- ISIN
- US74254V3490
- CUSIP
- 74254V349
- Issuer
- Principal
- Inception Date
- Nov 24, 1986
- Category
- Large Cap Blend Equities
- Min. Investment
- $1,000
- Distribution Policy
- Distributing
- Asset Class
- Equity
- Asset Class Size
- Large-Cap
- Asset Class Style
- Blend
Share Price Chart
Loading charts...
Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs
Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.
Performance
CMNWX Performance Chart
Principal Capital Appreciation Fund (CMNWX) is up 9.3% since the beginning of the year. CMNWX is currently trading at $90 per share. Investors who bought $1,000 worth of CMNWX shares 5 years ago would now be looking at an investment worth $1,972.
Loading charts...
Returns By Period
Principal Capital Appreciation Fund (CMNWX) has returned 9.31% so far this year and 24.02% over the past 12 months. Looking at the last ten years, CMNWX has achieved an annualized return of 15.51%, outperforming the S&P 500 Index benchmark, which averaged 13.88% per year.
Principal Capital Appreciation Fund
- 1D
- 1.04%
- 1M
- 0.93%
- YTD
- 9.31%
- 6M
- 8.77%
- 1Y
- 24.02%
- 3Y*
- 21.81%
- 5Y*
- 14.55%
- 10Y*
- 15.51%
Benchmark (S&P 500 Index)
- 1D
- -0.37%
- 1M
- -0.01%
- YTD
- 9.16%
- 6M
- 8.64%
- 1Y
- 25.22%
- 3Y*
- 19.78%
- 5Y*
- 11.99%
- 10Y*
- 13.88%
CMNWX Monthly Returns History
Based on dividend-adjusted daily data since Jun 20, 1996, CMNWX's average daily return is +0.06%, while the average monthly return is +1.24%. At this rate, an investment would double in approximately 4.7 years.
Historically, 63% of months were positive and 37% were negative. The best month was Dec 1997 with a return of +16.0%, while the worst month was Aug 1998 at -20.2%. The longest winning streak lasted 8 consecutive months, and the longest losing streak was 6 months.
On a daily basis, CMNWX closed higher 54% of trading days. The best single day was Dec 2, 1997 with a return of +17.1%, while the worst single day was Dec 1, 2008 at -9.3%.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1.39% | 0.02% | -5.24% | 9.50% | 4.45% | -0.55% | 9.31% | ||||||
| 2025 | 3.33% | -2.61% | -6.29% | -0.47% | 5.62% | 4.49% | 2.29% | 1.84% | 3.74% | 2.10% | 0.11% | -1.00% | 13.27% |
| 2024 | 2.25% | 5.75% | 3.56% | -4.26% | 5.16% | 3.12% | 1.18% | 2.10% | 2.10% | -0.74% | 6.58% | 1.86% | 32.14% |
| 2023 | 5.52% | -2.98% | 3.38% | 1.75% | -0.03% | 6.40% | 3.30% | -1.88% | -4.29% | -1.60% | 8.95% | 4.93% | 25.01% |
| 2022 | -5.81% | -3.95% | 3.92% | -8.81% | 0.62% | -7.41% | 8.72% | -3.38% | -8.12% | 8.09% | 6.38% | -5.65% | -16.37% |
| 2021 | -1.48% | 2.31% | 3.71% | 5.25% | 0.71% | 2.97% | 2.77% | 2.80% | -5.00% | 7.66% | -0.44% | 3.85% | 27.45% |
Benchmark Metrics
Principal Capital Appreciation Fund has an annualized alpha of 6.05%, beta of 0.94, and R2 of 0.82 versus S&P 500 Index. Calculated based on daily prices since June 20, 1996.
- This fund captured 118.22% of S&P 500 Index gains but only 93.32% of its losses - a favorable profile for investors.
- This fund generated an annualized alpha of 6.05% versus S&P 500 Index - delivering returns beyond what market exposure alone would predict.
- With beta of 0.94 and R2 of 0.82, this fund moves broadly in line with S&P 500 Index - much of its variation is explained by market exposure rather than independent behavior.
