PLSIX vs. MLLIX
PLSIX (Principal LifeTime Strategic Income Fund) and MLLIX (MFS Lifetime Income Fund) are both Target Retirement Date funds. Over the past 10 years, PLSIX returned 5.01%/yr vs 4.90%/yr for MLLIX. Their correlation of 0.90 means they have usually moved in the same direction. PLSIX charges 0.02%/yr vs 0.00%/yr for MLLIX.
Performance
PLSIX vs. MLLIX - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, PLSIX achieves a 3.62% return, which is significantly higher than MLLIX's 3.40% return. Both investments have delivered pretty close results over the past 10 years, with PLSIX having a 5.01% annualized return and MLLIX not far behind at 4.90%.
PLSIX
- 1D
- 0.08%
- 1M
- -0.17%
- 6M
- 2.21%
- YTD
- 3.62%
- 1Y
- 8.22%
- 3Y*
- 8.80%
- 5Y*
- 3.72%
- 10Y*
- 5.01%
- ALL TIME*
- 2.83%
MLLIX
- 1D
- -0.08%
- 1M
- -0.40%
- 6M
- 2.18%
- YTD
- 3.40%
- 1Y
- 7.39%
- 3Y*
- 7.28%
- 5Y*
- 3.03%
- 10Y*
- 4.90%
- ALL TIME*
- 5.06%
Liquidity Comparison
| Position | Avg. Volume Value (2W) | Avg. Volume Value (1M) | Avg. Volume Value (3M) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
| $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
PLSIX vs. MLLIX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PLSIX Principal LifeTime Strategic Income Fund | 3.62% | 10.46% | 8.16% | 10.93% | -13.11% | 4.40% | 10.19% | 12.77% | -3.15% | 8.73% |
MLLIX MFS Lifetime Income Fund | 3.40% | 9.32% | 5.62% | 9.12% | -11.99% | 6.63% | 10.06% | 13.91% | -2.37% | 8.24% |
Correlation
The correlation between PLSIX and MLLIX is 0.90, meaning they have usually moved in the same direction, including during past declines.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most. | 0.90 |
Correlation (3Y) Balances recent behavior with more history. | 0.90 |
Correlation (5Y) Shows whether the relationship held over a longer period. | 0.93 |
Correlation (10Y) Provides a long-term view across more market conditions. | 0.91 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Sep 29, 2005 | 0.90 |
The correlation between PLSIX and MLLIX has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.90 to 0.93 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
PLSIX vs. MLLIX — Risk / Return Rank
PLSIX
MLLIX
PLSIX vs. MLLIX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Principal LifeTime Strategic Income Fund (PLSIX) and MFS Lifetime Income Fund (MLLIX). 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.
| PLSIX | MLLIX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.25 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.42 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.26 | 1.31 | -0.05 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.90 | 1.95 | -0.05 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 8.17 | 8.54 | -0.36 |
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Drawdowns
PLSIX vs. MLLIX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum PLSIX drawdown since its inception was -40.52%, which is greater than MLLIX's maximum drawdown of -17.32%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for PLSIX and MLLIX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| PLSIX | MLLIX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -40.52% | -17.32% | -23.20% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -4.30% | -3.86% | -0.44% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -5.88% | -4.93% | -0.95% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -17.93% | -16.08% | -1.85% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -17.93% | -16.08% | -1.85% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.66% | -0.72% | +0.06% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -6.63% | -2.14% | -4.49% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 1.00% | 0.88% | +0.12% |
Volatility
PLSIX vs. MLLIX - Volatility Comparison
Principal LifeTime Strategic Income Fund (PLSIX) has a higher volatility of 1.50% compared to MFS Lifetime Income Fund (MLLIX) at 1.05%. This indicates that PLSIX's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than MLLIX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| PLSIX | MLLIX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 1.50% | 1.05% | +0.45% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 4.81% | 3.66% | +1.15% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 5.75% | 4.50% | +1.25% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 6.92% | 5.94% | +0.98% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 5.92% | 5.71% | +0.21% |
PLSIX vs. MLLIX - Expense Ratio Comparison
PLSIX has a 0.02% expense ratio, which is higher than MLLIX's 0.00% 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
PLSIX vs. MLLIX - Dividend Comparison
PLSIX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 5.59%, less than MLLIX's 7.44% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MLLIX MFS Lifetime Income Fund | 7.44% | 6.01% | 6.26% | 3.70% | 3.92% | 6.12% | 3.18% | 3.80% | 4.20% | 3.56% | 4.21% | 2.51% |
PLSIX Principal LifeTime Strategic Income Fund | 5.59% | 5.79% | 6.17% | 2.59% | 5.27% | 7.76% | 3.80% | 5.45% | 7.67% | 4.76% | 2.50% | 2.11% |
Frequently Asked Questions
With a correlation of 0.90, PLSIX and MLLIX move almost identically. Holding both adds very little diversification - you're essentially doubling your position in the same market segment. Choosing one is usually more capital-efficient.
PLSIX has higher volatility (1.50%) compared to MLLIX (1.05%). In terms of maximum drawdown, PLSIX dropped -40.52% vs MLLIX's -17.32%.
MLLIX currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.67 vs 1.42), 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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