PDX vs VOO
PIMCO Dynamic Income Strategy Fund vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, PDX or VOO?
Short Term High Quality against Large Cap Blend.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. PDX led over 3Y and 5Y, VOO over 1Y 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 | PDX | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 3.29% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $1.0B | $997.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 19.41% | 1.08% |
| Holdings | 442 | 509 |
| YTD Return | +21.77%Best | +12.74% |
| 1Y Return | +11.16% | +19.43%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +22.64%Best | +21.18% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +24.48%Best | +12.76% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 39.3% | 16.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -83.0% | -34.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $29,888Best | $18,230 |
| Fund Family | PIMCO (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | Short Term High Quality | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Feb 1, 2019 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 30, 2019 to Sep 8, 2026 (7.6 years).
PDX vs VOO 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 7.6 years both funds cover.
PDX vs VOO Performance
PIMCO Dynamic Income Strategy Fund (PDX) is an ETF from PIMCO (US) and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year PDX returned +11.16% while VOO returned +19.43%. Year to date, PDX is up 21.77% versus a gain of 12.74% for VOO.
Over three years, PDX compounded at +22.64% per year against +21.18% for VOO; over five years the annualized figures are +24.48% and +12.76% respectively. Across the full 8-year window we track, VOO has the edge at +16.01% annualized vs +8.02%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
PDX has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 39.3% compared with 16.3% for VOO. 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 -83.0% for PDX and -34.3% for VOO. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.61. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PDX charges 3.29% per year while VOO charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $329 vs $3 annually, a gap of $326 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PDX currently yields 19.41% against 1.08% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 7 holdings in PDX and 504 in VOO, totalling 20.8% and 99.9% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
The two holdings books were reported 273 days apart, PDX as of Sep 30, 2025 and VOO as of Jun 30, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
0 positions in common, counted across the 7 positions we hold weights for in PDX and 504 in VOO, against full books of 442 and 509.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of PDX and VOO 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, PDX or VOO?
PDX has an expense ratio of 3.29% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $326 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, PDX or VOO?
Over the past year PDX returned +11.16% vs +19.43% for VOO, so VOO leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (8 years), PDX annualized +8.02% vs +16.01% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PDX or VOO?
PDX has been the more volatile fund at 39.3% annualized versus 16.3% for VOO. Worst drawdown: PDX -83.0% vs VOO -34.3%.
Should I hold both PDX and VOO?
PDX and VOO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.61, 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, PDX or VOO?
PDX yields 19.41% while VOO yields 1.08%, so PDX currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than PDX?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. PDX led over 3Y and 5Y, VOO over 1Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.