PDX vs VXUS
PIMCO Dynamic Income Strategy Fund vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, PDX or VXUS?
Short Term High Quality against Large Cap Blend.
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. PDX led over 3Y and 5Y, VXUS 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 | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 3.29% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $1.0B | $158.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 19.41% | 2.59% |
| Holdings | 442 | 8,747 |
| YTD Return | +21.55%Best | +16.15% |
| 1Y Return | +10.42% | +27.58%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +21.53%Best | +20.48% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +24.46%Best | +9.09% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 39.3% | 15.8%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -83.0% | -35.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $29,864Best | $15,450 |
| Fund Family | PIMCO (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | Short Term High Quality | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Feb 1, 2019 | Jan 26, 2011 |
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 4, 2026 (7.6 years).
PDX vs VXUS 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 VXUS Performance
PIMCO Dynamic Income Strategy Fund (PDX) is an ETF from PIMCO (US) and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year PDX returned +10.42% while VXUS returned +27.58%. Year to date, PDX is up 21.55% versus a gain of 16.15% for VXUS.
Over three years, PDX compounded at +21.53% per year against +20.48% for VXUS; over five years the annualized figures are +24.46% and +9.09% respectively. Across the full 8-year window we track, VXUS has the edge at +9.98% annualized vs +8.00%.
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 15.8% for VXUS. 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 -35.1% for VXUS. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.55. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PDX charges 3.29% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $329 vs $5 annually, a gap of $324 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PDX currently yields 19.41% against 2.59% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 7 holdings in PDX and 8,094 in VXUS, totalling 20.8% and 87.7% of the two funds. Neither is a share of a fund we can 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 273 days apart, PDX as of Sep 30, 2025 and VXUS as of Jun 30, 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 8,094 in VXUS, against full books of 442 and 8,747.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in PDX | Weight in VXUS | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| SESG:LUSes | 0.02% | 0.01% | 0.01% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of PDX and VXUS 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 VXUS?
PDX has an expense ratio of 3.29% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $324 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, PDX or VXUS?
Over the past year PDX returned +10.42% vs +27.58% for VXUS, so VXUS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (8 years), PDX annualized +8.00% vs +9.98% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PDX or VXUS?
PDX has been the more volatile fund at 39.3% annualized versus 15.8% for VXUS. Worst drawdown: PDX -83.0% vs VXUS -35.1%.
Should I hold both PDX and VXUS?
PDX and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.55, 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 VXUS?
PDX yields 19.41% while VXUS yields 2.59%, so PDX currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than PDX?
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. PDX led over 3Y and 5Y, VXUS over 1Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.