PMTIX vs. SSCNX

Last updated Jun 4, 2026

PMTIX (Principal LifeTime 2030 Fund) and SSCNX (State Street Target Retirement 2040 Fund) are both Target Retirement Date funds. Over the past 10 years, PMTIX returned 8.80%/yr vs 10.26%/yr for SSCNX. With a 0.96 correlation, they move nearly in lockstep. PMTIX charges 0.01%/yr vs 0.20%/yr for SSCNX.

Performance

PMTIX vs. SSCNX - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Principal LifeTime 2030 Fund (PMTIX) and State Street Target Retirement 2040 Fund (SSCNX). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, PMTIX achieves a 6.02% return, which is significantly lower than SSCNX's 10.08% return. Over the past 10 years, PMTIX has underperformed SSCNX with an annualized return of 8.80%, while SSCNX has yielded a comparatively higher 10.26% annualized return.

PMTIX

• 1D: 0.26%
• 1M: 2.99%
• YTD: 6.02%
• 6M: 6.25%
• 1Y: 15.56%
• 3Y*: 13.63%
• 5Y*: 6.27%
• 10Y*: 8.80%

SSCNX

• 1D: 0.41%
• 1M: 4.29%
• YTD: 10.08%
• 6M: 10.69%
• 1Y: 24.06%
• 3Y*: 16.53%
• 5Y*: 7.69%
• 10Y*: 10.26%

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

PMTIX vs. SSCNX - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
PMTIX Principal LifeTime 2030 Fund	6.02%	13.25%	12.86%	15.11%	-16.81%	12.70%	14.71%	22.40%	-7.45%	18.41%
SSCNX State Street Target Retirement 2040 Fund	10.08%	19.00%	11.21%	17.68%	-18.55%	11.75%	18.72%	24.61%	-7.45%	18.32%

Correlation

The correlation between PMTIX and SSCNX is 0.94, indicating a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Combining them offers limited diversification - they tend to fall together during downturns.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.94
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 PMTIX and SSCNX has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.94 to 0.96 - a consistent structural relationship.

Return for Risk

PMTIX vs. SSCNX — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.

PMTIX

PMTIX Risk / Return Rank: 53
PMTIX Sharpe Ratio Rank: 50
PMTIX Sortino Ratio Rank: 51
PMTIX Omega Ratio Rank: 52
PMTIX Calmar Ratio Rank: 51
PMTIX Martin Ratio Rank: 61

SSCNX

SSCNX Risk / Return Rank: 71
SSCNX Sharpe Ratio Rank: 77
SSCNX Sortino Ratio Rank: 74
SSCNX Omega Ratio Rank: 75
SSCNX Calmar Ratio Rank: 63
SSCNX Martin Ratio Rank: 68

The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

PMTIX vs. SSCNX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Principal LifeTime 2030 Fund (PMTIX) and State Street Target Retirement 2040 Fund (SSCNX). 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.

	PMTIX	SSCNX	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	2.09	2.54	-0.45
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	3.01	3.59	-0.58
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.40	1.49	-0.09
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	2.71	3.07	-0.36
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	12.06	13.19	-1.13
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

PMTIX vs. SSCNX - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current PMTIX Sharpe Ratio is 2.09, which is comparable to the SSCNX Sharpe Ratio of 2.54. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of PMTIX and SSCNX, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	PMTIX	SSCNX	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	2.09	2.54	-0.45
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.60	0.61	-0.01
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.79	0.76	+0.02
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.49	0.69	-0.20

Drawdowns

PMTIX vs. SSCNX - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum PMTIX drawdown since its inception was -52.14%, which is greater than SSCNX's maximum drawdown of -27.49%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for PMTIX and SSCNX.

Drawdown Indicators

	PMTIX	SSCNX	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-52.14%	-27.49%	-24.65%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-5.85%	-7.96%	+2.11%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-9.62%	-12.72%	+3.10%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-23.05%	-26.14%	+3.09%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-25.87%	-27.49%	+1.62%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-6.79%	-4.77%	-2.02%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	1.31%	1.85%	-0.54%

Volatility

PMTIX vs. SSCNX - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for Principal LifeTime 2030 Fund (PMTIX) is 2.40%, while State Street Target Retirement 2040 Fund (SSCNX) has a volatility of 3.08%. This indicates that PMTIX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than SSCNX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	PMTIX	SSCNX	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	2.40%	3.08%	-0.68%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	6.15%	7.75%	-1.60%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	7.61%	9.63%	-2.02%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	10.55%	12.73%	-2.18%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	11.22%	13.47%	-2.25%

PMTIX vs. SSCNX - Expense Ratio Comparison

PMTIX has a 0.01% expense ratio, which is lower than SSCNX's 0.20% 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

PMTIX vs. SSCNX - Dividend Comparison

PMTIX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 9.14%, more than SSCNX's 6.55% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
PMTIX Principal LifeTime 2030 Fund	9.14%	9.69%	9.60%	4.26%	10.05%	8.87%	6.37%	6.49%	8.21%	5.87%	3.97%	9.44%
SSCNX State Street Target Retirement 2040 Fund	6.55%	7.21%	4.97%	3.78%	5.39%	5.58%	4.63%	6.31%	5.11%	0.38%	1.77%	1.96%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both PMTIX and SSCNX in my portfolio?

With a correlation of 0.94, PMTIX and SSCNX 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.

Which is riskier, PMTIX or SSCNX?

SSCNX has higher volatility (3.08%) compared to PMTIX (2.40%). In terms of maximum drawdown, PMTIX dropped -52.14% vs SSCNX's -27.49%.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

SSCNX currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.54 vs 2.09), 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.