PFIAX vs. PTTRX
PFIAX (PIMCO Low Duration Income Fund Class A) and PTTRX (PIMCO Total Return Fund Institutional Class) are both mutual funds - PFIAX is a Short-Term Bond fund actively managed by PIMCO, while PTTRX is a Intermediate Core-Plus Bond fund actively managed by PIMCO. Both are actively managed. Over the past 10 years, PFIAX returned 4.06%/yr vs 2.02%/yr for PTTRX. At a 0.13 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. PFIAX charges 0.93%/yr vs 0.53%/yr for PTTRX.
Performance
PFIAX vs. PTTRX - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, PFIAX achieves a 0.68% return, which is significantly higher than PTTRX's -0.80% return. Over the past 10 years, PFIAX has outperformed PTTRX with an annualized return of 4.06%, while PTTRX has yielded a comparatively lower 2.02% annualized return.
PFIAX
- 1D
- -0.24%
- 1M
- -0.73%
- 6M
- 0.56%
- YTD
- 0.68%
- 1Y
- 5.07%
- 3Y*
- 6.37%
- 5Y*
- 3.54%
- 10Y*
- 4.06%
- ALL TIME*
- 1.05%
PTTRX
- 1D
- -0.35%
- 1M
- -1.77%
- 6M
- -0.91%
- YTD
- -0.80%
- 1Y
- 4.43%
- 3Y*
- 4.94%
- 5Y*
- 0.15%
- 10Y*
- 2.02%
- ALL TIME*
- 5.52%
Liquidity Comparison
| Position | Avg. Volume Value (2W) | Avg. Volume Value (1M) | Avg. Volume Value (3M) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
| $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
PFIAX vs. PTTRX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PFIAX PIMCO Low Duration Income Fund Class A | 0.68% | 9.13% | 6.11% | 7.29% | -5.60% | 1.96% | 4.39% | 6.28% | 1.16% | 5.63% |
PTTRX PIMCO Total Return Fund Institutional Class | -0.80% | 9.35% | 2.62% | 6.33% | -14.72% | -0.59% | 8.88% | 8.36% | -0.24% | 5.13% |
Correlation
The correlation between PFIAX and PTTRX is 0.79, which is moderate. They share some common price drivers but move independently often enough to provide real diversification benefit when combined.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.79 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.80 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.70 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.52 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Mar 7, 2005 | 0.13 |
Over the past year, PFIAX and PTTRX have become more correlated (0.79) than their long-term average of 0.13, meaning their price movements have been converging.
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Return for Risk
PFIAX vs. PTTRX — Risk / Return Rank
PFIAX
PTTRX
PFIAX vs. PTTRX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for PIMCO Low Duration Income Fund Class A (PFIAX) and PIMCO Total Return Fund Institutional Class (PTTRX). 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.
| PFIAX | PTTRX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.93 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +1.57 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.42 | 1.18 | +0.25 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.37 | 1.21 | +1.16 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 9.66 | 3.34 | +6.33 |
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Drawdowns
PFIAX vs. PTTRX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum PFIAX drawdown since its inception was -36.19%, which is greater than PTTRX's maximum drawdown of -19.28%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for PFIAX and PTTRX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| PFIAX | PTTRX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -36.19% | -19.28% | -16.91% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -2.16% | -3.69% | +1.53% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -2.30% | -5.81% | +3.51% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -9.04% | -19.28% | +10.24% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -11.75% | -19.28% | +7.53% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -1.09% | -2.90% | +1.81% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -10.05% | -2.19% | -7.86% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.53% | 1.34% | -0.81% |
Volatility
PFIAX vs. PTTRX - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for PIMCO Low Duration Income Fund Class A (PFIAX) is 0.70%, while PIMCO Total Return Fund Institutional Class (PTTRX) has a volatility of 1.25%. This indicates that PFIAX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than PTTRX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| PFIAX | PTTRX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 0.70% | 1.25% | -0.55% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 2.18% | 3.73% | -1.55% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 2.68% | 4.59% | -1.91% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 3.14% | 6.29% | -3.15% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 3.08% | 5.24% | -2.16% |
PFIAX vs. PTTRX - Expense Ratio Comparison
PFIAX has a 0.93% expense ratio, which is higher than PTTRX's 0.53% expense ratio.
Dividends
PFIAX vs. PTTRX - Dividend Comparison
PFIAX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.86%, more than PTTRX's 4.67% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PFIAX PIMCO Low Duration Income Fund Class A | 4.86% | 5.09% | 4.93% | 4.53% | 5.01% | 2.65% | 3.03% | 4.33% | 2.82% | 2.74% | 3.37% | 4.55% |
PTTRX PIMCO Total Return Fund Institutional Class | 4.67% | 4.47% | 4.61% | 3.81% | 3.63% | 2.59% | 6.11% | 3.96% | 3.13% | 2.63% | 3.02% | 6.64% |
Frequently Asked Questions
PFIAX and PTTRX have a correlation of 0.79, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
PTTRX has higher volatility (1.25%) compared to PFIAX (0.70%). In terms of maximum drawdown, PFIAX dropped -36.19% vs PTTRX's -19.28%.
PFIAX currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.91 vs 0.98), 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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