Fund Evaluator:
Principal Diversified International R6 (PDIFX)
Follow This Fund
Best Performing in Foreign Large Blend Over the Last Year
| 35.2% | AB International Strat Eqs Z (STEZX) |
| 32.9% | NYLI WMC International Research Eq Cl I (MYIIX) |
| 31.4% | Nationwide Bailard Intl Eqs M (NWHLX) |
| 31.2% | Goldman Sachs Intl Eq Insghts Inv (GCITX) |
| 31.2% | Vanguard International Core Stock Adm (VZICX) |
Fund Details
Principal Diversified International R6 Overview
Principal Diversified International R6 (PDIFX) is an actively managed International Equity Foreign Large Blend fund. Principal Funds launched the fund in 2019.
The investment seeks long-term growth of capital. The fund invests primarily in foreign equity securities. It has no limitation on the percentage of assets that are invested in any one country or denominated in any one currency, but the fund typically invests in foreign securities of at least 20 countries. The fund invests in equity securities regardless of market capitalization size (small, medium or large) and style (growth or value).
About Principal Diversified International R6 (PDIFX)
There are 3 members of the management team with an average tenure of 8.95 years: Matthew Peron (2025), Paul Blankenhagen (2003), George Maris (2023). Management tenure is more important for actively managed funds than passive index funds.
The fund has 1 primary benchmark: MSCI ACWI Ex USA NR USD index with a weighting of 100%. Principal Diversified International R6 has 103 securities in its portfolio. The top 10 holdings constitute 32.5% of the fund’s assets. The fund meets the SEC requirement of being classified as a diversified fund. The fund is not considered to have an ESG focus with its investment selection and management.
Principal Diversified International R6 is part of the Equity global asset class and is within the International Equity fund group. Principal Diversified International R6 has 91.8% of its portfolio invested in foreign issues. The overall assets allocated to domestic stock is 6.7%. There is 91.8% allocated to foreign stock, and 0.0% is allocated to preferred stocks. The bond allocation as a percentage of total assets is 0.1% (0.1% domestic bond, 0.0% foreign bond and 0.0% convertible bond). Principal Diversified International R6 has 0.7% of the portfolio in cash.
Assets Under Management
The fund has $372 million in total assets, which is below the $2 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.
PDIFX 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 Diversified International R6 expense ratio is above average compared to funds in the Foreign Large Blend category. Principal Diversified International R6 has an expense ratio of 0.76%, which is 19% lower than its category average, making the fund expense ratio grade a B. 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 Diversified International R6 has a portfolio turnover rate of 38%, indicating that holds its assets around 0.0 years. By way of comparison, the average portfolio turnover is 62% for the Foreign Large Blend category.
Recently, in the month of July 2026, Principal Diversified International R6 returned 0.8%, which earned it a grade of C, as the Foreign Large Blend category had an average return of 0.7%. 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 funds in that category.
Principal Diversified International R6 has a trailing yield of 2.40%, which is above the 2.17% category average. The fund normally distributes its income 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 Diversified International R6 Grades
Year to date, the fund has returned 7.4%, 4.2 percentage points worse than the category, which translates into a grade of F. The fund has returned 20.8% over the past year (grade of D), 15.4% over the past three years (grade of D) and 7.6% per year over the past five years (grade of D) and 8.9% per year over the past 10 years (grade of D).
For more mutual fund grades, analysis and screening tools to help your investment discovery, join AAII for a $2, full-access trial. Learn more here: https://invest.aaii.com/membership.
Otherwise, for more information about Principal Diversified International R6, including its riskiness, submit your email to unlock the rest of the article.
Gain access to exclusive AAII member-only content.
PDIFX 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 |
|
| PDIFX Return (NAV) | 0.8% | 3.2% | 20.8% | 15.4% | 7.6% | 8.9% |
| PDIFX Grade | C | D | D | D | D | D |
| +/- Category | 0.1% | -1.2% | -3.4% | -0.5% | -0.8% | -0.2% |
| Foreign Large Blend Avg | 0.7% | 4.4% | 24.2% | 15.9% | 8.4% | 9.1% |
| PDIFX Tax Cost Ratio | na | na | 1.0% | 1.2% | 1.5% | na |
PDIFX Annual NAV Total ReturnsData as of 7/31/26
| 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |
| PDIFX Return (NAV) | 7.4% | 32.7% | 5.0% | 17.8% | -19.7% | 9.7% | 17.5% | 22.9% | -17.5% | 28.3% | -0.0% |
| PDIFX Grade | F | B | C | B | F | D | A | C | F | B | D |
| +/- Category | -4.2% | 2.2% | 0.1% | 1.6% | -3.4% | -0.5% | 5.7% | -0.1% | -2.3% | 1.9% | -1.0% |
| Foreign Large Blend Avg | 11.6% | 30.5% | 4.9% | 16.2% | -16.4% | 10.2% | 11.8% | 22.9% | -15.2% | 26.4% | 1.0% |
| Risk Measures | |
| Standard Deviation: | 11.7% |
| Total Risk Index: | 0.95 - Average |
| Category Risk Index: | 0.90 - Low |
| Category Risk Grade: | A (5% Rank) |
| Beta: | 0.78 |
| R-Squared: | 86% |
| Leveraged Fund: | No |
| Inverse Fund: | No |
| Portfolio Characteristics | |
| Equity Investment Style: | Large-Cap Blend |
| Bond Investment Style: | na |
| Yield: | 2.4% |
| Dividend Distribution: | Annually |
| Cap Gains Distribution: | |
| Total Assets: | $1013 Mil |
| Fund Total Assets: | $ 372 Mil |
| Share Class Type: | Retirement |
| Portfolio Turnover: | 38% |
Management Team
| Number of Managers: 3 | |||
| Longest Tenure: 22.6 years | |||
| Average Tenure: 9.0 years | |||
| Managers (Year): Blankenhagen Paul (2003), Maris George (2023), Peron Matthew (2025) | |||
Portfolio Composition (as of 6/30/26)
| # of Holdings: | 103 |
| % in Top 10 Holdings: | 32.5% |
| Fund is Non-Diversified: | No |
| % in Foreign Issues: | 91.8% |
Portfolio Allocation |
|
| Domestic Stock: | 6.7% |
| Foreign Stock: | 91.8% |
| Preferred Stock: | 0.0% |
| Domestic Bond: | 0.1% |
| Foreign Bond: | 0.0% |
| Convertible Bond: | 0.0% |
| Other: | 0.6% |
| Cash: | 0.7% |
Purchase Information
| Fund Family: | Principal Funds |
| Phone Number: | 800-222-5852 |
| Website: | www.principalfunds.com |
| Status: | Open |
| Inception Date: | March 1, 2019 |
| Min. Initial Purchase: | $ 0 |
| Min. Initial IRA Purchase: | $ 0 |
| True No-Load: | Yes |
| Front Load Maximum: | 0.00% |
| Deferred Charge Maximum: | 0.00% |
| Redemption Charge Maximum: | 0.00% |
| 12b-1 Fee: | na |
Expenses and Fees | |
| Expense Ratio (%): | 0.76% ( Rating : Above Avg ) |
| Category Average Expense Ratio (%): | 0.94% |
| Share Class: | Principal Diversified Intl R5 |
| Min. Subsequent Purchase: | $ 0 |
| Min. Subsequent IRA Purchase: | $ 0 |
