PLFMX vs. SACAX
Compare and contrast key facts about Principal LargeCap S&P 500 Index Fund (PLFMX) and Principal SAM Strategic Growth Portfolio (SACAX).
PLFMX is a passively managed fund by Principal that tracks the performance of the S&P 500 Index. It was launched on Dec 6, 2000. SACAX is managed by Principal. It was launched on Jul 24, 1996.
Performance
PLFMX vs. SACAX - Performance Comparison
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PLFMX vs. SACAX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PLFMX Principal LargeCap S&P 500 Index Fund | -7.21% | 17.10% | 26.06% | 25.27% | -18.67% | 27.57% | 17.46% | 30.58% | -5.14% | 20.96% |
SACAX Principal SAM Strategic Growth Portfolio | -3.93% | 16.56% | 24.20% | 21.42% | -19.06% | 19.34% | 15.11% | 26.87% | -9.13% | 21.68% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, PLFMX achieves a -7.21% return, which is significantly lower than SACAX's -3.93% return. Over the past 10 years, PLFMX has outperformed SACAX with an annualized return of 13.08%, while SACAX has yielded a comparatively lower 10.78% annualized return.
PLFMX
- 1D
- -0.40%
- 1M
- -7.72%
- YTD
- -7.21%
- 6M
- -4.88%
- 1Y
- 13.70%
- 3Y*
- 16.94%
- 5Y*
- 10.93%
- 10Y*
- 13.08%
SACAX
- 1D
- -0.36%
- 1M
- -8.47%
- YTD
- -3.93%
- 6M
- -1.85%
- 1Y
- 13.46%
- 3Y*
- 16.91%
- 5Y*
- 9.09%
- 10Y*
- 10.78%
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PLFMX vs. SACAX - Expense Ratio Comparison
PLFMX has a 0.72% expense ratio, which is higher than SACAX's 0.61% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
PLFMX vs. SACAX — Risk / Return Rank
PLFMX
SACAX
PLFMX vs. SACAX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Principal LargeCap S&P 500 Index Fund (PLFMX) and Principal SAM Strategic Growth Portfolio (SACAX). 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.
| PLFMX | SACAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 0.81 | 0.89 | -0.08 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.28 | 1.34 | -0.06 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.19 | 1.19 | -0.01 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.00 | 1.05 | -0.05 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 4.83 | 4.99 | -0.16 |
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
| PLFMX | SACAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.81 | 0.89 | -0.08 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.65 | 0.59 | +0.06 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.75 | 0.68 | +0.08 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.40 | 0.45 | -0.05 |
Correlation
The correlation between PLFMX and SACAX is 0.97, 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
PLFMX vs. SACAX - Dividend Comparison
PLFMX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.59%, less than SACAX's 12.48% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PLFMX Principal LargeCap S&P 500 Index Fund | 2.59% | 2.41% | 3.77% | 3.62% | 2.28% | 13.02% | 7.02% | 3.28% | 6.80% | 6.44% | 2.66% | 2.07% |
SACAX Principal SAM Strategic Growth Portfolio | 12.48% | 11.99% | 13.37% | 1.16% | 9.30% | 7.53% | 4.02% | 4.47% | 20.79% | 6.82% | 3.68% | 14.08% |
Drawdowns
PLFMX vs. SACAX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum PLFMX drawdown since its inception was -55.62%, roughly equal to the maximum SACAX drawdown of -54.31%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for PLFMX and SACAX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| PLFMX | SACAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -55.62% | -54.31% | -1.31% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -12.14% | -11.30% | -0.84% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -24.91% | -26.96% | +2.05% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -33.80% | -34.90% | +1.10% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -9.00% | -8.85% | -0.15% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -10.06% | -9.84% | -0.22% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.50% | 2.37% | +0.13% |
Volatility
PLFMX vs. SACAX - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Principal LargeCap S&P 500 Index Fund (PLFMX) is 4.25%, while Principal SAM Strategic Growth Portfolio (SACAX) has a volatility of 4.89%. This indicates that PLFMX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than SACAX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| PLFMX | SACAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 4.25% | 4.89% | -0.64% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 9.10% | 8.76% | +0.34% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 17.88% | 15.59% | +2.29% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 16.88% | 15.56% | +1.32% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 17.45% | 15.98% | +1.47% |