PMBS vs VXUS
PIMCO Mortgage-Backed Securities Active Exchange-Traded Fund vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, PMBS or VXUS?
Long Term Government Bond against Large Cap Blend.
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. VXUS led 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 | PMBS | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.71% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $1.4B | $158.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 4.98% | 2.51% |
| Holdings | 1,126 | 8,747 |
| YTD Return | -1.30% | +14.48%Best |
| 1Y Return | +0.01% | +22.28%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +20.00% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +8.91% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 4.7%Best | 12.0% |
| Max Drawdown | -3.8%Best | -13.6% |
| $10,000 over 2 years | $10,826 | $14,624Best |
| Fund Family | PIMCO (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | Long Term Government Bond | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Sep 20, 2024 | Jan 26, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 23, 2024 to Sep 11, 2026 (2 years).
PMBS 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 2 years both funds cover.
PMBS vs VXUS Performance
PIMCO Mortgage-Backed Securities Active Exchange-Traded Fund (PMBS) is an ETF from PIMCO (US) and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year PMBS returned +0.01% while VXUS returned +22.28%. Year to date, PMBS is down 1.30% versus a gain of 14.48% for VXUS.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VXUS has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 12.0% compared with 4.7% for PMBS. 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 -3.8% for PMBS and -13.6% 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 0.60. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PMBS charges 0.71% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $71 vs $5 annually, a gap of $66 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PMBS currently yields 4.98% against 2.51% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 137 holdings in PMBS and 8,091 in VXUS, totalling 70.2% and 87.7% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 137 positions we hold weights for in PMBS and 8,091 in VXUS, against full books of 1,126 and 8,747.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of PMBS 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, PMBS or VXUS?
PMBS has an expense ratio of 0.71% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $66 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, PMBS or VXUS?
Over the past year PMBS returned +0.01% vs +22.28% for VXUS, so VXUS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), PMBS annualized +4.05% vs +20.93% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PMBS or VXUS?
VXUS has been the more volatile fund at 12.0% annualized versus 4.7% for PMBS. Worst drawdown: PMBS -3.8% vs VXUS -13.6%.
Should I hold both PMBS and VXUS?
PMBS and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.60, 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, PMBS or VXUS?
PMBS yields 4.98% while VXUS yields 2.51%, so PMBS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than PMBS?
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. VXUS led over 1Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.