PLWIX vs. VTTVX
Compare and contrast key facts about Principal LifeTime 2020 Fund (PLWIX) and Vanguard Target Retirement 2025 Fund (VTTVX).
PLWIX is managed by Principal. It was launched on Feb 28, 2001. VTTVX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Oct 27, 2003.
Performance
PLWIX vs. VTTVX - Performance Comparison
Loading graphics...
PLWIX vs. VTTVX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PLWIX Principal LifeTime 2020 Fund | -2.23% | 11.32% | 12.21% | 12.23% | -14.36% | 9.05% | 12.70% | 18.40% | -5.72% | 14.96% |
VTTVX Vanguard Target Retirement 2025 Fund | -2.21% | 14.63% | 9.23% | 14.76% | -15.57% | 9.78% | 13.31% | 19.63% | -5.14% | 13.68% |
Returns By Period
The year-to-date returns for both investments are quite close, with PLWIX having a -2.23% return and VTTVX slightly higher at -2.21%. Over the past 10 years, PLWIX has underperformed VTTVX with an annualized return of 6.86%, while VTTVX has yielded a comparatively higher 7.26% annualized return.
PLWIX
- 1D
- 0.17%
- 1M
- -4.51%
- YTD
- -2.23%
- 6M
- -0.84%
- 1Y
- 7.85%
- 3Y*
- 9.55%
- 5Y*
- 4.70%
- 10Y*
- 6.86%
VTTVX
- 1D
- 0.05%
- 1M
- -5.38%
- YTD
- -2.21%
- 6M
- -0.23%
- 1Y
- 11.38%
- 3Y*
- 10.10%
- 5Y*
- 5.04%
- 10Y*
- 7.26%
Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs
Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.
PLWIX vs. VTTVX - Expense Ratio Comparison
PLWIX has a 0.01% expense ratio, which is lower than VTTVX's 0.08% 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%.
Return for Risk
PLWIX vs. VTTVX — Risk / Return Rank
PLWIX
VTTVX
PLWIX vs. VTTVX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Principal LifeTime 2020 Fund (PLWIX) and Vanguard Target Retirement 2025 Fund (VTTVX). 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.
| PLWIX | VTTVX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.07 | 1.37 | -0.30 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.53 | 1.95 | -0.42 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.22 | 1.28 | -0.06 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.29 | 1.77 | -0.49 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 5.82 | 7.76 | -1.94 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
Loading graphics...
Sharpe Ratios by Period
| PLWIX | VTTVX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.07 | 1.37 | -0.30 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.58 | 0.56 | +0.01 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.81 | 0.73 | +0.07 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.51 | 0.54 | -0.02 |
Correlation
The correlation between PLWIX and VTTVX 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
PLWIX vs. VTTVX - Dividend Comparison
PLWIX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 10.31%, more than VTTVX's 7.55% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PLWIX Principal LifeTime 2020 Fund | 10.31% | 10.08% | 11.91% | 5.12% | 9.82% | 9.40% | 5.90% | 8.69% | 7.35% | 5.74% | 3.73% | 8.75% |
VTTVX Vanguard Target Retirement 2025 Fund | 7.55% | 7.38% | 7.63% | 3.96% | 2.96% | 16.28% | 4.35% | 2.57% | 3.14% | 0.47% | 2.68% | 4.98% |
Drawdowns
PLWIX vs. VTTVX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum PLWIX drawdown since its inception was -49.07%, which is greater than VTTVX's maximum drawdown of -46.03%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for PLWIX and VTTVX.
Loading graphics...
Drawdown Indicators
| PLWIX | VTTVX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -49.07% | -46.03% | -3.04% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -5.75% | -6.08% | +0.33% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -19.73% | -21.52% | +1.79% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -20.29% | -22.51% | +2.22% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -4.59% | -5.52% | +0.93% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -5.76% | -5.09% | -0.67% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 1.27% | 1.39% | -0.12% |
Volatility
PLWIX vs. VTTVX - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Principal LifeTime 2020 Fund (PLWIX) is 2.61%, while Vanguard Target Retirement 2025 Fund (VTTVX) has a volatility of 2.99%. This indicates that PLWIX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than VTTVX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
Loading graphics...
Volatility by Period
| PLWIX | VTTVX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 2.61% | 2.99% | -0.38% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 4.35% | 5.01% | -0.66% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 7.48% | 8.43% | -0.95% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 8.22% | 9.04% | -0.82% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 8.55% | 9.91% | -1.36% |