PDI Review: PIMCO Dynamic Income Fund - US
PIMCO Dynamic Income Fund - US (PDI) is a bond fund listed on the NYSE/NASDAQ. Below is our independent review using the Dependable Income Investing 13-factor scoring system, covering Fund Attributes, Risk, and Return — designed specifically for income-focused investors.
Fund Attributes 20% of overall score
Fund Attributes cover the foundational characteristics of PDI: cost, company backing, track record, and size. These factors reflect the fund's stability and cost-efficiency.
Expense Ratio (25%)
Expense ratio is 1.84% base. Total expense ratio including leverage interest expense is approximately 6.13%. This is high.
Fund Company Size (5%)
PIMCO manages approximately $1.95 trillion in assets - one of the world's largest fixed income asset managers.
Fund History (40%)
Fund inception date was May 30th 2012 - approximately 13.8 years of history as of review date.
Fund AUM (30%)
Approximately $7.73 Billion in net assets as of March 4 2026. A large closed-end fund - though down from approximately $9 Billion at the time of the previous review.
Risk 35% of overall score
Risk factors evaluate how PDI manages volatility, diversification, and the nature of its underlying assets. These are critical for income investors who prioritise capital preservation.
Volatility
Lower volatility may indicate more stability — important for investors living off their income.
Beta is 0.78 vs SPY (2016-03-11 to 2026-03-06) which is lower than the overall market.
Sector Diversification
Holding across more sectors reduces the impact of any single industry downturn.
Geographic Diversification
Exposure across geographies can reduce risk from any single country's economic conditions.
Fund Risk
The fund's overall risk profile, based on self-reported classifications where available.
Underlying Assets
What the fund actually holds — stocks, bonds, synthetics, or other funds — affects risk profile significantly.
See our full Risk analysis for PDI — including analyst notes on volatility, diversification, and underlying assets.
View Plans →Return 45% of overall score
Return factors assess the income generation quality of PDI: current yield, distribution consistency, price history, and payment frequency. This is the most heavily weighted category for income investors.
Yield
The current dividend yield, reflecting the annual income generated relative to fund price.
Yield Stability
How consistent the distribution amounts have been over time — critical for income investors who budget around payments.
Capital History
The fund's track record of price appreciation or depreciation, reflecting total return alongside income.
Distribution Frequency
How often the fund pays distributions — monthly payments are generally preferred by income investors.
Monthly distributions.
See our full Return analysis for PDI — yield rating, distribution consistency score, and capital history.
View Plans →Our Review Methodology
Every fund reviewed on Dependable Income Investing is scored using our 13-factor Fund Report Card, organised into three weighted categories: Fund Attributes (20%), Risk (35%), and Return (45%). Each criterion is rated 1–5 by our analysts based on publicly available fund data.
We also calculate a Dependability Score — a weighted composite of six income-specific factors ranked by importance for retirement income investors: Yield Stability, Yield, Volatility, Capital History, Fund Risk, and Underlying Assets. This score is designed to answer the question income investors care about most: can I depend on this fund to pay me reliably?
Full scores, ratings, and analyst notes are available in the Dependable Income Investing app.
See our full scoring methodology →
Frequently Asked Questions About PDI
What is PDI's expense ratio?
Expense ratio is 1.84% base. Total expense ratio including leverage interest expense is approximately 6.13%. This is high.
How long has PDI been trading?
Fund inception date was May 30th 2012 - approximately 13.8 years of history as of review date.
How large is PDI by assets under management?
Approximately $7.73 Billion in net assets as of March 4 2026. A large closed-end fund - though down from approximately $9 Billion at the time of the previous review.
Who manages PDI?
PIMCO manages approximately $1.95 trillion in assets - one of the world's largest fixed income asset managers.
Where can I see the full PDI review?
The complete 13-factor review — including all Risk and Return scores, analyst notes, and your Dependability Score — is available in the Dependable Income Investing app.
Does PDI pay monthly dividends?
Monthly distributions. Full distribution history and yield stability score are available in the Dependable Income Investing app.
Is PDI a high-volatility fund?
Beta is 0.78 vs SPY (2016-03-11 to 2026-03-06) which is lower than the overall market. See the full volatility score and risk analysis in the Dependable Income Investing app.
How often does PDI pay distributions?
Monthly distributions. Distribution consistency and yield stability ratings are available in the app.
See the Full PDI Review
The Dependable Income Investing app gives you the complete picture: all 13 scoring factors, analyst notes, Dependability Score, and tools to compare PDI against other income funds side by side.
View Plans →Also available: free fund comparison tools in the app.