Pimco's Schneider Edges Into Finance Issues.(SERIES: FUNDS & PERSONAL FINANCE)(IBD SPECIAL REPORT)(FUND MANAGER Q & A)

Byline: CLAIRE MENCKE

Since joining Pimco's all-cap Renaissance Fund three years ago, value manager John Schneider has kept the fund's six-year peer-beating streak alive.

In 2000, the fund's 37.7% return beat the S&P by more than 45 percentage points and other value funds by nearly 20 percentage points. Last year, with a 19.3% return, it was more than 30 points ahead of the S&P and 12 points ahead of its peers.

Less in the spotlight has been large-cap Pimco Value Fund, which Schneider also runs. Up 30.5% in 2000 and 15.2% last year, it's beaten peers by 23 points and 20 points in those years.

This year, Renaissance, which carries an IBD 36-Month Performance Rating of A+, is up 4.6%. Value, also rated A+, is about flat.

IBD spoke with Schneider, 37, recently about the closing of Renaissance to new investors, how it's similar to and different from Value, and where the value approach is taking investors.

IBD: Why was Pimco Renaissance closed? How good a …