A side-by-side comparison of PIMCO Mortgage-Backed Securities Active Exchange-Traded Fund (PMBS) and BlackRock AAA CLO ETF (CLOA) to help Canadian investors make an informed decision.
1-Year Performance
Normalised to 100 at the start — shows relative return over the trailing 12 months.
Head-to-Head Comparison
| Metric | PMBS | CLOA |
|---|---|---|
| YTD Return | -3.00% | +1.08%✓ |
| 1-Day Change | -0.90% | -0.02%✓ |
| 1-Week Change | -0.17% | -0.05%✓ |
| 1-Month Change | +1.99%✓ | -0.01% |
| Current Price | $47.18 | $51.80 |
| AUM | $1.45B | $2.81B✓ |
| MER (Expense Ratio) | 72.31% | 0.19%✓ |
| Dividend Yield | 4.78%✓ | 4.77% |
| Distribution Frequency | — | — |
| Inception Date | 1997-07-31 | 2023-01-10 |
| Holdings Count | 1 | 1 |
| MorningStar Rating | — | — |
| Category | Mortgage-Backed & Securitized Bonds | Mortgage-Backed & Securitized Bonds |
| Beta | 1.14 | 0.02 |
| 52-Week High | $49.18 | $51.97 |
| 52-Week Low | $45.53 | $49.41 |
| 50-Day MA | $47.09 | $51.87 |
| 200-Day MA | $48.84 | $51.85 |
✓ marks the better value for return/yield/AUM metrics. Lower ✓ for MER.
Annualised Returns
| Period | PMBS | CLOA |
|---|---|---|
| YTD | -3.00% | +1.08%✓ |
| 1 Year | +0.40% | +4.88%✓ |
| 3 Year | +6.14% | +6.45%✓ |
| 5 Year | +0.46% | — |
| 10 Year | +1.88% | — |
| 1Y Volatility | 6.63% | 0.41% |
| Sharpe Ratio (3Y) | 0.34 | 2.76 |
Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.
Sector Weights
| Sector | PMBS | CLOA |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Materials | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Communication Services | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Consumer Cyclicals | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Consumer Defensive | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Energy | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Financial Services | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Healthcare | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Industrials | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Real Estate | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Technology | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Utilities | 0.00% | 0.00% |
About PMBS
The fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing under normal circumstances at least 80% of its assets in a diversified portfolio of mortgage-related fixed income instruments of varying maturities, which may be represented by forwards or derivatives such as options, futures contracts or swap agreements.
About CLOA
The fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its assets in U.S. dollar-denominated CLOs that are, at the time of purchase, rated AAA (or equivalent) by at least one of the major rating agencies or, if unrated, determined by the fund management team to be of similar quality. The fund may invest in CLOs of any maturity.
Which ETF is Right for You?
Both PMBS and CLOA are listed on Canadian exchanges and accessible through most Canadian brokerages including Questrade, Wealthsimple Trade, TD Direct, and Interactive Brokers.
Based on the available data, CLOA scores higher across our tracked metrics including YTD performance, dividend yield, and AUM — though both ETFs warrant individual research before investing.
- Consider your account type (TFSA, RRSP, non-registered) as it can affect dividend taxation.
- Compare management expense ratios (MER) directly on each provider's website.
- Look at average daily trading volume to assess liquidity.
- Review the fund's underlying index and holdings to ensure the exposure matches your goals.
This is not financial advice. Always do your own research or consult a licensed financial advisor before investing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between PMBS and CLOA?
PMBS (PIMCO Mortgage-Backed Securities Active Exchange-Traded Fund) and CLOA (BlackRock AAA CLO ETF) are both Canadian-listed ETFs. Key differences include their AUM ($1.45B vs $2.81B), dividend yield (4.78% vs 4.77%), and year-to-date performance (-3.00% vs +1.08%).
Is PMBS better than CLOA?
There is no single "better" ETF — it depends on your investment goals. If you prioritise dividends, compare both yields and choose based on your income needs. Always review the fund's prospectus and consider your tax situation.
Can I buy PMBS and CLOA on Wealthsimple?
Most Canadian-listed ETFs are available on Wealthsimple Trade commission-free. Both PMBS and CLOA should be accessible. Check Wealthsimple's supported tickers list to confirm availability.
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