DSU vs. PDI
DSU (BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund, Inc.) is Bank Loan fund managed by BlackRock, while PDI (PIMCO Dynamic Income Fund) is a stock. Over the past 10 years, DSU returned 7.50%/yr vs 6.50%/yr for PDI. Their 0.34 correlation means their historical movements had little consistent relationship.
Performance
DSU vs. PDI - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, DSU achieves a -0.43% return, which is significantly higher than PDI's -1.83% return. Over the past 10 years, DSU has outperformed PDI with an annualized return of 7.50%, while PDI has yielded a comparatively lower 6.50% annualized return.
DSU
- 1D
- 0.32%
- 1M
- -1.68%
- 6M
- -1.38%
- YTD
- -0.43%
- 1Y
- 0.57%
- 3Y*
- 9.87%
- 5Y*
- 6.68%
- 10Y*
- 7.50%
- ALL TIME*
- 5.01%
PDI
- 1D
- -0.50%
- 1M
- -3.40%
- 6M
- -6.40%
- YTD
- -1.83%
- 1Y
- -4.11%
- 3Y*
- 7.98%
- 5Y*
- 2.17%
- 10Y*
- 6.50%
- ALL TIME*
- 9.81%
Liquidity Comparison
| Position | Avg. Volume Value (2W) | Avg. Volume Value (1M) | Avg. Volume Value (3M) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $3.16M | $3.62M | $3.24M | |
| $44.75M | $42.43M | $45.64M |
DSU vs. PDI - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
DSU BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund, Inc. | -0.43% | 5.97% | 11.13% | 30.34% | -15.51% | 19.36% | 1.60% | 23.84% | -10.04% | 10.68% |
PDI PIMCO Dynamic Income Fund | -1.83% | 11.03% | 17.18% | 11.99% | -16.99% | 7.81% | -9.96% | 22.23% | 7.35% | 18.59% |
Correlation
The correlation between DSU and PDI is 0.32, which is low. Their historical price movements had little consistent relationship.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most. | 0.32 |
Correlation (3Y) Balances recent behavior with more history. | 0.30 |
Correlation (5Y) Shows whether the relationship held over a longer period. | 0.38 |
Correlation (10Y) Provides a long-term view across more market conditions. | 0.37 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since May 25, 2012 | 0.34 |
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Return for Risk
DSU vs. PDI — Risk / Return Rank
DSU
PDI
DSU vs. PDI - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund, Inc. (DSU) and PIMCO Dynamic Income Fund (PDI). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.
Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.
| DSU | PDI | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.42 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.55 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.02 | 0.94 | +0.08 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 0.08 | -0.38 | +0.46 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 0.27 | -0.71 | +0.98 |
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Drawdowns
DSU vs. PDI - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum DSU drawdown since its inception was -72.03%, which is greater than PDI's maximum drawdown of -46.47%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for DSU and PDI.
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Drawdown Indicators
| DSU | PDI | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -72.03% | -46.47% | -25.56% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -7.21% | -10.95% | +3.74% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -14.59% | -17.55% | +2.96% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -24.23% | -27.19% | +2.96% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -45.36% | -46.47% | +1.11% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -2.88% | -9.50% | +6.62% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -11.55% | -6.23% | -5.32% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.11% | 5.81% | -3.70% |
Volatility
DSU vs. PDI - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund, Inc. (DSU) is 2.03%, while PIMCO Dynamic Income Fund (PDI) has a volatility of 3.07%. This indicates that DSU experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than PDI based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| DSU | PDI | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 2.03% | 3.07% | -1.04% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 6.46% | 8.90% | -2.44% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 8.33% | 11.86% | -3.53% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 11.73% | 15.59% | -3.86% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 15.90% | 19.06% | -3.16% |
Dividends
DSU vs. PDI - Dividend Comparison
DSU's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 12.54%, less than PDI's 16.62% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
DSU BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund, Inc. | 12.54% | 11.64% | 11.01% | 9.70% | 7.56% | 6.21% | 7.96% | 7.43% | 8.41% | 6.98% | 6.60% | 8.07% |
PDI PIMCO Dynamic Income Fund | 16.62% | 14.94% | 14.43% | 14.74% | 17.84% | 10.21% | 10.01% | 9.45% | 10.78% | 8.81% | 14.79% | 18.70% |
Frequently Asked Questions
DSU and PDI have a correlation of 0.32, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
PDI has higher volatility (3.07%) compared to DSU (2.03%). In terms of maximum drawdown, DSU dropped -72.03% vs PDI's -46.47%.
DSU currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (0.07 vs -0.35), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.
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