Market strategies

Build portfolio resilience

Markets are always shifting, yet investor goals remain intact. Alternatives within public and private markets may help build resilience to deliver outcomes that investors expect.

Look beyond traditional asset classes

While stocks and bonds may deliver strong returns, many investors continue to seek additional sources of income and risk mitigation. The current market environment offers strategic entry points for listed real assets and private credit, two areas of the market known for their potential to strengthen portfolios and build sustainable performance over time through diversification, income, and enhanced total returns. Investors are increasingly motivated to look beyond traditional asset classes considering stocks and bonds have high positive correlation, reducing their effectiveness as diversification tools.

Listed real assets

Listed real assets can build resilience through diversification and stable cash flow potential that may provide stability during market volatility.

  • Examples: Real estate investment trusts (REITs), infrastructure
  • Investment profile comparison: Moderate risk, income generation, more liquid

Today’s attractive entry points: Valuations

Private credit

Private credit can build resilience through yield potential which may cushion portfolios during market downturns.

  • Examples: Direct lending, private real estate debt
  • Investment profile comparison: Wide range of risk, higher yield potential, less liquid

Today’s attractive entry points: Premiums and expected tailwinds

Explore attractive entry points to help build portfolio resilience
U.S. REITs are trading near historically cheap valuations relative to equities.

Complement your equity exposure and improve return potential

REITs are known for income and growth potential. Consider complementing your equity holdings with REITs to improve return potential, while also providing diversification through exposure to real estate.

Downloadable report which includes sector analysis


Global listed infrastructure has rarely been this cheap relative to global equities in the past 20 years.

Reallocate a portion of your equity exposure and seek to improve stability

Infrastructure is known for its defensive characteristics. Consider augmenting your equity exposure with listed infrastructure to seek improved portfolio stability during volatile markets.

Concise article which includes downloadable report


Middle-market direct lending yield premium is nearly 2.5%.

For more than ten years, middle market direct lending consistently generated excess yield versus large corporate loans, thanks to attractive liquidity premiums. By focusing on the middle market segment, investors can access higher yields and the historically attractive yield premium.

Replace lower-yielding bonds to improve income potential

Direct lending investors have received a liquidity premium—additional yield for accepting lower liquidity compared to traditional bonds. Consider replacing lower-yielding portions of bond portfolios to improve income potential, while also potentially decreasing volatility.


Bank demand for direct real estate lending remains tepid—a tailwind for investors.

We believe tailwinds are coming from the $2T+ of maturing loans over the next three years and the retreat of traditional lenders—like banks—because of tighter regulations. A reset in valuations after a multi-year commercial real estate downturn triggered by COVID-19 and rising interest rates may reduce downside risk to investors.

Reallocate a portion of your core bond exposure and seek to improve interest rate risk

High yield, real estate credit loans are usually floating rate which limits sensitivity to interest rates. Consider complementing core bonds with an allocation to private real estate credit with less liquidity.

Concise article with proof points

Need alternatives to stocks and bonds?

High correlations of stocks and bonds can be augmented with listed real assets and private credit.

Correlation matrix comparing return profiles for global stocks, global bonds, listed real assets, and private credit.

Source: Global stocks (MSCI World TR), Global bonds (Bloomberg Global-Aggregate Total Return Index Value Unhedged USD), Listed real estate (FTSE EPRA NAREIT Developed Index Net TRI USD), Listed infrastructure (FTSE Global Core Infrastructure 50/50 Total Return Index in USD), Direct lending (Cliffwater Direct Lending Index), Private real estate (Real Estate (Preqin, TR)), Private infrastructure (Infrastructure (Preqin, TR)). Data from Q3 2006 to Q3 2024. Indices are unmanaged and do not take into account fees, expenses, and transaction costs and it is not possible to invest in an index.

Solutions: Seeing things from a different point of view

Our specialized investment teams combine a depth of perspective with extensive research and analysis.

Listed real assets

Public REITs We strive to deliver strong risk-adjusted returns through exposure to non-traditional property types, including data centers.

Access our expertise in U.S. and global real estate strategies

Includes a downloadable brochure and video content

PIREXPrincipal Real Estate Securities Fund

POSIXPrincipal Global Real Estate Securities Fund

BYREPrincipal Real Estate Active Opportunities ETF

Global listed infrastructureOur team aims to deliver attractive, risk-adjusted performance through exposure to the global infrastructure market.

