PCN vs SPY
PIMCO Corporate & Income Strategy Fund vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, PCN or SPY?
Diversified Sectoral Bond against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window.
MarketXLS is not an investment adviser. This comparison is generated automatically from market data and is for information only. A Best mark means the better reading on that one measure, not a recommendation to buy.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | PCN | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.29% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $870M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 11.90% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 526 | 505 |
| YTD Return | -5.19% | +13.82%Best |
| 1Y Return | -7.47% | +16.96%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +4.25% | +22.97%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +0.23% | +13.73%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 21.7% | 14.8%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -66.7% | -56.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $10,116 | $19,027Best |
| Fund Family | PIMCO (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | Diversified Sectoral Bond | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Dec 21, 2001 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 19, 2001 to Sep 21, 2026 (24.8 years).
PCN vs SPY growth
Month-end closes. Both lines start at 0% in the first month shown, so the gap between them is the difference in growth across that window. The full view covers the 24.8 years both funds cover.
PCN vs SPY Performance
PIMCO Corporate & Income Strategy Fund (PCN) is an ETF from PIMCO (US) and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year PCN returned -7.47% while SPY returned +16.96%. Year to date, PCN is down 5.19% versus a gain of 13.82% for SPY.
Over three years, PCN compounded at +4.25% per year against +22.97% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +0.23% and +13.73% respectively. Across the full 25-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +8.30% annualized vs +1.07%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
PCN has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 21.7% compared with 14.8% for SPY. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -66.7% for PCN and -56.5% for SPY. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.44. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PCN charges 1.29% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $129 vs $9 annually, a gap of $120 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PCN currently yields 11.90% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 23 holdings in PCN and 504 in SPY, totalling 7.0% and 99.9% of the two funds. That is not enough of PCN to divide by, so no overlap percentage is shown here. Within what we can see, 1 positions appear in both.
The two holdings books were reported 336 days apart, PCN as of Sep 30, 2025 and SPY as of Sep 1, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
1 positions in common, counted across the 23 positions we hold weights for in PCN and 504 in SPY, against full books of 526 and 505.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in PCN | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| VICIVici Properties Inc | 0.30% | 0.04% | 0.26% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of PCN and SPY you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, PCN or SPY?
PCN has an expense ratio of 1.29% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $120 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, PCN or SPY?
Over the past year PCN returned -7.47% vs +16.96% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (25 years), PCN annualized +1.07% vs +8.30% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PCN or SPY?
PCN has been the more volatile fund at 21.7% annualized versus 14.8% for SPY. Worst drawdown: PCN -66.7% vs SPY -56.5%.
Should I hold both PCN and SPY?
PCN and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.44, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, PCN or SPY?
PCN yields 11.90% while SPY yields 0.98%, so PCN currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than PCN?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.