What Is the BCHP ETF? A Complete Guide to Returns, Expense Ratio, Holdings, and Alternative ETFs
The Principal Focused Blue-Chip ETF (BCHP) is an actively managed ETF in which the manager hand-picks a concentrated portfolio of large, high-quality US stocks. Its non-diversified structure, management fee, and stock concentration are the key points to check, and the cost gap versus passive core ETFs such as VOO and IVV, along with dividends and outlook, should guide your choice.
What Is the Principal Focused Blue-Chip ETF?
This is an actively managed ETF that concentrates its investments in large, high-quality US companies that the manager believes have strong growth potential. It allocates most of its net assets to large-cap blue-chip stocks, and its non-diversified structure means a small number of holdings carry heavy weights.
It suits large-cap growth investors who want exposure to the manager's stock-selection skill rather than simply tracking an index.
It is an ETF run by Principal using an active management approach.
How Does the Principal Focused Blue-Chip ETF Invest?
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Investment strategy | Selected large-cap blue chips (active) |
| Management style | Active (manager's discretionary selection) |
| Rebalancing frequency | At the manager's discretion (ongoing) |
| Dividend frequency | Limited regular distribution data |
| Manager | Principal |
| Expense ratio | 0.58% |
The manager, Principal Global Investors, selects large-cap companies with firmly established positions in their industries and above-average growth potential, and invests in them in a concentrated manner. It is a non-diversified active strategy that adjusts weights at its own discretion rather than being bound by index weightings.
- Stock selection at the manager's discretion
- Non-diversified structure concentrated in a small number of stocks
Principal Focused Blue-Chip ETF Size and Costs (AUM and Management Fee)
Assets under management (AUM) stand at $225.8M, and the expense ratio is 0.58% per year.
Fees tend to be higher than those of passive index ETFs, and performance depends on the manager's selection skill.
Principal Focused Blue-Chip ETF Performance and Trends
The fund tends to move with large-cap growth stocks overall, but because of its concentrated portfolio, the performance of a few holdings has an outsized effect on total returns. Recent trends show volatility that depends on market conditions and the results of the manager's selections.
Fund flows are occurring amid growing demand for active ETFs, and the fund ranks as small to mid-sized within its category. During periods of market volatility, the concentrated portfolio may influence fund flows.
Principal Focused Blue-Chip ETF Pros and Cons
Its strength is the potential for outperformance through the manager's selection, while its weaknesses are the fee burden and the volatility that comes with stock concentration.
💪 Key Strengths
⚠️ Points to Watch
Principal Focused Blue-Chip ETF Alternatives and Related Products
Comparable products shown in the table include BBLU, which invests in blue chips on a rules-based approach, SPXT, which gives exposure to large caps excluding technology stocks, and QQXT, which removes the technology sector from Nasdaq large caps. Unlike this ETF's active selection approach, these are rules- and index-based, and their fee levels also differ. If you want broad large-cap core exposure at a lower fee, S&P 500 ETFs such as VOO and IVV can serve as direct substitutes, and if you want to focus more on large-cap growth stocks, QQQ is also worth considering.
| Ticker | Name | Price | Change | AUM | Total Expense Ratio | Dividend Yield | 1Y |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EA Bridgeway Blue Chip ETF | $17.61 | -0.5% | $488.8M | 0.15% | 1.08% | +15.6% | |
| ProShares S&P 500 Ex-Technology ETF | $110.28 | -0.9% | $306.2M | 0.09% | 1.3% | +9.0% | |
| First Trust Nasdaq-100 Ex-Technology Sector Index Fund | $99.27 | -0.9% | $135.3M | 0.57% | 1.28% | -0.6% |
| Ticker | Name | Weight | Price | Change | Market Cap | P/E | Dividend Yield |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AMZN | Amazon.com Inc | 0.27% | $248.00 | -0.9% | $2.68T | 19.9 | - |
| MSFT | Microsoft Corp | 0.22% | $524.51 | +0.7% | $3.90T | 29.2 | 0.75% |
| BAM | Brookfield Asset Management Ltd | 0.10% | $47.03 | -1.3% | $77.0B | 27.1 | 4.23% |
| NVDA | NVIDIA Corp | 0.19% | $210.96 | -0.6% | $5.08T | 26.7 | 0.37% |
| GOOGL | Alphabet Inc | 0.09% | $320.21 | -1.2% | $3.90T | 16.1 | 0.25% |
| BN | Brookfield Corp | 0.09% | $37.97 | -0.8% | $93.1B | 70.7 | 0.77% |
| MA | Mastercard Incorporated | 0.05% | $623.60 | -1.5% | $546.3B | 34.3 | 0.57% |
Principal Focused Blue-Chip ETF Investor Checkpoints
Here are the points to review before investing in BCHP. As an active ETF, it requires you to understand its fees, stock concentration, and management strategy in advance, and you should compare it with passive core ETFs to see whether it fits your investment goals.
| Checkpoint | What to Check | Current Status |
|---|---|---|
| 💵 Expense ratio | Check the cumulative cost impact versus passive funds | Somewhat high |
| 📊 Stock concentration | Weight of a few stocks in the non-diversified structure | High concentration |
| 🎯 Management strategy | Dependence on the manager's selection skill | Needs verification |
| 💱 Exchange rate | Impact on returns converted into won | No currency hedge |
Given the non-diversified, concentrated portfolio, weakness in a few stocks can drag down overall performance, and active management may also underperform the index. The fee burden affects cumulative returns over the long term.
It is an active ETF suited to investors who want exposure to the manager's skill in selecting large, high-quality stocks. If low-cost, broad exposure is the priority, passive core ETFs such as VOO and IVV are alternatives.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. All investment responsibility lies with the investor.
This article reflects information as of June 18, 2026.