Diversify portfolios by investing in essential service providers

Includes a concise overview and video content

PGSLXPrincipal Global Listed Infrastructure Fund

Private credit

Direct lending Our fund seeks to be a “pure-play” private first lien exposure to lower and core middle market direct lending.

Gain an edge with our perspectives when investing in an underserved market

Includes team credentials and approach

PPAIXPrincipal Private Credit Fund

Private real estate debtWe seek to provide current income, while aiming to preserve capital and mitigate downside risk.

Diversify portfolios by investing in essential service providers

Includes a downloadable brochure and video content

Principal U.S. High Yield Real Estate Credit Strategy

Why Principal Asset Management?

We’re focused on harnessing the potential of every opportunity to secure an advantage for our clients.

Trusted heritage of Principal

140+ years For more than a century, Principal has helped individuals confidently reach their goals. Established in 1994, Principal Asset Management is the investment management business for Principal Financial Group®.

Expertise

Over 650 Investment professionals providing a depth of knowledge, averaging 17 years of industry experience.2

Scale and scope

29th largest Manager of worldwide institutional assets3, Principal Asset Management is a fiduciary with disciplined process and specialized expertise across asset classes, managing $579.5 billion in assets.2

Strong foundation

Fortune 500 Backed by the resources of a Fortune 500 company, the Principal Financial Group delivers value to our shareholders and more than 70 million customers who rely on our expertise in retirement, insurance, and asset management.4

Global real estate expertise

Top 10 Global real estate manager.5 Our scale and reputation give our clients access to high-quality opportunities.

Private market experience

60+ Years investing in private markets.6 Our time-tested expertise and a long-term perspective that investors can rely on.

1 On July 1, 1879, Edward Temple founded The Bankers Life Association in Des Moines, Iowa, to provide inexpensive and dependable life insurance protection for bankers and their employees.

2 As of 06/30/2025. Principal Asset Management is the global investment management business for Principal Financial Group® and includes the asset management operations of the following: Principal Global Investors, LLC; Principal Real Estate Investors, LLC; Principal Real Estate Europe Limited and its affiliates; Spectrum Asset Management, Inc.; Post Advisory Group, LLC; Principal Asset Management Ltda; Principal Global Investors (Europe) Limited; Principal Global Investors (Ireland) Limited, Principal Global Investors (Singapore) Limited.; Principal Global Investors (Australia) Ltd.; Principal Global Investors (Japan) Ltd.; Principal Asset Management Company (Asia) Ltd., Principal Asset Management Berhad, Principal Islamic Asset Management SDN BHD, Principal Fondos de Inversion, S.A. DE C.V., Principal Mexico Servicios, S.A. DE C.V., Principal Adminstradora General de Fondos S.A., and includes assets where we provide model portfolios.

3 369 managers profiled by total worldwide institutional assets as of 31 December 2024 “Largest Money Manager,” PENSIONS & INVESTMENTS, June 2025.

4 As of 12/31/2024. See our most recent 10-K or 10-Q report for additional information and forward-looking disclosures. For other updates, visit www.principal.com. 

5 Managers ranked by total worldwide real estate assets (net of leverage, including contributions committed or received, but not yet invested; REOCs are included with equity; REIT securities are excluded), as of 30 June 2024. “The Largest Real Estate Investment Managers,” Pensions & Investments, 7 October 2024.

6 Principal Real Estate Investors became registered with the SEC in November 1999. Activities noted prior to this date were conducted beginning with the real estate investment management area of Principal Life Insurance Company and later Principal Capital Real Estate Investors, LLC, the predecessor firm to Principal Real Estate Investors.

