PLTNX vs. PTEAX
PLTNX (Principal LifeTime Hybrid 2055 Fund) and PTEAX (Principal Tax-Exempt Bond Fund) are both mutual funds - PLTNX is a Target Retirement Date fund managed by Principal, while PTEAX is a Municipal Bonds fund managed by Principal. Over the past 10 years, PLTNX returned 11.97%/yr vs 1.94%/yr for PTEAX. At a correlation of -0.01, they often move in opposite directions. PLTNX charges 0.05%/yr vs 0.73%/yr for PTEAX.
Performance
PLTNX vs. PTEAX - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, PLTNX achieves a 10.92% return, which is significantly higher than PTEAX's 1.54% return. Over the past 10 years, PLTNX has outperformed PTEAX with an annualized return of 11.97%, while PTEAX has yielded a comparatively lower 1.94% annualized return.
PLTNX
- 1D
- 1.31%
- 1M
- 1.81%
- YTD
- 10.92%
- 6M
- 10.71%
- 1Y
- 27.31%
- 3Y*
- 18.61%
- 5Y*
- 10.72%
- 10Y*
- 11.97%
PTEAX
- 1D
- 0.15%
- 1M
- 1.69%
- YTD
- 1.54%
- 6M
- 2.02%
- 1Y
- 6.64%
- 3Y*
- 3.89%
- 5Y*
- 0.31%
- 10Y*
- 1.94%
PLTNX vs. PTEAX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PLTNX Principal LifeTime Hybrid 2055 Fund | 10.92% | 19.89% | 17.25% | 20.33% | -18.49% | 19.70% | 15.78% | 26.17% | -9.84% | 21.03% |
PTEAX Principal Tax-Exempt Bond Fund | 1.54% | 4.68% | 2.10% | 6.35% | -12.18% | 2.71% | 4.80% | 9.05% | 0.44% | 6.44% |
Correlation
The correlation between PLTNX and PTEAX is 0.17, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.17 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.16 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.12 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.04 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Oct 1, 2014 | -0.01 |
The correlation between PLTNX and PTEAX shifts across timeframes, from -0.01 (all time) to 0.17 (1 year), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
PLTNX vs. PTEAX — Risk / Return Rank
PLTNX
PTEAX
PLTNX vs. PTEAX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Principal LifeTime Hybrid 2055 Fund (PLTNX) and Principal Tax-Exempt Bond Fund (PTEAX). 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.
| PLTNX | PTEAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.18 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.82 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.39 | 1.60 | -0.21 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 3.11 | 2.15 | +0.96 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 13.91 | 7.19 | +6.72 |
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Drawdowns
PLTNX vs. PTEAX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum PLTNX drawdown since its inception was -32.71%, smaller than the maximum PTEAX drawdown of -38.72%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for PLTNX and PTEAX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| PLTNX | PTEAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -32.71% | -38.72% | +6.01% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -8.66% | -3.10% | -5.56% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -16.66% | -5.31% | -11.35% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -25.48% | -17.37% | -8.11% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -32.71% | -17.37% | -15.34% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.67% | -0.41% | -0.26% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -4.76% | -5.93% | +1.17% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 1.94% | 0.93% | +1.01% |
Volatility
PLTNX vs. PTEAX - Volatility Comparison
Principal LifeTime Hybrid 2055 Fund (PLTNX) has a higher volatility of 5.13% compared to Principal Tax-Exempt Bond Fund (PTEAX) at 0.72%. This indicates that PLTNX's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than PTEAX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| PLTNX | PTEAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 5.13% | 0.72% | +4.41% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 10.49% | 2.07% | +8.42% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 12.72% | 2.90% | +9.82% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 15.61% | 3.99% | +11.62% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 15.89% | 4.40% | +11.49% |
PLTNX vs. PTEAX - Expense Ratio Comparison
PLTNX has a 0.05% expense ratio, which is lower than PTEAX's 0.73% expense ratio.
Dividends
PLTNX vs. PTEAX - Dividend Comparison
PLTNX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.14%, more than PTEAX's 3.82% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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% |
PTEAX Principal Tax-Exempt Bond Fund | 3.82% | 4.66% | 3.73% | 2.81% | 2.27% | 2.15% | 2.23% | 3.09% | 3.68% | 3.69% | 3.91% | 3.75% |
Frequently Asked Questions
PLTNX and PTEAX have a correlation of 0.17, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
PLTNX has higher volatility (5.13%) compared to PTEAX (0.72%). In terms of maximum drawdown, PLTNX dropped -32.71% vs PTEAX's -38.72%.
PTEAX currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.30 vs 2.12), 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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