SDFI vs. CMDT

Last updated Jun 4, 2026

SDFI (AB Short Duration Income ETF) and CMDT (PIMCO Commodity Strategy Active Exchange-Traded Fund) are both exchange-traded funds - SDFI is a Short-Term Bond fund tracking the Actively Managed, while CMDT is a Commodities fund tracking the Bloomberg Roll Select Commodity Total Return Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past year, SDFI returned 4.51% vs 35.85% for CMDT. At a correlation of -0.12, they often move in opposite directions. SDFI charges 0.30%/yr vs 0.65%/yr for CMDT.

Performance

SDFI vs. CMDT - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in AB Short Duration Income ETF (SDFI) and PIMCO Commodity Strategy Active Exchange-Traded Fund (CMDT). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, SDFI achieves a 0.86% return, which is significantly lower than CMDT's 23.96% return.

SDFI

• 1D: -0.06%
• 1M: 0.12%
• YTD: 0.86%
• 6M: 1.12%
• 1Y: 4.51%
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

CMDT

• 1D: -0.03%
• 1M: -0.63%
• YTD: 23.96%
• 6M: 24.09%
• 1Y: 35.85%
• 3Y*: 16.90%
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

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

SDFI vs. CMDT - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024
SDFI AB Short Duration Income ETF	0.86%	6.39%	3.71%
CMDT PIMCO Commodity Strategy Active Exchange-Traded Fund	23.96%	12.78%	0.29%

Correlation

The correlation between SDFI and CMDT is -0.29, meaning they tend to move in opposite directions. This is especially valuable for risk management - when one declines, the other has historically tended to hold steady or rise.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	-0.29
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jun 11, 2024	-0.12

The correlation between SDFI and CMDT shifts across timeframes, from -0.29 (1 year) to -0.12 (all time), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.

SDFI vs. CMDT - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors	SDFI	CMDT
Energy	100.0%	-
Basic Materials	-	-
Communication Services	-	-
Consumer Cyclical	-	-
Consumer Defensive	-	-
Financial Services	-	100.0%
Healthcare	-	-
Industrials	-	-
Real Estate	-	-
Technology	-	-
Utilities	-	-

Return for Risk

SDFI vs. CMDT — Risk / Return Rank

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

SDFI

SDFI Risk / Return Rank: 74
SDFI Sharpe Ratio Rank: 67
SDFI Sortino Ratio Rank: 74
SDFI Omega Ratio Rank: 74
SDFI Calmar Ratio Rank: 76
SDFI Martin Ratio Rank: 80

CMDT

CMDT Risk / Return Rank: 88
CMDT Sharpe Ratio Rank: 87
CMDT Sortino Ratio Rank: 86
CMDT Omega Ratio Rank: 83
CMDT Calmar Ratio Rank: 95
CMDT Martin Ratio Rank: 91

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.

SDFI vs. CMDT - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for AB Short Duration Income ETF (SDFI) and PIMCO Commodity Strategy Active Exchange-Traded Fund (CMDT). 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.

	SDFI	CMDT	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	2.17	2.92	-0.75
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	3.27	3.92	-0.65
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.43	1.50	-0.07
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	3.77	8.03	-4.26
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	15.42	22.12	-6.70
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

SDFI vs. CMDT - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current SDFI Sharpe Ratio is 2.17, which is comparable to the CMDT Sharpe Ratio of 2.92. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of SDFI and CMDT, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	SDFI	CMDT	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	2.17	2.92	-0.75
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	2.25	1.32	+0.93

Drawdowns

SDFI vs. CMDT - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum SDFI drawdown since its inception was -1.21%, smaller than the maximum CMDT drawdown of -9.69%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for SDFI and CMDT.

Drawdown Indicators

	SDFI	CMDT	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-1.21%	-9.69%	+8.48%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-1.20%	-4.49%	+3.29%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	—	-9.69%	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-0.17%	-2.86%	+2.69%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-0.22%	-2.69%	+2.47%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	0.29%	1.63%	-1.34%

Volatility

SDFI vs. CMDT - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for AB Short Duration Income ETF (SDFI) is 0.52%, while PIMCO Commodity Strategy Active Exchange-Traded Fund (CMDT) has a volatility of 4.33%. This indicates that SDFI experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than CMDT based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	SDFI	CMDT	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	0.52%	4.33%	-3.81%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	1.33%	10.30%	-8.97%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	2.09%	12.35%	-10.26%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	2.48%	12.21%	-9.73%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	2.48%	12.21%	-9.73%

SDFI vs. CMDT - Expense Ratio Comparison

SDFI has a 0.30% expense ratio, which is lower than CMDT's 0.65% expense ratio.

Dividends

SDFI vs. CMDT - Dividend Comparison

SDFI's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.61%, more than CMDT's 2.44% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023
CMDT PIMCO Commodity Strategy Active Exchange-Traded Fund	2.44%	3.04%	8.80%	2.71%
SDFI AB Short Duration Income ETF	4.61%	4.66%	3.11%	0.00%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both SDFI and CMDT in my portfolio?

SDFI and CMDT have a correlation of -0.29, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, SDFI or CMDT?

CMDT has higher volatility (4.33%) compared to SDFI (0.52%). In terms of maximum drawdown, SDFI dropped -1.21% vs CMDT's -9.69%.

Which ETF is better, SDFI or CMDT?

On 1-year performance, CMDT leads with 35.85% vs 4.51% for SDFI. On fees, SDFI is cheaper at 0.30% per year. On volatility, SDFI has been the lower-risk option at 0.52%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF has performed better, SDFI or CMDT?

Over the 1-year period, CMDT has performed better with a 35.85% return vs 4.51%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

Which ETF is cheaper, SDFI or CMDT?

SDFI is cheaper with a 0.30% expense ratio, compared with 0.65% for CMDT.

Which ETF pays a higher dividend yield, SDFI or CMDT?

SDFI has the higher dividend yield at 4.61%, compared with 2.44% for CMDT.

What is the main difference between SDFI and CMDT?

SDFI is categorized as Short-Term Bond, while CMDT is Commodities. SDFI tracks Actively Managed, while CMDT tracks Bloomberg Roll Select Commodity Total Return Index. They also come from different issuers: AllianceBernstein and PIMCO. Their fees differ too: 0.30% for SDFI and 0.65% for CMDT.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

CMDT currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.92 vs 2.17), 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.