PFL vs SPY
PIMCO Income Strategy Fund compared with State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust on yield, payout growth, payment schedule, cost and risk.
PFL
PIMCO Income Strategy Fund
TTM yield · Monthly
SPY
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
TTM yield · Quarterly
Quick take
- PFL yields more today: 12.93% vs 0.99% (forward).
- SPY has grown its payout faster: 6.2%/yr vs -2.1%/yr over the last 5 years.
- PFL pays every month; SPY pays every quarter.
- SPY has the longer streak of annual increases: 12 years vs 0.
- Over the last year SPY delivered the higher total return: +19.9% vs -0.1% (price change plus payouts).
Generated from the latest data on both pages. Not a recommendation.
Side by side
| Metric | PFL | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $7.52 | $766.00 |
| TTM yield | 12.93% | 0.98% |
| Forward yield | 12.93% | 0.99% |
| Annual payout per share | $0.972 | $7.616 |
| Payment frequency | Monthly | Quarterly |
| Next ex-date | Sep 11, 2026 (declared) | Sep 17, 2026 (est.) |
| Expense ratio | — | 0.09% |
| 1-year payout growth | +0.0% | +5.0% |
| 5-year payout CAGR | -2.1% | +6.2% |
| Consecutive years of increases | 0 years | 12 years |
| Payout consistency (last 12) | 100/100 | 93/100 |
| 1-year total return | -0.1% | +19.9% |
| 1-year price return | -11.5% | +18.8% |
| Size (market cap / AUM) | — | 811.9B |
| Years paying | 22.8 | 33.5 |
| Sector / category | — | Large Blend |
✓ marks the more favourable figure where one exists (higher yield, growth, streak, consistency, return and size; lower cost, payout ratio and risk).
$10,000 invested today
| PFL | SPY | |
|---|---|---|
| Shares | 1,329.8 | 13.1 |
| Income per year | $1,293 | $99 |
| Income per month (avg) | $108 | $8 |
Next payments
| Ex-date | Pay date | Per share | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| PFL Sep 11, 2026 | Sep 25, 2026 | $0.081 | Declared |
| PFL Oct 12, 2026 | Oct 26, 2026 | $0.081 | Est. |
| PFL Nov 12, 2026 | Nov 26, 2026 | $0.081 | Est. |
| SPY Sep 17, 2026 | Oct 1, 2026 | $1.904 | Est. |
| SPY Dec 17, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | $1.904 | Est. |
| SPY Mar 18, 2027 | Apr 1, 2027 | $1.904 | Est. |
Annual payouts per share
PFLSPY
Regular payments only; the current year is year to date. Per-share amounts are not directly comparable when share prices differ, so read this chart for growth trends.
FAQ
Which has the higher dividend yield, PFL or SPY?
PFL currently has the higher trailing yield: PFL yields 12.93% and SPY yields 0.98%. Yield changes daily with price, so check the live figures above.
How often do PFL and SPY pay?
PFL pays every month and SPY pays every quarter. PFL's next ex-date is Sep 11, 2026 and SPY's is Sep 17, 2026.
Which has grown its dividend faster, PFL or SPY?
SPY has grown its payout faster: 6.2%/yr vs -2.1%/yr over the last 5 years.
Is PFL or SPY better for income?
It depends on what you are optimising for. PFL and SPY differ in yield, growth, payment schedule and risk profile; the table above puts every metric side by side so you can weigh them for your own goals. This page is data, not advice.