FULSX vs. PADLX

Last updated Jun 5, 2026

FULSX (Fidelity Flex Freedom Blend 2020 Fund) and PADLX (Putnam Retirement Advantage Maturity Fund) are both Target Retirement Date funds. Over the past 5 years, FULSX returned 5.20%/yr vs 3.94%/yr for PADLX. Their correlation of 0.92 suggests significant overlap in exposure. FULSX charges 0.00%/yr vs 0.22%/yr for PADLX.

Performance

FULSX vs. PADLX - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Fidelity Flex Freedom Blend 2020 Fund (FULSX) and Putnam Retirement Advantage Maturity Fund (PADLX). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, FULSX achieves a 7.14% return, which is significantly higher than PADLX's 4.51% return.

FULSX

• 1D: -0.40%
• 1M: 2.00%
• YTD: 7.14%
• 6M: 7.76%
• 1Y: 16.76%
• 3Y*: 12.10%
• 5Y*: 5.20%
• 10Y*: —

PADLX

• 1D: -0.35%
• 1M: 1.39%
• YTD: 4.51%
• 6M: 5.05%
• 1Y: 13.15%
• 3Y*: 10.30%
• 5Y*: 3.94%
• 10Y*: —

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

FULSX vs. PADLX - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020
FULSX Fidelity Flex Freedom Blend 2020 Fund	7.14%	14.78%	7.59%	13.27%	-16.10%	9.09%	12.81%
PADLX Putnam Retirement Advantage Maturity Fund	4.51%	10.83%	8.34%	11.01%	-12.54%	2.93%	7.84%

Correlation

The correlation between FULSX and PADLX is 0.94, indicating a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Combining them offers limited diversification - they tend to fall together during downturns.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.94
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.93
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.92
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jan 3, 2020	0.92

The correlation between FULSX and PADLX has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.92 to 0.94 - a consistent structural relationship.

Return for Risk

FULSX vs. PADLX — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.

FULSX

FULSX Risk / Return Rank: 77
FULSX Sharpe Ratio Rank: 78
FULSX Sortino Ratio Rank: 78
FULSX Omega Ratio Rank: 78
FULSX Calmar Ratio Rank: 74
FULSX Martin Ratio Rank: 78

PADLX

PADLX Risk / Return Rank: 87
PADLX Sharpe Ratio Rank: 90
PADLX Sortino Ratio Rank: 90
PADLX Omega Ratio Rank: 86
PADLX Calmar Ratio Rank: 82
PADLX Martin Ratio Rank: 87

The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

FULSX vs. PADLX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Fidelity Flex Freedom Blend 2020 Fund (FULSX) and Putnam Retirement Advantage Maturity Fund (PADLX). 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.

	FULSX	PADLX	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	2.52	2.99	-0.47
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	3.65	4.45	-0.80
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.50	1.59	-0.09
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	3.23	3.75	-0.52
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	14.01	16.42	-2.40
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

FULSX vs. PADLX - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current FULSX Sharpe Ratio is 2.52, which is comparable to the PADLX Sharpe Ratio of 2.99. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of FULSX and PADLX, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	FULSX	PADLX	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	2.52	2.99	-0.47
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.58	0.60	-0.01
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.78	0.64	+0.14

Drawdowns

FULSX vs. PADLX - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum FULSX drawdown since its inception was -22.52%, which is greater than PADLX's maximum drawdown of -18.87%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for FULSX and PADLX.

Drawdown Indicators

	FULSX	PADLX	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-22.52%	-18.87%	-3.65%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-5.42%	-3.63%	-1.79%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-7.70%	-6.63%	-1.07%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-22.52%	-18.87%	-3.65%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-0.40%	-0.35%	-0.05%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-4.39%	-4.83%	+0.44%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	1.25%	0.83%	+0.42%

Volatility

FULSX vs. PADLX - Volatility Comparison

Fidelity Flex Freedom Blend 2020 Fund (FULSX) has a higher volatility of 2.63% compared to Putnam Retirement Advantage Maturity Fund (PADLX) at 1.54%. This indicates that FULSX's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than PADLX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	FULSX	PADLX	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	2.63%	1.54%	+1.09%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	5.79%	3.63%	+2.16%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	6.96%	4.56%	+2.40%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	8.97%	6.66%	+2.31%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	9.30%	7.51%	+1.79%

FULSX vs. PADLX - Expense Ratio Comparison

FULSX has a 0.00% expense ratio, which is lower than PADLX's 0.22% expense ratio. Despite the difference, both funds are considered low-cost compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios usually range from 0.3% to 0.9%.

Dividends

FULSX vs. PADLX - Dividend Comparison

FULSX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 30.90%, more than PADLX's 4.96% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
FULSX Fidelity Flex Freedom Blend 2020 Fund	30.90%	7.84%	2.85%	2.82%	5.22%	6.27%	4.48%	6.03%	6.15%	2.62%
PADLX Putnam Retirement Advantage Maturity Fund	4.96%	5.03%	3.71%	2.91%	1.01%	1.45%	1.66%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both FULSX and PADLX in my portfolio?

With a correlation of 0.94, FULSX and PADLX 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, FULSX or PADLX?

FULSX has higher volatility (2.63%) compared to PADLX (1.54%). In terms of maximum drawdown, FULSX dropped -22.52% vs PADLX's -18.87%.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

PADLX currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.99 vs 2.52), 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.