- Alpha
- 6.05%
- Beta
- 0.94
- R²
- 0.82
- Upside Capture
- 118.22%
- Downside Capture
- 93.32%
Expense Ratio
CMNWX has an expense ratio of 0.80%, placing it in the medium range.
Return for Risk
Risk / Return Rank
CMNWX ranks 49 for risk / return — on par with similar mutual funds. You're getting a typical balance of risk and reward. Not a standout, but not a red flag either — a reasonable choice if other factors align with your goals.
Return / Risk — by metrics
The table below present risk-adjusted performance metrics for Principal Capital Appreciation Fund (CMNWX) and compare them to S&P 500 Index.
Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.
| CMNWX | Benchmark | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.21 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.27 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.32 | 1.37 | -0.05 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.66 | 2.78 | -0.13 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 12.00 | 12.44 | -0.44 |
Dividends
Dividend History
Principal Capital Appreciation Fund provided a 8.00% dividend yield over the last twelve months, with an annual payout of $7.22 per share.
| Period | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dividend | $7.22 | $7.22 | $7.95 | $0.47 | $0.37 | $6.12 | $2.95 | $4.13 | $18.85 | $4.75 | $5.67 | $3.01 |
Dividend yield | 8.00% | 8.75% | 10.03% | 0.71% | 0.69% | 9.52% | 5.33% | 8.37% | 46.60% | 7.72% | 10.32% | 5.42% |
Monthly Dividends
The table displays the monthly dividend distributions for Principal Capital Appreciation Fund. The dividends shown in the table have been adjusted to account for any splits that may have occurred.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | ||||||
| 2025 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $7.22 | $7.22 |
| 2024 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $7.95 | $7.95 |
| 2023 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.47 | $0.47 |
| 2022 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.37 | $0.37 |
| 2021 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $6.12 | $6.12 |
Drawdowns
Drawdowns Chart
The Drawdowns chart displays portfolio losses from any high point along the way. Drawdowns are calculated considering price movements and all distributions paid, if any.
Loading charts...
Worst Drawdowns
The table below displays the maximum drawdowns of the Principal Capital Appreciation Fund. A maximum drawdown is a measure of risk, indicating the largest reduction in portfolio value due to a series of losing trades.
The maximum drawdown for the Principal Capital Appreciation Fund was 50.43%, occurring on Mar 9, 2009. Recovery took 470 trading sessions.
The current Principal Capital Appreciation Fund drawdown is 1.35%.
Related event | Drawdown | Fall | Recovery | Underwater |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Financial crisis2007–2009 | -50.43%Mar 2009 | 1y 2mo | 1y 10mo | 3y 1moDec 2007 - Jan 2011 |
Dot-com crash2000–2002 | -41.63%Oct 2002 | 1y 3mo | 1y 3mo | 2y 6moJul 2001 - Jan 2004 |
1998 bear market1998 | -33.80%Oct 1998 | 5mo 18d | 2mo 16d | 8mo 4dApr 1998 - Dec 1998 |
COVID crash2020 | -33.26%Mar 2020 | 1mo 4d | 4mo 13d | 5mo 17dFeb 2020 - Aug 2020 |
Dot-com crash2000–2002 | -25.90%Apr 2001 | 6mo 28d | 2mo 3d | 9mo 1dSep 2000 - Jun 2001 |
Drawdown Indicators
| CMNWX | Benchmark | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -50.43% | -56.78% | +6.35% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -8.91% | -9.10% | +0.19% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -19.54% | -18.90% | -0.64% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -23.35% | -25.43% | +2.08% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -33.26% | -33.92% | +0.66% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -1.35% | -1.80% | +0.45% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -6.94% | -10.71% | +3.77% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 1.97% | 2.03% | -0.06% |
Volatility
Volatility Chart
The chart below shows the rolling one-month volatility.
Loading charts...
Build a portfolio with CMNWX
Add Principal Capital Appreciation Fund to a portfolio and analyze allocations for your target — whether that's maximizing returns, minimizing drawdowns, or balancing risk across holdings.
Open Portfolio Analyzer with CMNWX