averaged over the past five years; (iii)
dividend plus buybacks, calculated using the average dividends paid and share buybacks over the past five years; and (iv) book value, taken as the most recent company book value. At each annual reconstitution,
companies that rank in the top 86% of cumulative fundamental weight within each region constitute
the large/mid company universe. Companies that rank in the top 98% by fundamental weight,
excluding companies in the top 86%, within each region constitute the small company universe.
The Underlying Index consists of “factor portfolios,” each of which emphasizes one of the following factors: value, low volatility, quality, momentum and size. The value factor
emphasizes companies with a high ratio of company fundamental weight to its market capitalization
weight. The low volatility factor emphasizes companies with low risk measure calculated as the
variance of a company’s daily excess return over five years explained by global, local country groups, and global industry excess returns. The quality factor emphasizes companies that are high in profitability and low in
investment spending. The momentum factor emphasizes stocks with high momentum. For the value, low
volatility and quality “factor portfolios”, eligible securities are ranked by their
factor score and the top 25% of companies by fundamental weight are selected for inclusion within that “factor portfolio”. For the momentum “factor portfolio”, eligible securities are ranked by their momentum score and the top
50% of companies by fundamental weight are selected for inclusion. The size factor is the equal weight of the small company portions of the other four factors. A company’s fundamental weight may be adjusted by
a “free float factor”, which is the ratio of the total market capitalization of the shares of the company in free float to the total market capitalization of the company. As of September 30, 2025, the Underlying
Index consisted of 1,723 Component Securities.
The Underlying Index dynamically allocates to each factor at each quarterly rebalance. Dynamic allocation
starts with an equal weighting to each factor plus an additional weight, which is based on a calculation of a factor’s standard momentum and long-term reversal signal relative to the other factors. Additional
weights to a particular factor are capped at a maximum of 15% and minimum of -15% relative to equal
weighting.
Each factor (other than momentum) is reconstituted annually on the last Friday of March and rebalanced on a
quarterly staggered basis on the last Friday of March, June, September and third Friday of December. For example, a single factor will be divided into four identical tranches. At the first quarterly rebalance, the
first tranche (i.e., 25% of the factor) is rebalanced, but the remaining three tranches (i.e., the other 75% of the factor) are not rebalanced and will continue to drift until the next quarterly rebalance. At the next quarterly rebalance, the second tranche is rebalanced while the other three
tranches (including the tranche that was rebalanced at the prior quarter-end) are not rebalanced. This staggered rebalancing is intended to diversify risk and decrease market impact. The momentum factor, unlike
the other factors, is reconstituted and fully rebalanced quarterly. At each quarterly rebalance, trading controls are implemented to minimize turnover.
PIMCO uses an indexing approach in managing the Fund’s investments. The Fund employs a representative sampling strategy in seeking to achieve its investment objective. In using
this strategy, PIMCO seeks to invest in a combination of Component Securities and other instruments, or in Component Securities but in different proportions as compared to the weighting of the Underlying Index,
such that the portfolio effectively provides exposure to the Underlying Index. In using a representative sampling strategy, the Fund may not track its Underlying Index with the same degree of accuracy as a fund that
replicates the composition and weighting of the Underlying Index. Unlike many investment companies,
the Fund does not attempt to outperform the index the Fund tracks. An indexing approach may
eliminate the chance that the Fund will substantially outperform its Underlying Index but also may reduce some of the risks of active management. Indexing seeks to achieve lower costs by keeping portfolio turnover low in
comparison to actively managed investment companies.
The Fund may invest, without limitation, in equity and equity-related securities, including common and
preferred securities. The Fund may also invest in derivative instruments, such as options, futures contracts or swap agreements. The Fund may invest, without limitation, in securities and instruments denominated in
foreign currencies and in securities of foreign issuers. The Fund may obtain foreign currency
exposure (from non-U.S. dollar-denominated securities or currencies) without
limitation.
It is possible to lose money on an investment in the Fund. The principal risks of investing in the Fund, which could adversely affect its net asset value, yield and total return, are listed below.
Market Trading Risk: the risk that an active secondary trading market for Fund shares does not continue once developed, that the
Fund may not continue to meet a listing exchange’s trading or listing requirements, that
trading in Fund shares may be halted or become less liquid or that Fund shares trade at prices other than the Fund’s net asset value, and are subject to trading costs. These risks may be exacerbated if the creation/redemption process
becomes less effective, particularly during times of market stress or volatility
Equity Risk: the risk that the value of equity or equity-related securities, such as common stocks and preferred
securities, may decline due to general market conditions which are not specifically related to a
particular company or to factors affecting a particular industry or industries. Equity or
equity-related securities generally have greater price volatility than fixed income securities. In addition, preferred securities may be subject to greater credit risk or other risks, such as risks related to deferred and omitted
distributions, limited voting rights, liquidity, interest rates, regulatory changes and special redemption rights
Credit Risk: the risk that the Fund could experience losses if the counterparty to a derivative contract, or the issuer or
guarantor of collateral, is unable or unwilling, or is perceived (whether by market participants,
rating agencies, pricing services or otherwise) as unable or unwilling, to meet its financial obligations