MFFIX vs. VTIVX
Compare and contrast key facts about MFS Lifetime 2050 Fund (MFFIX) and Vanguard Target Retirement 2045 Fund (VTIVX).
MFFIX is managed by MFS. It was launched on Sep 14, 2010. VTIVX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Oct 27, 2003.
Performance
MFFIX vs. VTIVX - Performance Comparison
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MFFIX vs. VTIVX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MFFIX MFS Lifetime 2050 Fund | -2.67% | 16.35% | 13.21% | 16.81% | -15.69% | 20.44% | 13.24% | 26.79% | -7.94% | 21.21% |
VTIVX Vanguard Target Retirement 2045 Fund | -3.63% | 20.01% | 13.68% | 19.72% | -17.38% | 16.16% | 16.31% | 24.94% | -7.89% | 19.16% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, MFFIX achieves a -2.67% return, which is significantly higher than VTIVX's -3.63% return. Both investments have delivered pretty close results over the past 10 years, with MFFIX having a 10.14% annualized return and VTIVX not far behind at 10.04%.
MFFIX
- 1D
- -0.25%
- 1M
- -8.00%
- YTD
- -2.67%
- 6M
- -1.00%
- 1Y
- 13.34%
- 3Y*
- 12.62%
- 5Y*
- 7.61%
- 10Y*
- 10.14%
VTIVX
- 1D
- -0.24%
- 1M
- -7.90%
- YTD
- -3.63%
- 6M
- -0.85%
- 1Y
- 16.12%
- 3Y*
- 13.91%
- 5Y*
- 7.66%
- 10Y*
- 10.04%
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MFFIX vs. VTIVX - Expense Ratio Comparison
MFFIX has a 0.00% expense ratio, which is lower than VTIVX's 0.08% 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%.
Return for Risk
MFFIX vs. VTIVX — Risk / Return Rank
MFFIX
VTIVX
MFFIX vs. VTIVX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for MFS Lifetime 2050 Fund (MFFIX) and Vanguard Target Retirement 2045 Fund (VTIVX). 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.
| MFFIX | VTIVX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 0.95 | 1.20 | -0.25 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.38 | 1.72 | -0.34 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.20 | 1.25 | -0.05 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.09 | 1.50 | -0.42 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 5.08 | 6.90 | -1.82 |
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
| MFFIX | VTIVX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.95 | 1.20 | -0.25 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.55 | 0.57 | -0.02 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.68 | 0.68 | 0.00 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.67 | 0.51 | +0.16 |
Correlation
The correlation between MFFIX and VTIVX is 0.98, 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
MFFIX vs. VTIVX - Dividend Comparison
MFFIX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 7.77%, more than VTIVX's 2.59% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MFFIX MFS Lifetime 2050 Fund | 7.77% | 7.56% | 4.81% | 3.51% | 6.38% | 9.06% | 2.37% | 4.34% | 3.88% | 3.10% | 3.90% | 1.76% |
VTIVX Vanguard Target Retirement 2045 Fund | 2.59% | 2.50% | 2.36% | 2.27% | 2.75% | 15.40% | 1.90% | 2.23% | 2.52% | 0.04% | 2.47% | 3.29% |
Drawdowns
MFFIX vs. VTIVX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum MFFIX drawdown since its inception was -32.80%, smaller than the maximum VTIVX drawdown of -51.69%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for MFFIX and VTIVX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| MFFIX | VTIVX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -32.80% | -51.69% | +18.89% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -11.00% | -9.73% | -1.27% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -23.17% | -25.10% | +1.93% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -32.80% | -31.42% | -1.38% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -8.31% | -8.30% | -0.01% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -4.00% | -6.37% | +2.37% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.35% | 2.12% | +0.23% |
Volatility
MFFIX vs. VTIVX - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for MFS Lifetime 2050 Fund (MFFIX) is 4.02%, while Vanguard Target Retirement 2045 Fund (VTIVX) has a volatility of 4.36%. This indicates that MFFIX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than VTIVX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| MFFIX | VTIVX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 4.02% | 4.36% | -0.34% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 7.86% | 7.85% | +0.01% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 14.19% | 13.55% | +0.64% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 13.90% | 13.41% | +0.49% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 14.91% | 14.75% | +0.16% |