CSTAX vs. MACIX
Compare and contrast key facts about American Funds College 2027 Fund (CSTAX) and MFS Conservative Allocation Fund (MACIX).
CSTAX is managed by American Funds. It was launched on Sep 13, 2012. MACIX is managed by MFS. It was launched on Jun 27, 2002.
Performance
CSTAX vs. MACIX - Performance Comparison
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CSTAX vs. MACIX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CSTAX American Funds College 2027 Fund | -0.65% | 9.00% | 5.57% | 6.57% | -9.87% | 6.52% | 7.66% | 13.35% | -2.23% | 11.77% |
MACIX MFS Conservative Allocation Fund | -2.18% | 9.32% | 6.88% | 10.74% | -13.30% | 8.15% | 11.88% | 17.36% | -2.82% | 11.04% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, CSTAX achieves a -0.65% return, which is significantly higher than MACIX's -2.18% return. Over the past 10 years, CSTAX has underperformed MACIX with an annualized return of 4.97%, while MACIX has yielded a comparatively higher 5.67% annualized return.
CSTAX
- 1D
- 0.25%
- 1M
- -2.48%
- YTD
- -0.65%
- 6M
- 0.73%
- 1Y
- 5.79%
- 3Y*
- 5.94%
- 5Y*
- 2.92%
- 10Y*
- 4.97%
MACIX
- 1D
- 0.18%
- 1M
- -4.81%
- YTD
- -2.18%
- 6M
- -1.03%
- 1Y
- 6.10%
- 3Y*
- 6.87%
- 5Y*
- 3.39%
- 10Y*
- 5.67%
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CSTAX vs. MACIX - Expense Ratio Comparison
CSTAX has a 0.41% expense ratio, which is lower than MACIX's 0.58% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
CSTAX vs. MACIX — Risk / Return Rank
CSTAX
MACIX
CSTAX vs. MACIX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for American Funds College 2027 Fund (CSTAX) and MFS Conservative Allocation Fund (MACIX). 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 | MACIX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.73 | 0.98 | +0.75 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 2.47 | 1.36 | +1.11 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.35 | 1.20 | +0.16 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.23 | 1.19 | +1.04 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 9.16 | 4.88 | +4.28 |
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 | MACIX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.73 | 0.98 | +0.75 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.57 | 0.48 | +0.09 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.86 | 0.80 | +0.06 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.86 | 0.79 | +0.07 |
Correlation
The correlation between CSTAX and MACIX is 0.89, 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. MACIX - Dividend Comparison
CSTAX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 5.30%, less than MACIX's 6.20% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CSTAX American Funds College 2027 Fund | 5.30% | 5.26% | 3.78% | 3.17% | 3.40% | 7.52% | 5.72% | 4.00% | 4.78% | 3.90% | 4.34% | 4.49% |
MACIX MFS Conservative Allocation Fund | 6.20% | 6.07% | 7.08% | 3.47% | 3.61% | 3.89% | 3.01% | 3.65% | 5.14% | 4.60% | 2.76% | 1.95% |
Drawdowns
CSTAX vs. MACIX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum CSTAX drawdown since its inception was -14.52%, smaller than the maximum MACIX drawdown of -25.35%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for CSTAX and MACIX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| CSTAX | MACIX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -14.52% | -25.35% | +10.83% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -2.72% | -5.04% | +2.32% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -14.52% | -18.41% | +3.89% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -14.52% | -18.41% | +3.89% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -2.48% | -4.87% | +2.39% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -2.37% | -2.61% | +0.24% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.66% | 1.22% | -0.56% |
Volatility
CSTAX vs. MACIX - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for American Funds College 2027 Fund (CSTAX) is 1.32%, while MFS Conservative Allocation Fund (MACIX) has a volatility of 2.29%. This indicates that CSTAX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than MACIX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| CSTAX | MACIX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 1.32% | 2.29% | -0.97% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 2.05% | 3.83% | -1.78% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 3.47% | 6.49% | -3.02% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 5.16% | 7.14% | -1.98% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 5.82% | 7.11% | -1.29% |