CSTAX vs. GWPAX
Compare and contrast key facts about American Funds College 2027 Fund (CSTAX) and American Funds Growth Portfolio Class A (GWPAX).
CSTAX is managed by American Funds. It was launched on Sep 13, 2012. GWPAX is managed by American Funds. It was launched on May 18, 2012.
Performance
CSTAX vs. GWPAX - Performance Comparison
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CSTAX vs. GWPAX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CSTAX American Funds College 2027 Fund | -0.16% | 9.00% | 5.57% | 6.57% | -9.87% | 6.52% | 7.66% | 13.35% | -2.23% | 11.77% |
GWPAX American Funds Growth Portfolio Class A | -5.63% | 20.47% | 20.17% | 28.76% | -26.97% | 18.59% | 25.34% | 27.19% | -6.59% | 25.12% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, CSTAX achieves a -0.16% return, which is significantly higher than GWPAX's -5.63% return. Over the past 10 years, CSTAX has underperformed GWPAX with an annualized return of 5.02%, while GWPAX has yielded a comparatively higher 11.87% annualized return.
CSTAX
- 1D
- 0.49%
- 1M
- -1.68%
- YTD
- -0.16%
- 6M
- 0.99%
- 1Y
- 6.14%
- 3Y*
- 6.11%
- 5Y*
- 2.94%
- 10Y*
- 5.02%
GWPAX
- 1D
- 3.37%
- 1M
- -6.92%
- YTD
- -5.63%
- 6M
- -3.30%
- 1Y
- 19.12%
- 3Y*
- 17.31%
- 5Y*
- 7.65%
- 10Y*
- 11.87%
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CSTAX vs. GWPAX - Expense Ratio Comparison
CSTAX has a 0.41% expense ratio, which is lower than GWPAX's 0.73% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
CSTAX vs. GWPAX — Risk / Return Rank
CSTAX
GWPAX
CSTAX vs. GWPAX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for American Funds College 2027 Fund (CSTAX) and American Funds Growth Portfolio Class A (GWPAX). 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.
| CSTAX | GWPAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.81 | 1.05 | +0.76 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 2.61 | 1.60 | +1.01 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.37 | 1.23 | +0.15 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.39 | 1.65 | +0.73 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 9.64 | 6.68 | +2.96 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
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Sharpe Ratios by Period
| CSTAX | GWPAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.81 | 1.05 | +0.76 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.57 | 0.42 | +0.15 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.87 | 0.66 | +0.20 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.86 | 0.68 | +0.18 |
Correlation
The correlation between CSTAX and GWPAX is 0.78, which is considered to be high. That indicates a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Having highly-correlated positions in a portfolio may signal a lack of diversification, potentially leading to increased risk during market downturns.
Dividends
CSTAX vs. GWPAX - Dividend Comparison
CSTAX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 5.27%, less than GWPAX's 6.09% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CSTAX American Funds College 2027 Fund | 5.27% | 5.26% | 3.78% | 3.17% | 3.40% | 7.52% | 5.72% | 4.00% | 4.78% | 3.90% | 4.34% | 4.49% |
GWPAX American Funds Growth Portfolio Class A | 6.09% | 5.75% | 5.83% | 1.61% | 9.94% | 3.42% | 3.42% | 5.77% | 6.19% | 3.39% | 4.36% | 4.84% |
Drawdowns
CSTAX vs. GWPAX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum CSTAX drawdown since its inception was -14.52%, smaller than the maximum GWPAX drawdown of -34.15%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for CSTAX and GWPAX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| CSTAX | GWPAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -14.52% | -34.15% | +19.63% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -2.72% | -11.78% | +9.06% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -14.52% | -34.15% | +19.63% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -14.52% | -34.15% | +19.63% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -2.00% | -8.81% | +6.81% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -2.37% | -5.77% | +3.40% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.67% | 2.91% | -2.24% |
Volatility
CSTAX vs. GWPAX - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for American Funds College 2027 Fund (CSTAX) is 1.43%, while American Funds Growth Portfolio Class A (GWPAX) has a volatility of 6.61%. This indicates that CSTAX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than GWPAX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| CSTAX | GWPAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 1.43% | 6.61% | -5.18% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 2.11% | 11.28% | -9.17% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 3.50% | 18.89% | -15.39% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 5.16% | 18.17% | -13.01% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 5.82% | 17.95% | -12.13% |