LIRKX vs. WFSPX
LIRKX (BlackRock LifePath Index Retirement Fund) and WFSPX (iShares S&P 500 Index Fund Class K) are both mutual funds - LIRKX is a Target Retirement Date fund tracking the BlackRock LifePath Index Retirement Custom Benchmark (USD), while WFSPX is a S&P 500 fund tracking the S&P 500 Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, LIRKX returned 6.08%/yr vs 15.68%/yr for WFSPX. Their correlation of 0.85 suggests significant overlap in exposure. LIRKX charges 0.09%/yr vs 0.03%/yr for WFSPX.
Performance
LIRKX vs. WFSPX - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, LIRKX achieves a 5.30% return, which is significantly lower than WFSPX's 9.77% return. Over the past 10 years, LIRKX has underperformed WFSPX with an annualized return of 6.08%, while WFSPX has yielded a comparatively higher 15.68% annualized return.
LIRKX
- 1D
- -0.19%
- 1M
- 0.64%
- YTD
- 5.30%
- 6M
- 5.07%
- 1Y
- 13.02%
- 3Y*
- 9.88%
- 5Y*
- 4.03%
- 10Y*
- 6.08%
WFSPX
- 1D
- -0.36%
- 1M
- 0.10%
- YTD
- 9.77%
- 6M
- 8.77%
- 1Y
- 25.45%
- 3Y*
- 21.35%
- 5Y*
- 13.57%
- 10Y*
- 15.68%
LIRKX vs. WFSPX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
LIRKX BlackRock LifePath Index Retirement Fund | 5.30% | 12.48% | 6.08% | 11.48% | -15.21% | 6.75% | 11.46% | 15.90% | -3.50% | 10.75% |
WFSPX iShares S&P 500 Index Fund Class K | 9.77% | 17.83% | 24.94% | 26.25% | -18.14% | 28.63% | 18.43% | 31.45% | -4.83% | 21.27% |
Correlation
The correlation between LIRKX and WFSPX is 0.86, 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 | 0.86 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.81 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.82 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.84 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since May 31, 2011 | 0.85 |
The correlation between LIRKX and WFSPX has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.81 to 0.86 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
LIRKX vs. WFSPX — Risk / Return Rank
LIRKX
WFSPX
LIRKX vs. WFSPX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for BlackRock LifePath Index Retirement Fund (LIRKX) and iShares S&P 500 Index Fund Class K (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.
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.
| LIRKX | WFSPX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.16 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.41 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.46 | 1.39 | +0.07 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 3.22 | 3.01 | +0.21 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 14.17 | 13.58 | +0.59 |
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Drawdowns
LIRKX vs. WFSPX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum LIRKX drawdown since its inception was -20.46%, smaller than the maximum WFSPX drawdown of -58.21%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for LIRKX and WFSPX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| LIRKX | WFSPX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -20.46% | -58.21% | +37.75% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -4.23% | -8.90% | +4.67% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -7.55% | -18.74% | +11.19% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -20.46% | -24.51% | +4.05% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -20.46% | -33.74% | +13.28% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.51% | -1.72% | +1.21% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -2.82% | -12.76% | +9.94% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.96% | 1.97% | -1.01% |
Volatility
LIRKX vs. WFSPX - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for BlackRock LifePath Index Retirement Fund (LIRKX) is 2.40%, while iShares S&P 500 Index Fund Class K (WFSPX) has a volatility of 4.67%. This indicates that LIRKX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than WFSPX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| LIRKX | WFSPX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 2.40% | 4.67% | -2.27% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 4.96% | 9.83% | -4.87% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 5.92% | 12.49% | -6.57% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 7.88% | 16.97% | -9.09% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 7.54% | 18.07% | -10.53% |
LIRKX vs. WFSPX - Expense Ratio Comparison
LIRKX has a 0.09% 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%.
Dividends
LIRKX vs. WFSPX - Dividend Comparison
LIRKX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.69%, more than WFSPX's 1.59% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
LIRKX BlackRock LifePath Index Retirement Fund | 3.69% | 3.89% | 2.06% | 2.67% | 2.75% | 2.74% | 1.98% | 2.48% | 2.50% | 2.28% | 2.53% | 2.98% |
WFSPX iShares S&P 500 Index Fund Class K | 1.59% | 1.72% | 1.41% | 1.50% | 2.02% | 1.82% | 1.66% | 1.99% | 2.00% | 1.62% | 2.37% | 2.49% |
Frequently Asked Questions
LIRKX and WFSPX have a correlation of 0.86, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
WFSPX has higher volatility (4.67%) compared to LIRKX (2.40%). In terms of maximum drawdown, LIRKX dropped -20.46% vs WFSPX's -58.21%.
LIRKX currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.31 vs 2.15), 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.
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