A side-by-side comparison of Principal U.S. Small-Cap Multi-Factor ETF (PSC) and Invesco FTSE RAFI US 1500 Small-Mid ETF (PRFZ) to help Canadian investors make an informed decision.
1-Year Performance
Normalised to 100 at the start — shows relative return over the trailing 12 months.
Head-to-Head Comparison
| Metric | PSC | PRFZ |
|---|---|---|
| YTD Return | +0.32% | +0.94%✓ |
| 1-Day Change | +0.32% | +0.76%✓ |
| 1-Week Change | -0.71% | -0.15%✓ |
| 1-Month Change | -2.09% | -2.50%✓ |
| Current Price | $66.94 | $52.73 |
| AUM | $2.72B✓ | $2.72B |
| MER (Expense Ratio) | 0.38%✓ | 0.39% |
| Dividend Yield | 0.52% | 0.78%✓ |
| Distribution Frequency | NA | NA |
| Inception Date | 2016-09-21 | 2006-09-20 |
| Holdings Count | 50 | 50 |
| MorningStar Rating | ★★★★ | ★★★★ |
| Category | Small Blend | Small Blend |
| Beta | 1.09 | 1.13 |
| 52-Week High | $70.90 | $56.70 |
| 52-Week Low | $53.49 | $42.35 |
| 50-Day MA | $68.74 | $54.49 |
| 200-Day MA | $63.81 | $50.77 |
✓ marks the better value for return/yield/AUM metrics. Lower ✓ for MER.
Annualised Returns
| Period | PSC | PRFZ |
|---|---|---|
| YTD | +0.32% | +0.94%✓ |
| 1 Year | +20.27%✓ | +18.50% |
| 3 Year | +19.15%✓ | +18.47% |
| 5 Year | +9.10%✓ | +8.74% |
| 10 Year | +11.57%✓ | +11.06% |
| 1Y Volatility | 14.31% | 14.64% |
| Sharpe Ratio (3Y) | 0.76 | 0.71 |
Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.
Top 10 Holdings
| 1 | TXG | 10X Genomics Inc | 1.26% |
| 2 | TWST | Twist Bioscience Corp | 1.18% |
| 3 | ZETA | Zeta Global Holdings Corp | 1.01% |
| 4 | WT | WisdomTree Inc. | 0.96% |
| 5 | FRSH | Freshworks Inc | 0.83% |
| 6 | MRX | Marex Group plc Ordinary Shares | 0.82% |
| 7 | EAT | Brinker International Inc | 0.82% |
| 8 | BFH | Bread Financial Holdings, Inc. | 0.72% |
| 9 | FF60 | FIRSTCASH HLDGS INC.DL-01 | 0.71% |
| 10 | BKH | Black Hills Corporation | 0.68% |
| 1 | TXG | 10X Genomics Inc | 0.49% |
| 2 | IOVA | Iovance Biotherapeutics Inc | 0.46% |
| 3 | SN | SharkNinja, Inc. | 0.39% |
| 4 | CRGY | Crescent Energy Co | 0.39% |
| 5 | PAYC | Paycom Software, Inc. | 0.38% |
| 6 | MXL | MaxLinear Inc | 0.37% |
| 7 | IRDM | Iridium Communications Inc | 0.37% |
| 8 | DOCU | DocuSign Inc | 0.36% |
| 9 | PARR | Par Pacific Holdings Inc | 0.35% |
| 10 | DT | Dynatrace Holdings LLC | 0.35% |
Sector Weights
| Sector | PSC | PRFZ |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Materials | 4.44% | 3.08% |
| Communication Services | 2.44% | 3.00% |
| Consumer Cyclicals | 8.95% | 10.68% |
| Consumer Defensive | 2.79% | 3.21% |
| Energy | 6.24% | 5.18% |
| Financial Services | 17.78% | 14.50% |
| Healthcare | 21.29% | 18.28% |
| Industrials | 11.65% | 14.50% |
| Real Estate | 5.44% | 6.35% |
| Technology | 16.33% | 19.96% |
| Utilities | 2.65% | 1.25% |
About PSC
Under normal circumstances, the fund invests at least 80% of its net assets, plus any borrowings for investment purposes, in equity securities of U.S. companies with small market capitalizations. For this fund, companies with small market capitalizations are those with market capitalizations within the range of companies comprising the Russell 2000 Index.
About PRFZ
The fund generally will invest at least 90% of its total assets in securities that comprise the underlying index. The underlying index is composed of approximately 1,500 common stocks and is designed to track the performance of small- and medium-sized U.S. companies based on the following four fundamental measures of firm size: book value, cash flow, sales and dividends.
Which ETF is Right for You?
Both PSC and PRFZ are listed on Canadian exchanges and accessible through most Canadian brokerages including Questrade, Wealthsimple Trade, TD Direct, and Interactive Brokers.
Based on the available data, PRFZ scores higher across our tracked metrics including YTD performance, dividend yield, and AUM — though both ETFs warrant individual research before investing.
- Consider your account type (TFSA, RRSP, non-registered) as it can affect dividend taxation.
- Compare management expense ratios (MER) directly on each provider's website.
- Look at average daily trading volume to assess liquidity.
- Review the fund's underlying index and holdings to ensure the exposure matches your goals.
This is not financial advice. Always do your own research or consult a licensed financial advisor before investing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between PSC and PRFZ?
PSC (Principal U.S. Small-Cap Multi-Factor ETF) and PRFZ (Invesco FTSE RAFI US 1500 Small-Mid ETF) are both Canadian-listed ETFs. Key differences include their AUM ($2.72B vs $2.72B), dividend yield (0.52% vs 0.78%), and year-to-date performance (+0.32% vs +0.94%).
Is PSC better than PRFZ?
There is no single "better" ETF — it depends on your investment goals. If you prioritise dividends, compare both yields and choose based on your income needs. Always review the fund's prospectus and consider your tax situation.
Can I buy PSC and PRFZ on Wealthsimple?
Most Canadian-listed ETFs are available on Wealthsimple Trade commission-free. Both PSC and PRFZ should be accessible. Check Wealthsimple's supported tickers list to confirm availability.
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