Disclosures

BYRE ETF: This ETF is different from traditional ETFs. Traditional ETFs tell the public what assets they hold each day. This ETF will not. This may create additional risks for your investment. For example:

  • You may have to pay more money to trade the ETF’s shares. This ETF will provide less information to traders, who tend to charge more for trades when they have less information.
  • The price you pay to buy ETF shares on an exchange may not match the value of the ETF’s portfolio. The same is true when you sell shares. These price differences may be greater for this ETF compared to other ETFs because it provides less information to traders.
  • These additional risks may be even greater in bad or uncertain market conditions.
  • The ETF will publish on its website each day a “Tracking Basket” designed to help trading in shares of the ETF. While the Tracking Basket includes some of the ETF’s holdings, it is not the ETF’s actual portfolio.
  • The differences between this ETF and other ETFs may also have advantages. By keeping certain information about the ETF secret, this ETF may face less risk that other traders can predict or copy its investment strategy. This may improve the ETF’s performance. If other traders are able to copy or predict the ETF’s investment strategy, however, this may hurt the ETF’s performance.
  • For additional information regarding the unique attributes and risks of this ETF, see the linked webpage above.

REIT valuations equal enterprise value (EV) divided by earnings before accounting for interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA). Spread equals the EV/EBITDA of the FTSE NAREIT All Equity REIT Index minus the EV/EBITDA of the S&P 500 Index. Expensive and cheap valuations are represented by spreads higher or lower than one standard deviation from the mean, respectively. Fair value is represented by valuations between one standard deviation from the mean. Indices are unmanaged and individuals cannot invest directly in an index.

Infrastructure valuations equal enterprise value (EV) divided by earnings before accounting for interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA). Spread equals the EV/EBITDA of the FTSE NAREIT All Equity REIT Index minus the EV/EBITDA of the S&P 500 Index. Expensive and cheap valuations are represented by spreads higher or lower than one standard deviation from the mean, respectively. Fair value is represented by valuations between one standard deviation from the mean. Indices are unmanaged and individuals cannot invest directly in an index.

For Public Distribution in the United States. For Institutional, Professional, Qualified and/or Wholesale Investor Use Only in other Permitted Jurisdictions as defined by local laws and regulations.

Risk considerations

Investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal. Past Performance does not guarantee future results. All financial investments involve an element of risk. Therefore, the value of the investment and the income from it will vary and the initial investment amount cannot be guaranteed.

Carefully consider a fund’s objectives, risks, charges, and expenses. Visit www.PrincipalAM.com or call sales support at 800-787-1621 for a prospectus, or summary prospectus if available, containing this and other information. Please read it carefully before investing.

Asset allocation and diversification do not ensure a profit or protect against a loss.

Real estate investment options are subject to risks associated with credit, liquidity, interest rate fluctuation, adverse general and local economic conditions, and decreases in real estate values and occupancy rates.

Investments in private debt, including leveraged loans, middle market loans, and mezzanine debt, second liens, are subject to various risk factors, including credit risk, liquidity risk and interest rate risk.

Commercial mortgage is subject to the basic risk of lending and direct ownership of commercial real estate mortgages.

Infrastructure companies may be subject to a variety of factors that may adversely affect their business, including high interest costs, high leverage, regulation costs, economic slowdown, surplus capacity, increased competition, lack of fuel availability, and energy conservation policies.

Important information

This material covers general information only and does not take account of any investor’s investment objectives or financial situation and should not be construed as specific investment advice, a recommendation, or be relied on in any way as a guarantee, promise, forecast or prediction of future events regarding an investment or the markets in general.

The opinions and predictions expressed are subject to change without prior notice. The information presented has been derived from sources believed to be accurate; however, we do not independently verify or guarantee its accuracy or validity. Any reference to a specific investment or security does not constitute a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold such investment or security, nor an indication that the investment manager or its affiliates has recommended a specific security for any client account. Subject to any contrary provisions of applicable law, the investment manager and its affiliates, and their officers, directors, employees, agents, disclaim any express or implied warranty of reliability or accuracy and any responsibility arising in any way (including by reason of negligence) for errors or omissions in the information or data provided.

This material may contain ‘forward-looking’ information that is not purely historical in nature and may include, among other things, projections and forecasts. There is no guarantee that any forecasts made will come to pass. Reliance upon information in this material is at the sole discretion of the reader. All figures shown in this document are in U.S. dollars unless otherwise noted.

Principal Alternative Credit is an investment team within Principal Global Investors.

Principal Real Estate is a trade name of Principal Real Estate Investors, LLC, an affiliate of Principal Global Investors.

Principal Funds are distributed by Principal Funds Distributor, Inc. ALPS Distributors, Inc. is the distributor of the Principal ETFs. ALPS Distributors, Inc. and the Principal Funds are not affiliated.

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