PPLIX vs. TCLEX
PPLIX (Principal LifeTime 2050 Fund) and TCLEX (TIAA-CREF Lifecycle 2010 Fund) are both Target Retirement Date funds. Over the past 10 years, PPLIX returned 11.93%/yr vs 6.06%/yr for TCLEX. Their correlation of 0.94 suggests significant overlap in exposure. PPLIX charges 0.01%/yr vs 0.51%/yr for TCLEX.
Performance
PPLIX vs. TCLEX - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, PPLIX achieves a 8.46% return, which is significantly higher than TCLEX's 4.16% return. Over the past 10 years, PPLIX has outperformed TCLEX with an annualized return of 11.93%, while TCLEX has yielded a comparatively lower 6.06% annualized return.
PPLIX
- 1D
- -0.30%
- 1M
- 1.40%
- YTD
- 8.46%
- 6M
- 7.90%
- 1Y
- 20.46%
- 3Y*
- 18.61%
- 5Y*
- 9.30%
- 10Y*
- 11.93%
TCLEX
- 1D
- -0.14%
- 1M
- 1.01%
- YTD
- 4.16%
- 6M
- 4.08%
- 1Y
- 11.39%
- 3Y*
- 9.38%
- 5Y*
- 4.20%
- 10Y*
- 6.06%
PPLIX vs. TCLEX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PPLIX Principal LifeTime 2050 Fund | 8.46% | 17.55% | 19.12% | 20.36% | -18.78% | 17.04% | 16.56% | 26.67% | -8.74% | 22.12% |
TCLEX TIAA-CREF Lifecycle 2010 Fund | 4.16% | 11.22% | 7.31% | 10.64% | -12.64% | 6.62% | 10.95% | 15.14% | -4.14% | 9.99% |
Correlation
The correlation between PPLIX and TCLEX 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 | 0.89 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.90 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.91 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Oct 6, 2004 | 0.94 |
The correlation between PPLIX and TCLEX has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.89 to 0.94 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
PPLIX vs. TCLEX — Risk / Return Rank
PPLIX
TCLEX
PPLIX vs. TCLEX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Principal LifeTime 2050 Fund (PPLIX) and TIAA-CREF Lifecycle 2010 Fund (TCLEX). 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.
| PPLIX | TCLEX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.45 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.77 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.33 | 1.43 | -0.11 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.52 | 2.78 | -0.26 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 11.06 | 12.14 | -1.08 |
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Drawdowns
PPLIX vs. TCLEX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum PPLIX drawdown since its inception was -55.61%, which is greater than TCLEX's maximum drawdown of -35.33%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for PPLIX and TCLEX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| PPLIX | TCLEX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -55.61% | -35.33% | -20.28% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -8.57% | -4.28% | -4.29% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -15.59% | -8.25% | -7.34% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -26.85% | -17.31% | -9.54% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -32.67% | -17.31% | -15.36% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.91% | -0.21% | -0.70% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -8.29% | -3.98% | -4.31% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 1.95% | 0.98% | +0.97% |
Volatility
PPLIX vs. TCLEX - Volatility Comparison
Principal LifeTime 2050 Fund (PPLIX) has a higher volatility of 4.70% compared to TIAA-CREF Lifecycle 2010 Fund (TCLEX) at 2.08%. This indicates that PPLIX's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than TCLEX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| PPLIX | TCLEX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 4.70% | 2.08% | +2.62% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 10.08% | 4.46% | +5.62% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 12.25% | 5.38% | +6.87% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 15.57% | 6.94% | +8.63% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 15.63% | 7.02% | +8.61% |
PPLIX vs. TCLEX - Expense Ratio Comparison
PPLIX has a 0.01% expense ratio, which is lower than TCLEX's 0.51% expense ratio.
Dividends
PPLIX vs. TCLEX - Dividend Comparison
PPLIX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 9.17%, more than TCLEX's 5.11% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PPLIX Principal LifeTime 2050 Fund | 9.17% | 9.95% | 11.56% | 4.41% | 9.40% | 8.04% | 5.23% | 7.16% | 8.64% | 5.12% | 4.82% | 6.07% |
TCLEX TIAA-CREF Lifecycle 2010 Fund | 5.11% | 5.33% | 4.44% | 2.95% | 5.91% | 8.53% | 6.93% | 3.95% | 5.60% | 1.72% | 3.45% | 2.47% |
Frequently Asked Questions
With a correlation of 0.94, PPLIX and TCLEX 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.
PPLIX has higher volatility (4.70%) compared to TCLEX (2.08%). In terms of maximum drawdown, PPLIX dropped -55.61% vs TCLEX's -35.33%.
TCLEX currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.22 vs 1.76), 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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