PDX vs VTI
PIMCO Dynamic Income Strategy Fund vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, PDX or VTI?
Short Term High Quality against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. PDX led over 5Y, VTI over 1Y, 3Y 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 | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 3.29% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $1.0B | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 19.22% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 442 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | +13.97%Best | +13.60% |
| 1Y Return | +3.14% | +18.17%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +17.92% | +23.04%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +21.82%Best | +12.14% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 39.4% | 16.8%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -83.0% | -35.0%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $26,828Best | $17,734 |
| Fund Family | PIMCO (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | Short Term High Quality | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Feb 1, 2019 | May 24, 2001 |
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 25, 2026 (7.7 years).
PDX vs VTI 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 7.7 years both funds cover.
PDX vs VTI Performance
PIMCO Dynamic Income Strategy Fund (PDX) is an ETF from PIMCO (US) and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year PDX returned +3.14% while VTI returned +18.17%. Year to date, PDX is up 13.97% versus a gain of 13.60% for VTI.
Over three years, PDX compounded at +17.92% per year against +23.04% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +21.82% and +12.14% respectively. Across the full 8-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +15.37% annualized vs +7.04%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
PDX has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 39.4% compared with 16.8% for VTI. 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 -35.0% for VTI. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.62. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PDX charges 3.29% per year while VTI 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 19.22% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 7 holdings in PDX and 3,463 in VTI, totalling 20.8% and 98.1% of the two funds. That is not enough of PDX 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 304 days apart, PDX as of Sep 30, 2025 and VTI as of Jul 31, 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 7 positions we hold weights for in PDX and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 442 and 3,543.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in PDX | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| VGVenture Global Inc | 18.78% | 0.00% | 18.78% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of PDX and VTI 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 VTI?
PDX has an expense ratio of 3.29% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $326 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, PDX or VTI?
Over the past year PDX returned +3.14% vs +18.17% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (8 years), PDX annualized +7.04% vs +15.37% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PDX or VTI?
PDX has been the more volatile fund at 39.4% annualized versus 16.8% for VTI. Worst drawdown: PDX -83.0% vs VTI -35.0%.
Should I hold both PDX and VTI?
PDX and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.62, 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 VTI?
PDX yields 19.22% while VTI yields 1.03%, so PDX currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than PDX?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. PDX led over 5Y, VTI over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.