VABS vs. PMBS

Last updated Apr 2, 2026

Compare and contrast key facts about Virtus Newfleet ABS/MBS ETF (VABS) and PIMCO Mortgage-Backed Securities Active Exchange-Traded Fund (PMBS).

VABS and PMBS are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. VABS is an actively managed fund by Virtus Investment Partners. It was launched on Feb 9, 2021. PMBS is an actively managed fund by PIMCO. It was launched on Jul 31, 1997.

Performance

VABS vs. PMBS - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Virtus Newfleet ABS/MBS ETF (VABS) and PIMCO Mortgage-Backed Securities Active Exchange-Traded Fund (PMBS). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

VABS vs. PMBS - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024
VABS Virtus Newfleet ABS/MBS ETF	0.70%	5.40%	0.73%
PMBS PIMCO Mortgage-Backed Securities Active Exchange-Traded Fund	0.72%	8.92%	-2.75%

Returns By Period

The year-to-date returns for both investments are quite close, with VABS having a 0.70% return and PMBS slightly higher at 0.72%.

VABS

• 1D: -0.05%
• 1M: -0.39%
• YTD: 0.70%
• 6M: 1.62%
• 1Y: 4.48%
• 3Y*: 6.26%
• 5Y*: 3.20%
• 10Y*: —

PMBS

• 1D: 0.11%
• 1M: -1.31%
• YTD: 0.72%
• 6M: 2.27%
• 1Y: 5.95%
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

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

VABS vs. PMBS - Expense Ratio Comparison

VABS has a 0.39% expense ratio, which is lower than PMBS's 0.71% expense ratio.

PMBS

PIMCO Mortgage-Backed Securities Active Exchange-Traded Fund

VABS

Virtus Newfleet ABS/MBS ETF

Return for Risk

VABS vs. PMBS — Risk / Return Rank

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

VABS

VABS Risk / Return Rank: 91
VABS Sharpe Ratio Rank: 90
VABS Sortino Ratio Rank: 92
VABS Omega Ratio Rank: 93
VABS Calmar Ratio Rank: 95
VABS Martin Ratio Rank: 85

PMBS

PMBS Risk / Return Rank: 62
PMBS Sharpe Ratio Rank: 67
PMBS Sortino Ratio Rank: 66
PMBS Omega Ratio Rank: 57
PMBS Calmar Ratio Rank: 70
PMBS Martin Ratio Rank: 53

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.

VABS vs. PMBS - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Virtus Newfleet ABS/MBS ETF (VABS) and PIMCO Mortgage-Backed Securities Active Exchange-Traded Fund (PMBS). 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.

	VABS	PMBS	Difference
Sharpe ratio Return per unit of total volatility	2.03	1.26	+0.77
Sortino ratio Return per unit of downside risk	2.80	1.79	+1.02
Omega ratio Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.43	1.23	+0.20
Calmar ratio Return relative to maximum drawdown	4.13	2.08	+2.05
Martin ratio Return relative to average drawdown	10.78	6.01	+4.78
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

VABS vs. PMBS - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current VABS Sharpe Ratio is 2.03, which is higher than the PMBS Sharpe Ratio of 1.26. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of VABS and PMBS, 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

	VABS	PMBS	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	2.03	1.26	+0.77
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	1.40	—	—
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	1.37	0.89	+0.48

Correlation

The correlation between VABS and PMBS is 0.56, which is considered to be moderate. This suggests that the two assets have some degree of positive relationship in their price movements. Moderate correlation can be acceptable for portfolio diversification, offering a balance between risk and potential returns.

Dividends

VABS vs. PMBS - Dividend Comparison

VABS's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 5.21%, more than PMBS's 4.99% yield.

	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021
VABS Virtus Newfleet ABS/MBS ETF	5.21%	4.94%	5.05%	4.13%	2.47%	1.47%
PMBS PIMCO Mortgage-Backed Securities Active Exchange-Traded Fund	4.99%	4.73%	1.59%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%

Drawdowns

VABS vs. PMBS - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum VABS drawdown since its inception was -7.12%, which is greater than PMBS's maximum drawdown of -4.35%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VABS and PMBS.

Drawdown Indicators

	VABS	PMBS	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-7.12%	-4.35%	-2.77%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-1.05%	-3.04%	+1.99%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-7.12%	—	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-0.63%	-1.73%	+1.10%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-1.46%	-1.11%	-0.35%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	0.40%	1.05%	-0.65%

Volatility

VABS vs. PMBS - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for Virtus Newfleet ABS/MBS ETF (VABS) is 0.61%, while PIMCO Mortgage-Backed Securities Active Exchange-Traded Fund (PMBS) has a volatility of 1.95%. This indicates that VABS experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than PMBS based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	VABS	PMBS	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	0.61%	1.95%	-1.34%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	1.13%	2.87%	-1.74%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	2.22%	4.77%	-2.55%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	2.29%	4.93%	-2.64%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	2.27%	4.93%	-2.66%