PEMGX vs. PLTNX
PEMGX (Principal MidCap Fund Class A) and PLTNX (Principal LifeTime Hybrid 2055 Fund) are both mutual funds - PEMGX is a Mid Cap Blend Equities fund actively managed by Principal, while PLTNX is a Target Retirement Date fund managed by Principal. Over the past 10 years, PEMGX returned 12.40%/yr vs 12.31%/yr for PLTNX. Their correlation of 0.89 suggests significant overlap in exposure. PEMGX charges 0.91%/yr vs 0.05%/yr for PLTNX.
Performance
PEMGX vs. PLTNX - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, PEMGX achieves a -6.16% return, which is significantly lower than PLTNX's 9.00% return. Both investments have delivered pretty close results over the past 10 years, with PEMGX having a 12.40% annualized return and PLTNX not far behind at 12.31%.
PEMGX
- 1D
- 0.37%
- 1M
- 2.69%
- YTD
- -6.16%
- 6M
- -7.75%
- 1Y
- -8.82%
- 3Y*
- 9.81%
- 5Y*
- 4.39%
- 10Y*
- 12.40%
PLTNX
- 1D
- 0.24%
- 1M
- -0.97%
- YTD
- 9.00%
- 6M
- 7.95%
- 1Y
- 21.84%
- 3Y*
- 18.78%
- 5Y*
- 9.79%
- 10Y*
- 12.31%
PEMGX vs. PLTNX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PEMGX Principal MidCap Fund Class A | -6.16% | 1.39% | 23.50% | 25.60% | -23.35% | 24.87% | 17.95% | 49.15% | -7.10% | 24.93% |
PLTNX Principal LifeTime Hybrid 2055 Fund | 9.00% | 19.89% | 17.25% | 20.33% | -18.49% | 19.70% | 15.78% | 26.17% | -9.84% | 21.03% |
Correlation
The correlation between PEMGX and PLTNX is 0.68, which is moderate. They share some common price drivers but move independently often enough to provide real diversification benefit when combined.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.68 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.79 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.87 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.88 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Oct 1, 2014 | 0.89 |
Over the past year, the correlation between PEMGX and PLTNX has dropped to 0.68 - well below their long-term average of 0.89, suggesting their price drivers have been diverging.
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Return for Risk
PEMGX vs. PLTNX — Risk / Return Rank
PEMGX
PLTNX
PEMGX vs. PLTNX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Principal MidCap Fund Class A (PEMGX) and Principal LifeTime Hybrid 2055 Fund (PLTNX). 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.
| PEMGX | PLTNX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -2.34 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -3.17 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 0.92 | 1.33 | -0.41 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | -0.41 | 2.64 | -3.06 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | -0.86 | 11.68 | -12.54 |
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Drawdowns
PEMGX vs. PLTNX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum PEMGX drawdown since its inception was -84.41%, which is greater than PLTNX's maximum drawdown of -32.71%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for PEMGX and PLTNX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| PEMGX | PLTNX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -84.41% | -32.71% | -51.70% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -19.38% | -8.66% | -10.72% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -19.38% | -16.66% | -2.72% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -31.34% | -25.48% | -5.86% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -40.58% | -32.71% | -7.87% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -12.36% | -2.39% | -9.97% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -33.24% | -4.76% | -28.48% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 9.35% | 1.96% | +7.39% |
Volatility
PEMGX vs. PLTNX - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Principal MidCap Fund Class A (PEMGX) is 4.43%, while Principal LifeTime Hybrid 2055 Fund (PLTNX) has a volatility of 5.31%. This indicates that PEMGX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than PLTNX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| PEMGX | PLTNX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 4.43% | 5.31% | -0.88% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 11.64% | 10.60% | +1.04% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 14.62% | 12.80% | +1.82% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 18.71% | 15.63% | +3.08% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 19.14% | 15.83% | +3.31% |
PEMGX vs. PLTNX - Expense Ratio Comparison
PEMGX has a 0.91% expense ratio, which is higher than PLTNX's 0.05% expense ratio.
Dividends
PEMGX vs. PLTNX - Dividend Comparison
PEMGX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 6.51%, more than PLTNX's 4.21% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PEMGX Principal MidCap Fund Class A | 6.51% | 6.11% | 6.55% | 2.58% | 3.31% | 8.24% | 1.12% | 9.02% | 12.48% | 3.32% | 2.25% | 6.28% |
PLTNX Principal LifeTime Hybrid 2055 Fund | 4.21% | 4.59% | 4.40% | 2.84% | 9.11% | 4.23% | 3.11% | 3.47% | 4.68% | 2.21% | 1.99% | 1.63% |
Frequently Asked Questions
PEMGX and PLTNX have a correlation of 0.68, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
PLTNX has higher volatility (5.31%) compared to PEMGX (4.43%). In terms of maximum drawdown, PEMGX dropped -84.41% vs PLTNX's -32.71%.
PLTNX currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.79 vs -0.55), 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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