PFLEX vs. PIMIX
PFLEX (PIMCO Flexible Credit Income Fund) and PIMIX (PIMCO Income Fund Institutional Class) are both Multisector Bonds funds from PIMCO. Over the past 5 years, PFLEX returned 3.27%/yr vs 3.23%/yr for PIMIX. Their 0.60 correlation means they have sometimes moved together and sometimes differently. PFLEX charges 2.10%/yr vs 0.54%/yr for PIMIX.
Performance
PFLEX vs. PIMIX - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, PFLEX achieves a -0.66% return, which is significantly lower than PIMIX's 0.23% return.
PFLEX
- 1D
- 0.15%
- 1M
- -0.87%
- 6M
- -0.52%
- YTD
- -0.66%
- 1Y
- 0.60%
- 3Y*
- 8.70%
- 5Y*
- 3.27%
- 10Y*
- —
- ALL TIME*
- 5.01%
PIMIX
- 1D
- 0.09%
- 1M
- -1.20%
- 6M
- -0.36%
- YTD
- 0.23%
- 1Y
- 4.60%
- 3Y*
- 6.91%
- 5Y*
- 3.23%
- 10Y*
- 4.44%
- ALL TIME*
- 6.59%
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 |
PFLEX vs. PIMIX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PFLEX PIMCO Flexible Credit Income Fund | -0.66% | 7.28% | 14.00% | 10.05% | -14.68% | 11.87% | 4.29% | 10.63% | 2.86% | 4.70% |
PIMIX PIMCO Income Fund Institutional Class | 0.23% | 11.08% | 5.45% | 9.36% | -9.07% | 2.62% | 5.84% | 8.10% | 0.63% | 7.24% |
Correlation
The correlation between PFLEX and PIMIX is 0.63, 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. | 0.63 |
Correlation (3Y) Balances recent behavior with more history. | 0.59 |
Correlation (5Y) Shows whether the relationship held over a longer period. | 0.66 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Feb 23, 2017 | 0.60 |
The correlation between PFLEX and PIMIX has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.59 to 0.66 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
PFLEX vs. PIMIX — Risk / Return Rank
PFLEX
PIMIX
PFLEX vs. PIMIX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for PIMCO Flexible Credit Income Fund (PFLEX) and PIMCO Income Fund Institutional Class (PIMIX). 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.
| PFLEX | PIMIX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.99 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -1.35 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.09 | 1.27 | -0.17 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 0.41 | 1.59 | -1.18 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 1.04 | 5.07 | -4.03 |
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Drawdowns
PFLEX vs. PIMIX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum PFLEX drawdown since its inception was -24.60%, which is greater than PIMIX's maximum drawdown of -13.39%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for PFLEX and PIMIX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| PFLEX | PIMIX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -24.60% | -13.39% | -11.21% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -4.28% | -3.69% | -0.59% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -4.28% | -3.69% | -0.59% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -18.06% | -13.34% | -4.72% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | — | -13.39% | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -1.30% | -1.69% | +0.39% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -3.96% | -1.68% | -2.28% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 1.54% | 1.15% | +0.39% |
Volatility
PFLEX vs. PIMIX - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for PIMCO Flexible Credit Income Fund (PFLEX) is 0.92%, while PIMCO Income Fund Institutional Class (PIMIX) has a volatility of 1.15%. This indicates that PFLEX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than PIMIX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| PFLEX | PIMIX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 0.92% | 1.15% | -0.23% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 3.38% | 3.55% | -0.17% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 4.09% | 4.14% | -0.05% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 5.25% | 4.89% | +0.36% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 5.87% | 4.26% | +1.61% |
PFLEX vs. PIMIX - Expense Ratio Comparison
PFLEX has a 2.10% expense ratio, which is higher than PIMIX's 0.54% expense ratio.
Dividends
PFLEX vs. PIMIX - Dividend Comparison
PFLEX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 5.11%, less than PIMIX's 5.32% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PFLEX PIMCO Flexible Credit Income Fund | 5.11% | 6.59% | 9.41% | 12.77% | 14.50% | 9.06% | 8.51% | 9.86% | 10.59% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
PIMIX PIMCO Income Fund Institutional Class | 5.32% | 6.01% | 6.27% | 6.21% | 4.98% | 4.02% | 4.88% | 5.83% | 5.66% | 5.37% | 5.52% | 7.88% |
Frequently Asked Questions
PFLEX and PIMIX have a correlation of 0.63, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
PIMIX has higher volatility (1.15%) compared to PFLEX (0.92%). In terms of maximum drawdown, PFLEX dropped -24.60% vs PIMIX's -13.39%.
PIMIX currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.42 vs 0.43), 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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