FLSOX vs. PLWIX

Last updated Aug 1, 2026

FLSOX (Franklin LifeSmart 2050 Retirement Target Fund) and PLWIX (Principal LifeTime 2020 Fund) are both Target Retirement Date funds. Over the past 10 years, FLSOX returned 11.15%/yr vs 7.07%/yr for PLWIX. Their correlation of 0.93 means they have usually moved in the same direction. FLSOX charges 0.25%/yr vs 0.01%/yr for PLWIX.

Performance

FLSOX vs. PLWIX - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Franklin LifeSmart 2050 Retirement Target Fund (FLSOX) and Principal LifeTime 2020 Fund (PLWIX). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, FLSOX achieves a 9.97% return, which is significantly higher than PLWIX's 3.96% return. Over the past 10 years, FLSOX has outperformed PLWIX with an annualized return of 11.15%, while PLWIX has yielded a comparatively lower 7.07% annualized return.

FLSOX

• 1D: 2.19%
• 1M: -0.32%
• 6M: 6.69%
• YTD: 9.97%
• 1Y: 22.05%
• 3Y*: 17.18%
• 5Y*: 9.86%
• 10Y*: 11.15%
• ALL TIME*: 9.66%

PLWIX

• 1D: 0.72%
• 1M: -0.16%
• 6M: 2.52%
• YTD: 3.96%
• 1Y: 9.09%
• 3Y*: 10.38%
• 5Y*: 4.88%
• 10Y*: 7.07%
• ALL TIME*: 5.98%

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

Liquidity Comparison

Position	Avg. Volume Value (2W)	Avg. Volume Value (1M)	Avg. Volume Value (3M)
FLSOX Franklin LifeSmart 2050 Retirement Target Fund	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00
PLWIX Principal LifeTime 2020 Fund	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00

FLSOX vs. PLWIX - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
FLSOX Franklin LifeSmart 2050 Retirement Target Fund	9.97%	21.51%	15.86%	19.58%	-17.26%	17.71%	16.53%	22.44%	-7.23%	19.20%
PLWIX Principal LifeTime 2020 Fund	3.96%	11.32%	12.21%	12.23%	-14.36%	9.05%	12.70%	18.40%	-5.72%	14.96%

Correlation

The correlation between FLSOX and PLWIX 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.	0.90
Correlation (5Y) Shows whether the relationship held over a longer period.	0.92
Correlation (10Y) Provides a long-term view across more market conditions.	0.92
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jan 2, 2015	0.93

The correlation between FLSOX and PLWIX has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.90 to 0.93 - a consistent structural relationship.

Return for Risk

FLSOX vs. PLWIX — Risk / Return Rank

Compare historical risk-adjusted metric ranks over the past 12 months.

FLSOX

FLSOX Risk / Return Rank: 61
FLSOX Sharpe Ratio Rank: 60
FLSOX Sortino Ratio Rank: 58
FLSOX Omega Ratio Rank: 58
FLSOX Calmar Ratio Rank: 59
FLSOX Martin Ratio Rank: 72

PLWIX

PLWIX Risk / Return Rank: 52
PLWIX Sharpe Ratio Rank: 50
PLWIX Sortino Ratio Rank: 50
PLWIX Omega Ratio Rank: 50
PLWIX Calmar Ratio Rank: 48
PLWIX Martin Ratio Rank: 59

The rank (0–100) uses a weighted average of the Sharpe, Sortino, Omega, Calmar, and Martin percentile ranks for the trailing 12 months. Higher means stronger historical risk-adjusted performance within the peer group.

FLSOX vs. PLWIX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Franklin LifeSmart 2050 Retirement Target Fund (FLSOX) and Principal LifeTime 2020 Fund (PLWIX). 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.

	FLSOX	PLWIX	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	1.55	1.35	+0.20
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	2.19	1.95	+0.24
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.28	1.25	+0.03
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	2.15	1.81	+0.34
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	9.14	7.75	+1.39

FLSOX vs. PLWIX - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current FLSOX Sharpe Ratio is 1.55, which is comparable to the PLWIX Sharpe Ratio of 1.35. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of FLSOX and PLWIX, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Drawdowns

FLSOX vs. PLWIX - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum FLSOX drawdown since its inception was -39.36%, smaller than the maximum PLWIX drawdown of -49.07%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for FLSOX and PLWIX.

Drawdown Indicators

	FLSOX	PLWIX	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-39.36%	-49.07%	+9.71%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-9.44%	-4.75%	-4.69%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-15.50%	-6.97%	-8.53%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-39.36%	-19.73%	-19.63%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-39.36%	-20.29%	-19.07%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-1.80%	-0.71%	-1.09%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-8.57%	-5.69%	-2.88%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	2.22%	1.11%	+1.11%

Volatility

FLSOX vs. PLWIX - Volatility Comparison

Franklin LifeSmart 2050 Retirement Target Fund (FLSOX) has a higher volatility of 4.09% compared to Principal LifeTime 2020 Fund (PLWIX) at 1.73%. This indicates that FLSOX's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than PLWIX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	FLSOX	PLWIX	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	4.09%	1.73%	+2.36%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	11.01%	5.32%	+5.69%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	13.11%	6.39%	+6.72%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	20.47%	8.29%	+12.18%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	17.98%	8.52%	+9.46%

FLSOX vs. PLWIX - Expense Ratio Comparison

FLSOX has a 0.25% expense ratio, which is higher than PLWIX's 0.01% expense ratio. However, both funds are considered low-cost compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios usually range from 0.3% to 0.9%.

Dividends

FLSOX vs. PLWIX - Dividend Comparison

FLSOX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 5.68%, less than PLWIX's 9.70% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
FLSOX Franklin LifeSmart 2050 Retirement Target Fund	5.68%	6.32%	2.59%	1.97%	4.39%	26.85%	3.04%	2.33%	4.40%	1.95%	1.79%	2.99%
PLWIX Principal LifeTime 2020 Fund	9.70%	10.08%	11.91%	5.12%	9.82%	9.40%	5.90%	8.69%	7.35%	5.74%	3.73%	8.75%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both FLSOX and PLWIX in my portfolio?

With a correlation of 0.93, FLSOX and PLWIX 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.

Which is riskier, FLSOX or PLWIX?

FLSOX has higher volatility (4.09%) compared to PLWIX (1.73%). In terms of maximum drawdown, FLSOX dropped -39.36% vs PLWIX's -49.07%.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

FLSOX currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.55 vs 1.35), 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.