LIPIX vs. WFSPX

Last updated Apr 2, 2026

Compare and contrast key facts about BlackRock LifePath Index 2050 Fund Institutional (LIPIX) and iShares S&P 500 Index Fund (WFSPX).

LIPIX is a passively managed fund by BlackRock that tracks the performance of the BlackRock LifePath Index 2050 Custom Benchmark (USD). It was launched on May 31, 2011. WFSPX is a passively managed fund by BlackRock that tracks the performance of the S&P 500 Index. It was launched on Jul 30, 1993. Both LIPIX and WFSPX are passive ETFs, meaning that they are not actively managed but aim to replicate the performance of the underlying index as closely as possible.

Performance

LIPIX vs. WFSPX - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in BlackRock LifePath Index 2050 Fund Institutional (LIPIX) and iShares S&P 500 Index Fund (WFSPX). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

LIPIX vs. WFSPX - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
LIPIX BlackRock LifePath Index 2050 Fund Institutional	-1.25%	20.70%	15.61%	21.25%	-18.33%	18.68%	14.23%	26.72%	-7.86%	21.38%
WFSPX iShares S&P 500 Index Fund	-4.63%	17.83%	24.94%	26.25%	-18.14%	28.63%	18.43%	31.45%	-4.83%	21.27%

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, LIPIX achieves a -1.25% return, which is significantly higher than WFSPX's -4.63% return. Over the past 10 years, LIPIX has underperformed WFSPX with an annualized return of 10.78%, while WFSPX has yielded a comparatively higher 13.92% annualized return.

LIPIX

• 1D: 2.90%
• 1M: -5.37%
• YTD: -1.25%
• 6M: 1.13%
• 1Y: 19.92%
• 3Y*: 16.07%
• 5Y*: 8.71%
• 10Y*: 10.78%

WFSPX

• 1D: 2.62%
• 1M: -5.31%
• YTD: -4.63%
• 6M: -2.47%
• 1Y: 16.96%
• 3Y*: 18.15%
• 5Y*: 11.69%
• 10Y*: 13.92%

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

LIPIX vs. WFSPX - Expense Ratio Comparison

LIPIX has a 0.14% expense ratio, which is higher than WFSPX's 0.03% 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%.

LIPIX

BlackRock LifePath Index 2050 Fund Institutional

WFSPX

iShares S&P 500 Index Fund

Return for Risk

LIPIX vs. WFSPX — Risk / Return Rank

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

LIPIX

LIPIX Risk / Return Rank: 68
LIPIX Sharpe Ratio Rank: 63
LIPIX Sortino Ratio Rank: 66
LIPIX Omega Ratio Rank: 66
LIPIX Calmar Ratio Rank: 66
LIPIX Martin Ratio Rank: 76

WFSPX

WFSPX Risk / Return Rank: 58
WFSPX Sharpe Ratio Rank: 46
WFSPX Sortino Ratio Rank: 51
WFSPX Omega Ratio Rank: 54
WFSPX Calmar Ratio Rank: 62
WFSPX Martin Ratio Rank: 74

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.

LIPIX vs. WFSPX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for BlackRock LifePath Index 2050 Fund Institutional (LIPIX) and iShares S&P 500 Index Fund (WFSPX). 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.

	LIPIX	WFSPX	Difference
Sharpe ratio Return per unit of total volatility	1.25	0.96	+0.29
Sortino ratio Return per unit of downside risk	1.83	1.47	+0.37
Omega ratio Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.27	1.22	+0.05
Calmar ratio Return relative to maximum drawdown	1.77	1.49	+0.28
Martin ratio Return relative to average drawdown	8.33	7.15	+1.17
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

LIPIX vs. WFSPX - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current LIPIX Sharpe Ratio is 1.25, which is comparable to the WFSPX Sharpe Ratio of 0.96. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of LIPIX and WFSPX, offering insights into how both investments have performed under varying market conditions. These values are calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	LIPIX	WFSPX	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	1.25	0.96	+0.29
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.57	0.70	-0.13
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.66	0.78	-0.12
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.58	0.13	+0.45

Correlation

The correlation between LIPIX and WFSPX is 0.96, 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

LIPIX vs. WFSPX - Dividend Comparison

LIPIX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.81%, more than WFSPX's 1.54% yield.

	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
LIPIX BlackRock LifePath Index 2050 Fund Institutional	2.81%	2.77%	2.45%	2.10%	2.03%	2.15%	1.08%	3.29%	2.37%	2.31%	1.57%	3.12%
WFSPX iShares S&P 500 Index Fund	1.54%	1.72%	1.41%	1.50%	2.02%	1.82%	1.66%	1.99%	2.00%	1.62%	2.37%	2.49%

Drawdowns

LIPIX vs. WFSPX - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum LIPIX drawdown since its inception was -34.29%, smaller than the maximum WFSPX drawdown of -58.21%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for LIPIX and WFSPX.

Drawdown Indicators

	LIPIX	WFSPX	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-34.29%	-58.21%	+23.92%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-11.53%	-12.11%	+0.58%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-26.39%	-24.51%	-1.88%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-34.29%	-33.74%	-0.55%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-6.45%	-6.51%	+0.06%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-4.51%	-12.84%	+8.33%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	2.45%	2.53%	-0.08%

Volatility

LIPIX vs. WFSPX - Volatility Comparison

BlackRock LifePath Index 2050 Fund Institutional (LIPIX) has a higher volatility of 6.02% compared to iShares S&P 500 Index Fund (WFSPX) at 5.17%. This indicates that LIPIX's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than WFSPX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	LIPIX	WFSPX	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	6.02%	5.17%	+0.85%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	9.32%	9.44%	-0.12%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	16.39%	18.21%	-1.82%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	15.43%	16.88%	-1.45%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	16.46%	18.00%	-1.54%