PABFX vs. PBSMX

Last updated Apr 2, 2026

Compare and contrast key facts about PGIM Balanced Fund (PABFX) and PGIM Short-Term Corporate Bond Fund (PBSMX).

PABFX is managed by PGIM. It was launched on Jan 3, 1993. PBSMX is managed by PGIM. It was launched on Sep 1, 1989.

Performance

PABFX vs. PBSMX - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in PGIM Balanced Fund (PABFX) and PGIM Short-Term Corporate Bond Fund (PBSMX). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

PABFX vs. PBSMX - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
PABFX PGIM Balanced Fund	-1.40%	15.83%	19.80%	17.08%	-16.07%	14.68%	9.12%	21.77%	-5.16%	14.36%
PBSMX PGIM Short-Term Corporate Bond Fund	-0.30%	6.41%	4.25%	5.98%	-7.06%	-0.71%	5.16%	6.47%	0.35%	1.86%

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, PABFX achieves a -1.40% return, which is significantly lower than PBSMX's -0.30% return. Over the past 10 years, PABFX has outperformed PBSMX with an annualized return of 8.95%, while PBSMX has yielded a comparatively lower 2.25% annualized return.

PABFX

• 1D: 1.97%
• 1M: -4.15%
• YTD: -1.40%
• 6M: 1.12%
• 1Y: 15.23%
• 3Y*: 15.10%
• 5Y*: 7.97%
• 10Y*: 8.95%

PBSMX

• 1D: 0.19%
• 1M: -1.01%
• YTD: -0.30%
• 6M: 0.75%
• 1Y: 4.13%
• 3Y*: 4.73%
• 5Y*: 1.73%
• 10Y*: 2.25%

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

PABFX vs. PBSMX - Expense Ratio Comparison

PABFX has a 0.78% expense ratio, which is higher than PBSMX's 0.71% expense ratio.

PABFX

PGIM Balanced Fund

PBSMX

PGIM Short-Term Corporate Bond Fund

Return for Risk

PABFX vs. PBSMX — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.

PABFX

PABFX Risk / Return Rank: 76
PABFX Sharpe Ratio Rank: 73
PABFX Sortino Ratio Rank: 75
PABFX Omega Ratio Rank: 74
PABFX Calmar Ratio Rank: 76
PABFX Martin Ratio Rank: 80

PBSMX

PBSMX Risk / Return Rank: 90
PBSMX Sharpe Ratio Rank: 89
PBSMX Sortino Ratio Rank: 93
PBSMX Omega Ratio Rank: 89
PBSMX Calmar Ratio Rank: 91
PBSMX Martin Ratio Rank: 90

The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

PABFX vs. PBSMX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for PGIM Balanced Fund (PABFX) and PGIM Short-Term Corporate Bond Fund (PBSMX). 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.

	PABFX	PBSMX	Difference
Sharpe ratio Return per unit of total volatility	1.40	1.84	-0.44
Sortino ratio Return per unit of downside risk	2.01	2.88	-0.86
Omega ratio Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.30	1.40	-0.10
Calmar ratio Return relative to maximum drawdown	1.95	2.76	-0.81
Martin ratio Return relative to average drawdown	8.67	10.65	-1.97
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

PABFX vs. PBSMX - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current PABFX Sharpe Ratio is 1.40, which is comparable to the PBSMX Sharpe Ratio of 1.84. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of PABFX and PBSMX, offering insights into how both investments have performed under varying market conditions. These values are calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	PABFX	PBSMX	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	1.40	1.84	-0.44
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.67	0.61	+0.06
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.78	0.86	-0.09
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.67	1.60	-0.93

Correlation

The correlation between PABFX and PBSMX is 0.05, which is considered to be low. This implies their price changes are not closely related. A low correlation is generally favorable for portfolio diversification, as it helps to reduce overall risk by spreading it across multiple assets with different performance patterns.

Dividends

PABFX vs. PBSMX - Dividend Comparison

PABFX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 9.65%, more than PBSMX's 3.50% yield.

	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
PABFX PGIM Balanced Fund	9.65%	9.57%	13.25%	2.35%	2.09%	12.40%	1.66%	5.18%	7.55%	5.78%	4.79%	8.06%
PBSMX PGIM Short-Term Corporate Bond Fund	3.50%	3.74%	3.00%	2.65%	2.02%	1.79%	2.22%	2.57%	2.57%	2.40%	2.40%	2.56%

Drawdowns

PABFX vs. PBSMX - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum PABFX drawdown since its inception was -40.90%, which is greater than PBSMX's maximum drawdown of -10.70%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for PABFX and PBSMX.

Drawdown Indicators

	PABFX	PBSMX	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-40.90%	-10.70%	-30.20%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-8.13%	-1.65%	-6.48%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-21.24%	-10.70%	-10.54%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-26.46%	-10.70%	-15.76%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-4.90%	-1.29%	-3.61%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-4.80%	-0.88%	-3.92%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	1.82%	0.43%	+1.39%

Volatility

PABFX vs. PBSMX - Volatility Comparison

PGIM Balanced Fund (PABFX) has a higher volatility of 4.19% compared to PGIM Short-Term Corporate Bond Fund (PBSMX) at 0.67%. This indicates that PABFX's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than PBSMX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	PABFX	PBSMX	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	4.19%	0.67%	+3.52%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	6.54%	1.33%	+5.21%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	11.24%	2.29%	+8.95%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	11.93%	2.86%	+9.07%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	11.57%	2.62%	+8.95%