StocksPLUS™ E USD Acc |



by Vedran Beogradlija

The strategies under the Pimco StocksPLUS framework and its RAE PLUS sibling are overseen by a capable team with impressive resources. Its unique approach has favorable aspects but comes with distinctive structural challenges. Bryan Tsu and Jing Yang shepherd the overall strategy, each joining the manager roster in July 2018 and bringing more than 18 years of industry experience. Marc Seidner joined as a portfolio manager in February 2021 and owns the unconstrained bond sleeve. The RAE Plus version is bolstered by the expertise of Rob Arnott and Chris Brightman from Research Affiliates, who implement the RAE methodology for that fund’s equity sleeve. The managers are well-supported by an equity implementation team, a dedicated bond team, and an array of global specialist desks. The resources are robust, enhancing the strategy’s appeal. Each portfolio targets specific equity exposures and obtains them by purchasing derivatives, options, and total returns swaps. The desired equity exposures and underlying equity options vary by product. For example, the StocksPLUS Absolute Return and StocksPLUS Enhanced Equity portfolios replicate exposure to the S&P 500. StocksPLUS International comes in a US-dollar-hedged version, which replicates the MSCI EAFE 100% US-dollar-hedged, and an unhedged version, which replicates the MSCI EAFE. Finally, StocksPLUS Small replicates the Russell 2000 Index. This allows the team to implement the indexlike equity sleeve in a cost-effective way. Unlike the StocksPLUS strategies, the RAE Plus version doesn’t follow an index. Instead, it seeks to replicate the value-leaning equity model determined by the RAE methodology, which utilizes market signals and individual stock fundamentals. The team then deploys the remaining assets to the unconstrained bond sleeve, aiming to generate high risk-adjusted returns relative to the benchmark and provide collateral for the equity replication. The combination can be effective but makes the approach susceptible to both equity and bond market volatility as well as interest-rate risk. The strategy’s longer-term performance has been favorable; each of the portfolios’ institutional shares beat their respective Morningstar Category average on a total return basis over the 10-year period through June 2024. Over shorter periods, the approach can struggle relative to peers when bond markets lag equities. |
Morningstar Pillars | |
People | Above Average |
Parent | Above Average |
Process | Average |
![]() |
Morningstar reserve its rights to charge for access to these Ratings and/or Rating report. |
![]() |
Permissions/Reprints E-mail Morningstar |