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PIMCO FUNDS PROFILE 
All data as of 02.28.10, unless otherwise indicated. 
PIMCO International StocksPLUS TR Strategy Fund (Unhedged) Inst (PSKIX)
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Fund Overview
Highlights
  • Takes an innovative approach to international stock investing, combining passive exposure to the MSCI EAFE Index with PIMCO's active bond management capabilities.
  • Provides unhedged exposure to developed non-U.S. stock market- such exposure is generally expected to enhance portfolio diversification in conjunction with U.S. stock and bond investments.
  • Potential diversification benefits include: low correlation of excess returns with the excess returns of other international equity strategies and low correlation of excess returns with the international equity market, particularly during bear equity markets.
Why Invest in this Fund

More Than an Index Fund
A traditional index fund invests in all, or a representative sample, of the stocks in an index in an effort to match the returns of the index. PIMCO International StocksPLUS TR Fund (Unhedged) seeks to outperform the index it follows by employing PIMCO's innovative StocksPLUS strategy.

 

Specifically, the Fund used equity derivatives in addition to or in place of stocks to attempt to equal or exceed the performance of the MSCI EAFE Net Dividend Index-a widely used measure of developed market equity performance, excluding the U.S. and Canada. In addition to the fundamental exposure to the international equity market, this equity exposure is not hedged into U.S. dollars, so that the Fund will tend to gain value when the U.S. dollar falls and lose value when it rises. It then fully collateralizes this exposure with an actively managed portfolio of high-quality, low- to intermediate-duration bonds. The derivatives capture the price return of the Index, while PIMCO's active management of the fixed-income collateral seeks to add incremental return above the Index. Notably, PIMCO has been managing portfolios according to the StocksPLUS approach for over 18 years.

 

Expert Management
As measured by assets under management, PIMCO is one of the country's largest investment advisors with a client list that includes many of the largest U.S. corporations. PIMCO was one of the first investment managers to specialize in active fixed-income management and pioneered a total return approach to bond investing-one that focuses on both income and capital appreciation-more than 30 years ago.

 

The Fund employs PIMCO's renowned Total Return strategy in managing the underlying bond portfolio. Central to PIMCO's success in employing this approach is the belief that no single strategy should dominate performance. By drawing on multiple sources of value that arise from a diversified bond portfolio, PIMCO believes it can generate attractive risk-adjusted total returns.

 

Why Choose an Unhedged Fund?
Like all currencies, the U.S. dollar experiences periods of weakness and strength. Exposure to securities denominated in other currencies can therefore contribute to the diversification of an investor's portfolio. It is important to note, however, that unhedged foreign investments can entail significant volatility, and should only form part of a diversified portfolio.

Investment Process

PIMCO International StocksPLUS® TR Fund (Unhedged) backs an unhedged, non-leveraged position of equity derivative instruments with a low- to intermediate-duration portfolio of higher quality bonds. In managing the fixed-income collateral, the portfolio manager employs a Total Return bond strategy. This begins with PIMCO's 3- to 5-year outlook for the global economy and interest rates, developed at the firm's annual Secular Forum. This helps set basic portfolio parameters, including duration, yield-curve positioning, sector weightings and credit quality. Bottom-up strategies, such as credit analysis and quantitative research, are employed along with top-down strategies in seeking to add value. The result will be a portfolio with a relatively high average credit quality and a low to intermediate duration, actively managed within a one-to-six year range.

At A Glance
Symbol Lookup
 
Symbol
CUSIP
Inst Shares
PSKIX
72201F573
Objective
Seeks total return which exceeds that of its benchmark index consistent with prudent investment management

Primary Portfolio
Non-U.S. equity derivatives backed by a portfolio of fixed income securities

Total Fund Assets (in millions)
$80.2

Inception Date
Nov 30, 2006

Dividend Frequency
Quarterly

Net Expense Ratio
1.680%

Gross Expense Ratio
-

> Share Class Pricing

Manager
William Gross


Bill Gross, CFA, is a founder and Managing Director of PIMCO. He began his investment career in 1969 and is widely regarded as the world's foremost fixed income authority.

