PLTNX vs. PLFIX
PLTNX (Principal LifeTime Hybrid 2055 Fund) and PLFIX (Principal Large Cap S&P 500 Index Fund Institutional) are both mutual funds - PLTNX is a Target Retirement Date fund managed by Principal, while PLFIX is a S&P 500 fund tracking the S&P 500 Index. Over the past 10 years, PLTNX returned 11.89%/yr vs 15.55%/yr for PLFIX. With a 0.96 correlation, they move nearly in lockstep. PLTNX charges 0.05%/yr vs 0.11%/yr for PLFIX.
Performance
PLTNX vs. PLFIX - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
The year-to-date returns for both investments are quite close, with PLTNX having a 10.76% return and PLFIX slightly higher at 10.84%. Over the past 10 years, PLTNX has underperformed PLFIX with an annualized return of 11.89%, while PLFIX has yielded a comparatively higher 15.55% annualized return.
PLTNX
- 1D
- -0.81%
- 1M
- 3.64%
- YTD
- 10.76%
- 6M
- 11.38%
- 1Y
- 26.91%
- 3Y*
- 19.65%
- 5Y*
- 10.21%
- 10Y*
- 11.89%
PLFIX
- 1D
- -0.75%
- 1M
- 4.15%
- YTD
- 10.84%
- 6M
- 10.78%
- 1Y
- 27.92%
- 3Y*
- 22.91%
- 5Y*
- 14.07%
- 10Y*
- 15.55%
PLTNX vs. PLFIX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PLTNX Principal LifeTime Hybrid 2055 Fund | 10.76% | 19.89% | 17.25% | 20.33% | -18.49% | 19.70% | 15.78% | 26.17% | -9.84% | 21.03% |
PLFIX Principal Large Cap S&P 500 Index Fund Institutional | 10.84% | 17.77% | 26.77% | 26.00% | -18.21% | 28.25% | 18.11% | 31.35% | -4.66% | 21.65% |
Correlation
The correlation between PLTNX and PLFIX is 0.95 - these two move nearly in lockstep. At this level, holding both provides almost no diversification benefit. If you already own one, adding the other does little to reduce portfolio risk.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.95 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.95 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.96 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.96 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Oct 2, 2014 | 0.96 |
The correlation between PLTNX and PLFIX has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.95 to 0.96 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
PLTNX vs. PLFIX — Risk / Return Rank
PLTNX
PLFIX
PLTNX vs. PLFIX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Principal LifeTime Hybrid 2055 Fund (PLTNX) and Principal Large Cap S&P 500 Index Fund Institutional (PLFIX). 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.
| PLTNX | PLFIX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.10 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.08 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.42 | 1.43 | -0.02 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 3.14 | 3.15 | -0.02 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 14.41 | 14.74 | -0.33 |
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
| PLTNX | PLFIX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 2.26 | 2.37 | -0.10 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.66 | 0.84 | -0.17 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.75 | 0.89 | -0.14 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.69 | 0.49 | +0.20 |
Drawdowns
PLTNX vs. PLFIX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum PLTNX drawdown since its inception was -32.71%, smaller than the maximum PLFIX drawdown of -55.28%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for PLTNX and PLFIX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| PLTNX | PLFIX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -32.71% | -55.28% | +22.57% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -8.66% | -8.90% | +0.24% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -16.66% | -18.77% | +2.11% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -25.48% | -24.58% | -0.90% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -32.71% | -33.77% | +1.06% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.81% | -0.75% | -0.06% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -4.77% | -8.86% | +4.09% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 1.88% | 1.90% | -0.02% |
Volatility
PLTNX vs. PLFIX - Volatility Comparison
Principal LifeTime Hybrid 2055 Fund (PLTNX) has a higher volatility of 3.53% compared to Principal Large Cap S&P 500 Index Fund Institutional (PLFIX) at 2.92%. This indicates that PLTNX's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than PLFIX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| PLTNX | PLFIX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 3.53% | 2.92% | +0.61% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 9.53% | 8.98% | +0.55% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 12.00% | 11.87% | +0.13% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 15.49% | 16.91% | -1.42% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 15.84% | 17.51% | -1.67% |
PLTNX vs. PLFIX - Expense Ratio Comparison
PLTNX has a 0.05% expense ratio, which is lower than PLFIX's 0.11% 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%.
Dividends
PLTNX vs. PLFIX - Dividend Comparison
PLTNX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.14%, more than PLFIX's 2.66% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PLFIX Principal Large Cap S&P 500 Index Fund Institutional | 2.66% | 2.95% | 4.28% | 4.13% | 2.96% | 13.60% | 7.57% | 3.83% | 7.52% | 7.01% | 3.23% | 2.69% |
PLTNX Principal LifeTime Hybrid 2055 Fund | 4.14% | 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
With a correlation of 0.95, PLTNX and PLFIX 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.
PLTNX has higher volatility (3.53%) compared to PLFIX (2.92%). In terms of maximum drawdown, PLTNX dropped -32.71% vs PLFIX's -55.28%.
PLFIX currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.37 vs 2.26), 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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