PFL vs VTI
PIMCO Income Strategy Fund vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, PFL or VTI?
Diversified Sectoral Bond against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI 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 | PFL | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.37% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $381M | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 13.06% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 401 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | -11.10% | +13.10%Best |
| 1Y Return | -8.82% | +17.01%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +8.77% | +22.26%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +0.84% | +11.98%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 19.8% | 15.0%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -82.2% | -56.6%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $10,427 | $17,608Best |
| Fund Family | PIMCO (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | Diversified Sectoral Bond | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Aug 26, 2003 | May 24, 2001 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Aug 27, 2003 to Sep 24, 2026 (23.1 years).
PFL 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 is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.
PFL vs VTI Performance
PIMCO Income Strategy Fund (PFL) is an ETF from PIMCO (US) and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year PFL returned -8.82% while VTI returned +17.01%. Year to date, PFL is down 11.10% versus a gain of 13.10% for VTI.
Over three years, PFL compounded at +8.77% per year against +22.26% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +0.84% and +11.98% respectively. Across the full 23-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +9.74% annualized vs -1.90%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
PFL has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.8% compared with 15.0% 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 -82.2% for PFL and -56.6% 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 0.56. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PFL charges 1.37% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $137 vs $3 annually, a gap of $134 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PFL currently yields 13.06% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 21 holdings in PFL and 3,463 in VTI, totalling 7.1% and 98.1% of the two funds. That is not enough of PFL to divide by, so no overlap percentage is shown here. Within what we can see, 5 positions appear in both.
The two holdings books were reported 304 days apart, PFL 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.
5 positions in common, counted across the 21 positions we hold weights for in PFL and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 401 and 3,543.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of PFL 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, PFL or VTI?
PFL has an expense ratio of 1.37% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $134 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, PFL or VTI?
Over the past year PFL returned -8.82% vs +17.01% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (23 years), PFL annualized -1.90% vs +9.74% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PFL or VTI?
PFL has been the more volatile fund at 19.8% annualized versus 15.0% for VTI. Worst drawdown: PFL -82.2% vs VTI -56.6%.
Should I hold both PFL and VTI?
PFL and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.56, 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, PFL or VTI?
PFL yields 13.06% while VTI yields 1.03%, so PFL currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than PFL?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI 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.