PFL vs. BRW
PFL (PIMCO Income Strategy Fund) and BRW (Saba Capital Income & Opportunities Fund) are both Multisector Bonds funds. Both are actively managed. Over the past 5 years, PFL returned 1.28%/yr vs 6.57%/yr for BRW. At a 0.27 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.
Performance
PFL vs. BRW - Performance Comparison
Loading charts...
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, PFL achieves a -1.24% return, which is significantly lower than BRW's 2.74% return.
PFL
- 1D
- 0.26%
- 1M
- 2.22%
- 6M
- -1.71%
- YTD
- -1.24%
- 1Y
- 5.10%
- 3Y*
- 10.40%
- 5Y*
- 1.28%
- 10Y*
- 7.62%
BRW
- 1D
- -0.60%
- 1M
- 1.90%
- 6M
- 3.48%
- YTD
- 2.74%
- 1Y
- -5.38%
- 3Y*
- 10.23%
- 5Y*
- 6.57%
- 10Y*
- —
PFL vs. BRW - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PFL PIMCO Income Strategy Fund | -1.24% | 13.03% | 11.51% | 17.29% | -17.92% | -6.38% |
BRW Saba Capital Income & Opportunities Fund | 2.74% | 5.89% | 12.16% | 18.49% | -4.64% | 3.19% |
Correlation
The correlation between PFL and BRW is 0.20, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.20 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.22 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.27 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since May 5, 2021 | 0.27 |
Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs
Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.
Return for Risk
PFL vs. BRW — Risk / Return Rank
PFL
BRW
PFL vs. BRW - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for PIMCO Income Strategy Fund (PFL) and Saba Capital Income & Opportunities Fund (BRW). 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.
| PFL | BRW | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.95 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +1.26 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.12 | 0.94 | +0.18 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 0.67 | -0.30 | +0.98 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 1.87 | -0.52 | +2.39 |
Loading charts...
Drawdowns
PFL vs. BRW - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum PFL drawdown since its inception was -77.97%, which is greater than BRW's maximum drawdown of -17.74%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for PFL and BRW.
Loading charts...
Drawdown Indicators
| PFL | BRW | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -77.97% | -17.74% | -60.23% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -7.64% | -17.74% | +10.10% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -13.21% | -17.74% | +4.53% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -33.30% | -17.74% | -15.56% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -48.40% | — | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -3.13% | -9.47% | +6.34% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -10.97% | -4.05% | -6.92% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.74% | 10.39% | -7.65% |
Volatility
PFL vs. BRW - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for PIMCO Income Strategy Fund (PFL) is 2.55%, while Saba Capital Income & Opportunities Fund (BRW) has a volatility of 3.92%. This indicates that PFL experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than BRW based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
Loading charts...
Volatility by Period
| PFL | BRW | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 2.55% | 3.92% | -1.37% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 8.27% | 8.38% | -0.11% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 9.38% | 13.40% | -4.02% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 13.69% | 12.96% | +0.73% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 18.32% | 12.88% | +5.44% |
Dividends
PFL vs. BRW - Dividend Comparison
PFL's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 12.45%, less than BRW's 15.46% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BRW Saba Capital Income & Opportunities Fund | 15.46% | 14.46% | 12.27% | 16.02% | 13.82% | 4.53% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
PFL PIMCO Income Strategy Fund | 11.42% | 11.59% | 11.66% | 11.57% | 12.04% | 9.53% | 9.44% | 9.11% | 9.94% | 9.25% | 10.22% | 11.09% |
Frequently Asked Questions
PFL and BRW have a correlation of 0.20, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
BRW has higher volatility (3.92%) compared to PFL (2.55%). In terms of maximum drawdown, PFL dropped -77.97% vs BRW's -17.74%.
PFL currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (0.55 vs -0.40), 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.
Find the right allocation for PFL and BRW
Add both to a portfolio and optimize allocations for your target — whether that's maximizing returns, minimizing drawdowns, or balancing risk across holdings.
Open Portfolio Optimizer