LEMB vs. PFUIX
LEMB (iShares J.P. Morgan EM Local Currency Bond ETF) and PFUIX (PIMCO International Bond Fund (Unhedged)) are both funds - LEMB is a Emerging Markets Bonds fund tracking the J.P. Morgan GBI-EM Global 15 cap 4.5 floor, while PFUIX is a Global Bonds fund managed by PIMCO. Over the past 10 years, LEMB returned 1.06%/yr vs 0.28%/yr for PFUIX. Their 0.57 correlation means they have sometimes moved together and sometimes differently. LEMB charges 0.30%/yr vs 0.50%/yr for PFUIX.
Performance
LEMB vs. PFUIX - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, LEMB achieves a 2.43% return, which is significantly higher than PFUIX's -2.07% return. Over the past 10 years, LEMB has outperformed PFUIX with an annualized return of 1.06%, while PFUIX has yielded a comparatively lower 0.28% annualized return.
LEMB
- 1D
- -0.09%
- 1M
- 0.05%
- 6M
- 0.57%
- YTD
- 2.43%
- 1Y
- 8.50%
- 3Y*
- 5.72%
- 5Y*
- 1.30%
- 10Y*
- 1.06%
- ALL TIME*
- 0.51%
PFUIX
- 1D
- 0.94%
- 1M
- -0.53%
- 6M
- -3.35%
- YTD
- -2.07%
- 1Y
- -0.22%
- 3Y*
- 3.62%
- 5Y*
- -2.32%
- 10Y*
- 0.28%
- ALL TIME*
- 2.90%
Liquidity Comparison
| Position | Avg. Volume Value (2W) | Avg. Volume Value (1M) | Avg. Volume Value (3M) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $8.20M | $7.38M | $6.50M | |
| $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
LEMB vs. PFUIX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
LEMB iShares J.P. Morgan EM Local Currency Bond ETF | 2.43% | 18.02% | -1.72% | 7.23% | -10.74% | -9.92% | 3.10% | 6.40% | -7.49% | 12.49% |
PFUIX PIMCO International Bond Fund (Unhedged) | -2.07% | 10.90% | -1.64% | 6.42% | -19.10% | -6.08% | 12.32% | 7.09% | -3.64% | 10.82% |
Correlation
The correlation between LEMB and PFUIX is 0.74, which is moderate. They have sometimes moved together and sometimes differently, sharing some price drivers without tracking each other closely.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most. | 0.74 |
Correlation (3Y) Balances recent behavior with more history. | 0.69 |
Correlation (5Y) Shows whether the relationship held over a longer period. | 0.69 |
Correlation (10Y) Provides a long-term view across more market conditions. | 0.66 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Oct 20, 2011 | 0.57 |
The correlation between LEMB and PFUIX shifts across timeframes, from 0.57 (all time) to 0.74 (1 year), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
LEMB vs. PFUIX — Risk / Return Rank
LEMB
PFUIX
LEMB vs. PFUIX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares J.P. Morgan EM Local Currency Bond ETF (LEMB) and PIMCO International Bond Fund (Unhedged) (PFUIX). 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.
| LEMB | PFUIX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +1.28 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +1.75 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.27 | 1.03 | +0.24 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.58 | 0.17 | +1.42 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 5.07 | 0.38 | +4.69 |
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Drawdowns
LEMB vs. PFUIX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum LEMB drawdown since its inception was -30.82%, roughly equal to the maximum PFUIX drawdown of -31.90%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for LEMB and PFUIX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| LEMB | PFUIX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -30.82% | -31.90% | +1.08% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -6.00% | -6.40% | +0.40% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -8.08% | -6.81% | -1.27% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -23.89% | -29.51% | +5.62% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -29.09% | -31.90% | +2.81% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -3.70% | -14.27% | +10.57% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -12.64% | -8.02% | -4.62% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 1.87% | 2.78% | -0.91% |
Volatility
LEMB vs. PFUIX - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for iShares J.P. Morgan EM Local Currency Bond ETF (LEMB) is 1.51%, while PIMCO International Bond Fund (Unhedged) (PFUIX) has a volatility of 1.79%. This indicates that LEMB experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than PFUIX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| LEMB | PFUIX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 1.51% | 1.79% | -0.28% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 5.66% | 5.90% | -0.24% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 6.63% | 7.22% | -0.59% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 8.24% | 7.71% | +0.53% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 9.16% | 7.34% | +1.82% |
LEMB vs. PFUIX - Expense Ratio Comparison
LEMB has a 0.30% expense ratio, which is lower than PFUIX's 0.50% expense ratio.
Dividends
LEMB vs. PFUIX - Dividend Comparison
LEMB's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.38%, less than PFUIX's 3.66% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
LEMB iShares J.P. Morgan EM Local Currency Bond ETF | 2.38% | 2.44% | 0.00% | 1.34% | 0.86% | 3.89% | 0.00% | 4.39% | 3.46% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.64% |
PFUIX PIMCO International Bond Fund (Unhedged) | 3.66% | 3.98% | 4.10% | 2.98% | 2.83% | 5.07% | 1.57% | 2.28% | 4.39% | 1.41% | 1.98% | 1.94% |
Frequently Asked Questions
LEMB and PFUIX have a correlation of 0.74, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
PFUIX has higher volatility (1.79%) compared to LEMB (1.51%). In terms of maximum drawdown, LEMB dropped -30.82% vs PFUIX's -31.90%.
LEMB currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.43 vs 0.15), 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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