Management Firm
Pacific Investment Management Company LLC (PIMCO)

Newport Beach, California

Led by Founder and Co-Chief Investment Officer Bill Gross, PIMCO is widely recognized as one of the premier bond managers in the world. PIMCO applies this expertise to a range of core and specialized investment portfolios.



> Management Commentary

Investors should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of this Fund carefully before investing. This and other information is contained in the Fund´s prospectus and summary prospectus, if available, which may be obtained by contacting your financial advisor, or by calling 888-877-4626. Click here for the Fund´s prospectus or summary prospectus. Please read them carefully before you invest or send money.

Past performance is no guarantee of future results. This is not an offer or solicitation for the purchase or sale of any financial instrument. It is presented only to provide information on investment strategies and opportunities. The material contains the current opinions of the author, which are subject to change without notice. Statements concerning financial market trends are based on current market conditions, which will fluctuate. References to specific securities and issuers are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to be, and should not be interpreted as, recommendations to purchase or sell such securities.


The credit quality of the investment in the portfolio does not apply to the stability or safety of the fund. Duration is a measure of the fund's price sensitivity expressed in years. In an environment where interest rates may trend upward, rising rates will negatively impact most bond funds, and fixed income securities held by a fund are likely to decrease in value. Bond funds and individual bonds with a longer duration (a measure of the expected life of a security) tend to be more sensitive to changes in interest rates, usually making them more volatile than securities with shorter durations.

 
The Fund will normally invest substantially all of its assets in non-U.S. equity derivatives, backed by a portfolio of Fixed Income Instruments. The Fund may invest in common stocks, options, futures, options on futures and swaps. The Fund uses equity derivatives in addition to or in place of stocks to attempt to equal or exceed the performance of the MSCI EAFE Net Dividend Index. The Fund seeks to remain invested in equity derivatives and/or stocks even when the Index is declining. Use of derivative instruments may involve certain costs and risks such as liquidity risk, interest rate risk, market risk, credit risk, management risk and the risk that a fund could not close out a position when it would be most advantageous to do so. Portfolios investing in derivatives could lose more than the principal amount invested in these instruments.

 

The Fund may invest in non-U.S. equities or non-U.S. equity derivatives that do not comprise the Index. Investing in non-U.S. securities entails additional risks, including political and economic risk and the risk of currency fluctuations; these risks may be enhanced in emerging markets. The Fund does not normally invest directly in stocks. However, when equity derivatives appear to be overvalued, the Fund may invest some or all of its assets in stocks. The Fund also may invest in exchange traded funds. The Fund’s equity exposure will not be hedged into U.S. dollars. The Fund is non-diversified, which means that it may concentrate its assets in a smaller number of issuers than a diversified fund.

 

The Fund may invest up to 10% of its total assets in high yield securities (“junk bonds”) rated B or higher by Moody's or S&P, or, if unrated, determined by PIMCO to be of comparable quality. High-yield bonds typically have a lower credit rating than other bonds. Lower rated bonds generally involve a greater risk to principal than higher rated bonds. The Fund may invest up to 10% of its total assets in Fixed Income Instruments of issuers based in countries with emerging market economies and may invest in emerging market equity securities up to the approximate weightings in the Fund's index. With respect to the Fund's fixed income investments, the Fund may invest up to 30% of its total assets in securities denominated in foreign currencies and may invest beyond this limit in U.S. dollar-denominated securities of foreign issuers. With respect to the Fund's fixed income investments, the Fund will normally limit its foreign currency exposure (from non-U.S. dollar-denominated securities or currencies) to 20% of its total assets.
br> PIMCO Funds and Allianz Funds are distributed by Allianz Global Investors Distributors LLC, 1345 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10105-4800, www.allianzinvestors.com, 1-888-877-4626.
Investment Products: NOT FDIC INSURED | MAY LOSE VALUE | NOT BANK GUARANTEED


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