PFN vs VXUS
PIMCO Income Strategy Fund II vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, PFN or VXUS?
Diversified Sectoral Bond against Large Cap Blend.
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. VXUS 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 | PFN | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.29% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $686M | $158.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 12.61% | 2.51% |
| Holdings | 513 | 8,747 |
| YTD Return | -8.68% | +12.88%Best |
| 1Y Return | -6.77% | +19.97%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +10.63% | +20.14%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +1.65% | +8.87%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 13.5%Best | 15.0% |
| Max Drawdown | -50.3% | -39.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $10,853 | $15,295Best |
| Fund Family | PIMCO (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | Diversified Sectoral Bond | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Oct 29, 2004 | Jan 26, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 28, 2011 to Sep 23, 2026 (15.7 years).
PFN 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 15.7 years both funds cover.
PFN vs VXUS Performance
PIMCO Income Strategy Fund II (PFN) is an ETF from PIMCO (US) and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year PFN returned -6.77% while VXUS returned +19.97%. Year to date, PFN is down 8.68% versus a gain of 12.88% for VXUS.
Over three years, PFN compounded at +10.63% per year against +20.14% for VXUS; over five years the annualized figures are +1.65% and +8.87% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, VXUS has the edge at +4.72% annualized vs +0.84%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VXUS has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.0% compared with 13.5% for PFN. 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 -50.3% for PFN and -39.9% 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 0.70. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PFN charges 1.29% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $129 vs $5 annually, a gap of $124 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PFN currently yields 12.61% against 2.51% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 23 holdings in PFN and 8,082 in VXUS, totalling 9.7% and 88.8% 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, 2 positions appear in both.
The two holdings books were reported 304 days apart, PFN as of Sep 30, 2025 and VXUS as of Jul 31, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
2 positions in common, counted across the 23 positions we hold weights for in PFN and 8,082 in VXUS, against full books of 513 and 8,747.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of PFN 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, PFN or VXUS?
PFN has an expense ratio of 1.29% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $124 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, PFN or VXUS?
Over the past year PFN returned -6.77% vs +19.97% for VXUS, so VXUS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), PFN annualized +0.84% vs +4.72% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PFN or VXUS?
VXUS has been the more volatile fund at 15.0% annualized versus 13.5% for PFN. Worst drawdown: PFN -50.3% vs VXUS -39.9%.
Should I hold both PFN and VXUS?
PFN and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.70, 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, PFN or VXUS?
PFN yields 12.61% while VXUS yields 2.51%, so PFN currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than PFN?
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. VXUS 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.