CGFAX vs. FAQTX
CGFAX (American Funds The Growth Fund of America Class 529-A) and FAQTX (American Funds 2035 Target Date Retirement Fund Class F-1) are both mutual funds - CGFAX is a Large Cap Growth Equities fund actively managed by Capital Group, while FAQTX is a Target Retirement Date fund tracking the S&P Target Date 2035 Index. CGFAX is actively managed, while FAQTX is passively managed. Over the past 10 years, CGFAX returned 14.97%/yr vs 9.93%/yr for FAQTX. Their correlation of 0.94 means they have usually moved in the same direction. CGFAX charges 0.62%/yr vs 0.70%/yr for FAQTX.
Performance
CGFAX vs. FAQTX - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, CGFAX achieves a 4.27% return, which is significantly lower than FAQTX's 5.75% return. Over the past 10 years, CGFAX has outperformed FAQTX with an annualized return of 14.97%, while FAQTX has yielded a comparatively lower 9.93% annualized return.
CGFAX
- 1D
- -0.38%
- 1M
- -2.33%
- 6M
- 2.17%
- YTD
- 4.27%
- 1Y
- 10.07%
- 3Y*
- 19.69%
- 5Y*
- 9.95%
- 10Y*
- 14.97%
- ALL TIME*
- 10.57%
FAQTX
- 1D
- 0.14%
- 1M
- -0.36%
- 6M
- 2.96%
- YTD
- 5.75%
- 1Y
- 11.86%
- 3Y*
- 13.08%
- 5Y*
- 7.05%
- 10Y*
- 9.93%
- ALL TIME*
- 8.94%
Liquidity Comparison
| Position | Avg. Volume Value (2W) | Avg. Volume Value (1M) | Avg. Volume Value (3M) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
| $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
CGFAX vs. FAQTX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CGFAX American Funds The Growth Fund of America Class 529-A | 4.27% | 19.69% | 27.99% | 37.14% | -30.76% | 19.26% | 37.81% | 28.09% | -3.25% | 26.06% |
FAQTX American Funds 2035 Target Date Retirement Fund Class F-1 | 5.75% | 16.70% | 12.40% | 16.47% | -16.54% | 15.16% | 17.15% | 22.78% | -5.50% | 20.65% |
Correlation
The correlation between CGFAX and FAQTX is 0.93, meaning they have usually moved in the same direction, including during past declines.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most. | 0.93 |
Correlation (3Y) Balances recent behavior with more history. | 0.93 |
Correlation (5Y) Shows whether the relationship held over a longer period. | 0.94 |
Correlation (10Y) Provides a long-term view across more market conditions. | 0.94 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Feb 24, 2014 | 0.94 |
The correlation between CGFAX and FAQTX has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.93 to 0.94 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
CGFAX vs. FAQTX — Risk / Return Rank
CGFAX
FAQTX
CGFAX vs. FAQTX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for American Funds The Growth Fund of America Class 529-A (CGFAX) and American Funds 2035 Target Date Retirement Fund Class F-1 (FAQTX). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.
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.
| CGFAX | FAQTX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.67 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.92 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.12 | 1.24 | -0.12 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 0.74 | 1.65 | -0.91 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 2.75 | 7.17 | -4.43 |
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Drawdowns
CGFAX vs. FAQTX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum CGFAX drawdown since its inception was -51.91%, which is greater than FAQTX's maximum drawdown of -26.70%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for CGFAX and FAQTX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| CGFAX | FAQTX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -51.91% | -26.70% | -25.21% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -13.77% | -7.01% | -6.76% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -21.58% | -10.56% | -11.02% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -36.39% | -23.34% | -13.05% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -36.39% | -26.70% | -9.69% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -5.58% | -1.53% | -4.05% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -8.57% | -3.89% | -4.68% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.72% | 1.61% | +2.11% |
Volatility
CGFAX vs. FAQTX - Volatility Comparison
American Funds The Growth Fund of America Class 529-A (CGFAX) has a higher volatility of 4.47% compared to American Funds 2035 Target Date Retirement Fund Class F-1 (FAQTX) at 1.98%. This indicates that CGFAX's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than FAQTX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| CGFAX | FAQTX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 4.47% | 1.98% | +2.49% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 13.38% | 7.24% | +6.14% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 16.76% | 9.03% | +7.73% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 20.54% | 11.51% | +9.03% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 19.78% | 12.66% | +7.12% |
CGFAX vs. FAQTX - Expense Ratio Comparison
CGFAX has a 0.62% expense ratio, which is lower than FAQTX's 0.70% expense ratio.
Dividends
CGFAX vs. FAQTX - Dividend Comparison
CGFAX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 10.44%, more than FAQTX's 5.67% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CGFAX American Funds The Growth Fund of America Class 529-A | 10.44% | 10.88% | 9.12% | 7.48% | 4.09% | 8.26% | 4.34% | 7.18% | 12.03% | 7.07% | 6.60% | 8.86% |
FAQTX American Funds 2035 Target Date Retirement Fund Class F-1 | 5.67% | 6.00% | 4.26% | 2.61% | 5.41% | 5.26% | 3.56% | 4.23% | 4.82% | 2.43% | 3.73% | 5.68% |
Frequently Asked Questions
With a correlation of 0.93, CGFAX and FAQTX move almost identically. Holding both adds very little diversification - you're essentially doubling your position in the same market segment. Choosing one is usually more capital-efficient.
CGFAX has higher volatility (4.47%) compared to FAQTX (1.98%). In terms of maximum drawdown, CGFAX dropped -51.91% vs FAQTX's -26.70%.
FAQTX currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.28 vs 0.61), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.
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