PLWIX vs. FTLSX
PLWIX (Principal LifeTime 2020 Fund) and FTLSX (Fidelity Flex Freedom Blend Income Fund) are both Target Retirement Date funds. Over the past 5 years, PLWIX returned 4.90%/yr vs 3.00%/yr for FTLSX. Their correlation of 0.82 means they have usually moved in the same direction. PLWIX charges 0.01%/yr vs 0.00%/yr for FTLSX.
Performance
PLWIX vs. FTLSX - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
The year-to-date returns for both stocks are quite close, with PLWIX having a 4.04% return and FTLSX slightly lower at 4.00%.
PLWIX
- 1D
- 0.08%
- 1M
- -0.08%
- 6M
- 2.44%
- YTD
- 4.04%
- 1Y
- 9.17%
- 3Y*
- 10.59%
- 5Y*
- 4.90%
- 10Y*
- 7.13%
- ALL TIME*
- 5.98%
FTLSX
- 1D
- 0.00%
- 1M
- -0.67%
- 6M
- 2.69%
- YTD
- 4.00%
- 1Y
- 8.24%
- 3Y*
- 7.64%
- 5Y*
- 3.00%
- 10Y*
- —
- ALL TIME*
- 4.37%
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 |
PLWIX vs. FTLSX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PLWIX Principal LifeTime 2020 Fund | 4.04% | 11.32% | 12.21% | 12.23% | -14.36% | 9.05% | 12.70% | 18.40% | -5.72% | 6.72% |
FTLSX Fidelity Flex Freedom Blend Income Fund | 4.00% | 10.31% | 4.72% | 8.60% | -11.33% | 3.30% | 9.04% | 10.97% | -1.40% | 3.61% |
Correlation
The correlation between PLWIX and FTLSX is 0.93, 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. | 0.93 |
Correlation (3Y) Balances recent behavior with more history. | 0.88 |
Correlation (5Y) Shows whether the relationship held over a longer period. | 0.85 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jun 15, 2017 | 0.82 |
The correlation between PLWIX and FTLSX shifts across timeframes, from 0.82 (all time) to 0.93 (1 year), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
PLWIX vs. FTLSX — Risk / Return Rank
PLWIX
FTLSX
PLWIX vs. FTLSX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Principal LifeTime 2020 Fund (PLWIX) and Fidelity Flex Freedom Blend Income Fund (FTLSX). 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.
| PLWIX | FTLSX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.25 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.37 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.26 | 1.33 | -0.07 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.90 | 2.35 | -0.45 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 8.13 | 9.47 | -1.33 |
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Drawdowns
PLWIX vs. FTLSX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum PLWIX drawdown since its inception was -49.07%, which is greater than FTLSX's maximum drawdown of -15.74%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for PLWIX and FTLSX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| PLWIX | FTLSX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -49.07% | -15.74% | -33.33% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -4.75% | -3.65% | -1.10% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -6.97% | -3.96% | -3.01% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -19.73% | -15.74% | -3.99% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -20.29% | — | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.63% | -1.23% | +0.60% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -5.69% | -2.78% | -2.91% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 1.11% | 0.90% | +0.21% |
Volatility
PLWIX vs. FTLSX - Volatility Comparison
Principal LifeTime 2020 Fund (PLWIX) and Fidelity Flex Freedom Blend Income Fund (FTLSX) have volatilities of 1.69% and 1.68%, 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.
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Volatility by Period
| PLWIX | FTLSX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 1.69% | 1.68% | +0.01% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 5.32% | 4.55% | +0.77% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 6.38% | 5.16% | +1.22% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 8.29% | 5.56% | +2.73% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 8.52% | 4.82% | +3.70% |
PLWIX vs. FTLSX - Expense Ratio Comparison
PLWIX has a 0.01% expense ratio, which is higher than FTLSX'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
PLWIX vs. FTLSX - Dividend Comparison
PLWIX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 9.69%, more than FTLSX's 3.05% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FTLSX Fidelity Flex Freedom Blend Income Fund | 3.05% | 3.68% | 3.37% | 3.19% | 5.28% | 4.91% | 3.06% | 4.44% | 4.26% | 1.97% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
PLWIX Principal LifeTime 2020 Fund | 9.69% | 10.08% | 11.91% | 5.12% | 9.82% | 9.40% | 5.90% | 8.69% | 7.35% | 5.74% | 3.73% | 8.75% |
Frequently Asked Questions
With a correlation of 0.93, PLWIX and FTLSX 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.
PLWIX has higher volatility (1.69%) compared to FTLSX (1.68%). In terms of maximum drawdown, PLWIX dropped -49.07% vs FTLSX's -15.74%.
FTLSX 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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