PLFIX vs. BSPIX

Last updated Apr 1, 2026

Compare and contrast key facts about Principal Large Cap S&P 500 Index Fund Institutional (PLFIX) and iShares S&P 500 Index Fund Institutional Class (BSPIX).

PLFIX is a passively managed fund by Principal that tracks the performance of the S&P 500 Index. It was launched on Mar 1, 2001. BSPIX is a passively managed fund by iShares that tracks the performance of the S&P 500 Index. It was launched on Apr 28, 1993. Both PLFIX and BSPIX 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

PLFIX vs. BSPIX - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Principal Large Cap S&P 500 Index Fund Institutional (PLFIX) and iShares S&P 500 Index Fund Institutional Class (BSPIX). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

PLFIX vs. BSPIX - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
PLFIX Principal Large Cap S&P 500 Index Fund Institutional	-7.07%	17.77%	26.77%	26.00%	-18.21%	28.25%	18.11%	31.35%	-4.66%	21.65%
BSPIX iShares S&P 500 Index Fund Institutional Class	-7.08%	17.75%	24.85%	26.17%	-18.20%	28.55%	18.35%	31.35%	-4.87%	21.20%

Returns By Period

The year-to-date returns for both stocks are quite close, with PLFIX having a -7.07% return and BSPIX slightly lower at -7.08%. Both investments have delivered pretty close results over the past 10 years, with PLFIX having a 13.72% annualized return and BSPIX not far behind at 13.55%.

PLFIX

• 1D: -0.40%
• 1M: -7.67%
• YTD: -7.07%
• 6M: -4.61%
• 1Y: 14.37%
• 3Y*: 17.60%
• 5Y*: 11.56%
• 10Y*: 13.72%

BSPIX

• 1D: -0.39%
• 1M: -7.69%
• YTD: -7.08%
• 6M: -4.66%
• 1Y: 14.32%
• 3Y*: 17.05%
• 5Y*: 11.30%
• 10Y*: 13.55%

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

PLFIX vs. BSPIX - Expense Ratio Comparison

PLFIX has a 0.11% expense ratio, which is higher than BSPIX's 0.10% 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%.

PLFIX

Principal Large Cap S&P 500 Index Fund Institutional

BSPIX

iShares S&P 500 Index Fund Institutional Class

Return for Risk

PLFIX vs. BSPIX — Risk / Return Rank

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

PLFIX

PLFIX Risk / Return Rank: 43
PLFIX Sharpe Ratio Rank: 38
PLFIX Sortino Ratio Rank: 42
PLFIX Omega Ratio Rank: 44
PLFIX Calmar Ratio Rank: 39
PLFIX Martin Ratio Rank: 52

BSPIX

BSPIX Risk / Return Rank: 43
BSPIX Sharpe Ratio Rank: 39
BSPIX Sortino Ratio Rank: 41
BSPIX Omega Ratio Rank: 46
BSPIX Calmar Ratio Rank: 40
BSPIX Martin Ratio Rank: 51

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.

PLFIX vs. BSPIX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Principal Large Cap S&P 500 Index Fund Institutional (PLFIX) and iShares S&P 500 Index Fund Institutional Class (BSPIX). 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.

	PLFIX	BSPIX	Difference
Sharpe ratio Return per unit of total volatility	0.85	0.83	+0.01
Sortino ratio Return per unit of downside risk	1.33	1.29	+0.04
Omega ratio Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.20	1.20	0.00
Calmar ratio Return relative to maximum drawdown	1.05	1.05	0.00
Martin ratio Return relative to average drawdown	5.14	5.09	+0.05
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

PLFIX vs. BSPIX - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current PLFIX Sharpe Ratio is 0.85, which is comparable to the BSPIX Sharpe Ratio of 0.83. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of PLFIX and BSPIX, 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

	PLFIX	BSPIX	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.85	0.83	+0.01
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.69	0.67	+0.02
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.79	0.76	+0.03
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.45	0.72	-0.27

Correlation

The correlation between PLFIX and BSPIX is 0.99, 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

PLFIX vs. BSPIX - Dividend Comparison

PLFIX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.17%, more than BSPIX's 1.53% yield.

	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
PLFIX Principal Large Cap S&P 500 Index Fund Institutional	3.17%	2.95%	4.28%	4.13%	2.96%	13.60%	7.57%	3.83%	7.52%	7.01%	3.23%	2.69%
BSPIX iShares S&P 500 Index Fund Institutional Class	1.53%	1.66%	1.35%	1.44%	1.94%	1.76%	1.60%	1.92%	1.94%	1.57%	2.30%	2.42%

Drawdowns

PLFIX vs. BSPIX - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum PLFIX drawdown since its inception was -55.28%, which is greater than BSPIX's maximum drawdown of -33.75%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for PLFIX and BSPIX.

Drawdown Indicators

	PLFIX	BSPIX	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-55.28%	-33.75%	-21.53%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-12.13%	-12.11%	-0.02%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-24.58%	-24.55%	-0.03%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-33.77%	-33.75%	-0.02%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-8.90%	-8.91%	+0.01%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-8.91%	-3.98%	-4.93%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	2.48%	2.49%	-0.01%

Volatility

PLFIX vs. BSPIX - Volatility Comparison

Principal Large Cap S&P 500 Index Fund Institutional (PLFIX) and iShares S&P 500 Index Fund Institutional Class (BSPIX) have volatilities of 4.24% and 4.24%, respectively, indicating that both stocks experience similar levels of price fluctuations. This suggests that the risk associated with both stocks, as measured by volatility, is nearly the same. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	PLFIX	BSPIX	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	4.24%	4.24%	0.00%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	9.06%	9.08%	-0.02%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	17.85%	18.06%	-0.21%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	16.87%	16.84%	+0.03%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	17.48%	17.99%	-0.51%