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Seeing Through Asset-Class Labels: The X-ray Vision Investors Need

A risk-factor-based framework enables investors to align allocations with their objectives, strengthen diversification, and pursue returns more efficiently.
Seeing Through Asset-Class Labels: The X-ray Vision Investors Need
Seeing Through Asset-Class Labels: The X-ray Vision Investors Need

In today’s complex investing landscape, asset-class labels can create a false sense of diversification by masking overlapping and hidden concentrations of risk. A risk-factor-based approach – which uses a set of common risk factors (shown in Figure 2) across asset classes to measure the fundamental drivers of returns and their contributions to overall portfolio volatility – helps identify these overlaps and concentrations proactively. By employing this approach, investors can align portfolio allocations more closely with their objectives, improving diversification and pursuing returns more efficiently.

What the charts show

The two charts below show the same portfolio. Figure 1 breaks down the portfolio’s market value allocation, while Figure 2 breaks down its risk-factor allocation.

What they mean for investors

While the market value allocation in Figure 1 depicts a broadly diversified portfolio, the risk- factor allocation in Figure 2 provides a different perspective that reveals a significant concentration in equity risk.

Asset Allocation (by market value weight)

The pie chart shows an asset allocation portfolio composed of a custom blend of market indexes. Global Equities have the highest allocation at 50%, followed by Fixed Income at 20%, Private Equity at 8%, Hedge Funds at 7%, Real Estate at 7%, Treasury Inflation Protected Securities (TIPS) at 3%, Global Bonds at 2%, Cash at 2%, and Commodities at 1%.
The asset allocation portfolio is a custom blend of models and indexes. Refer to the end of this material for additional detail. Figures are not indicative of the past or future performance of any PIMCO product.

Risk-Factor Allocation (by contribution to estimated volatility)

The pie chart shows a hypothetical portfolio’s risk allocation based on a risk factor’s contribution to estimated volatility. Global Equity has the largest risk allocation at 81%. Other risk allocations include Currency at 6%, Credit Spreads at 5%, Other Factors at 4%, Interest Rates at 3%, and Commodities at 1%.

As of 31 July 2025. Source: PIMCO. For illustrative purposes only.

1See disclosures for additional information regarding volatility estimates.

2Other Factors include the Non-Traditional and Idiosyncratic risk factors.

What the chart shows

The chart below shows that the same portfolio in Figures 1 and 2 declined 25% during the COVID 2020 market pullback and analyzes the risk factors that drove the portfolio’s decline during this period (see Figure 3). The concentration in equity risk was responsible for nearly 80% of the decline, consistent with the portfolio’s risk factor allocation and meaningfully higher than what may be inferred by the 45% allocation to equities when measured by market value. Notably, interest rate exposure through bond allocations delivered positive returns during this period as interest rates rallied.

What it means for investors

Underlying risk factors drive asset-class behavior and investment returns. Viewing a portfolio through a risk factor lens can help align allocations with desired outcomes, including during stress events.

Performance Attribution (by risk factor)

The table shows six types of asset classes and their risk factors. Risk factors shown on the left column are Equity risk (or Equity beta), Interest rate risk (or Duration), Credit risk (or Spread duration), Currency risk (or FX exposure), and Momentum. The second column shows Equities, which has risk factors of Equity risk, currency risk, and momentum. The third column shows Developed Market Bonds, which has risk factors Equity risk, Interest rate risk, Credit risk, and Currency risk. The fourth column shows Emerging Market Bonds which has the risk factors Equity risk, Interest rate risk, Credit risk, and Currency risk. The fifth column shows Commodities, which has the risk factors Equity risk, Currency risk, and Momentum. The sixth column shows Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), which has the risk factors Equity risk, Interest rate risk, and Momentum. The seventh and last column shows Currencies, which has the risk factors Equity risk, Interest rate risk, Currency risk, and Momentum.

Source: PIMCO. For illustrative purposes only.
Based on returns from 19 February 2020 to 23 March 2020.

Please reach out to your PIMCO representative to learn more or to request a customized portfolio analysis.

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