: | na |
| Category Risk Rating: | |
| Total Risk Index: | na |
| Total Risk Rating: | |
| Portfolio Characteristics | |
| Yield: | 1.2% |
| Total Assets: | $ 1,366 Mil |
| Share Class Assets: | $ 1,366 Mil |
| Turnover: | 20.4% |
| Expense Ratio: | 0.48% |
| Index Fund: | No |
| Index Tracked: | MSCI ACWI Ex USA NR USD |
| Index Weighting: | 100% |
| Leveraged: | No |
| Socially Responsible Fund: | No |
| Capital Gains Distribution Frequency: | Annually |
| Income Distribution Frequency: | Annually |
Management Team
| Number of Managers: 3 | |||
| Longest Tenure: 1.7 years | |||
| Average Tenure: 1.6 years | |||
| Managers (Year): Blankenhagen Paul (2024), Maris George (2024), Peron Matthew (2025) | |||
Portfolio Composition (as of 7/31/26)
| # of Holdings: | 38 |
| % in Top 10 Holdings: | 44.1% |
| Fund is Non-Diversified: | No |
| % in Foreign Issues: | 89.5% |
Portfolio Allocation |
|
| Domestic Stock: | 8.9% |
| Foreign Stock: | 89.5% |
| Preferred Stock: | 0.0% |
| Domestic Bond: | 0.0% |
| Foreign Bond: | 0.0% |
| Convertible Bond: | 0.0% |
| Other: | 0.0% |
| Cash: | 1.6% |
Purchase Information
| Legal Structure: | Open Ended Investment Company |
| Fund Family: | Principal Funds |
| Phone Number: | 800-222-5852 |
| Website: | |
| Inception Date: | November 5, 2024 |
Expenses and Fees
| Expense Ratio (%): | 0.48% (Rating: Avg) |
| Category Average Expense Ratio (%): | 0.40% |
