PPLIX vs. VOO
Compare and contrast key facts about Principal LifeTime 2050 Fund (PPLIX) and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO).
PPLIX is managed by Principal. It was launched on Feb 28, 2001. VOO is a passively managed fund by Vanguard that tracks the performance of the S&P 500 Index. It was launched on Sep 7, 2010.
Performance
PPLIX vs. VOO - Performance Comparison
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PPLIX vs. VOO - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PPLIX Principal LifeTime 2050 Fund | -5.09% | 17.55% | 19.12% | 20.36% | -18.78% | 17.04% | 16.56% | 26.67% | -8.74% | 22.12% |
VOO Vanguard S&P 500 ETF | -4.42% | 17.82% | 24.98% | 26.32% | -18.17% | 28.79% | 18.32% | 31.37% | -4.50% | 21.77% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, PPLIX achieves a -5.09% return, which is significantly lower than VOO's -4.42% return. Over the past 10 years, PPLIX has underperformed VOO with an annualized return of 10.25%, while VOO has yielded a comparatively higher 14.05% annualized return.
PPLIX
- 1D
- -0.29%
- 1M
- -8.13%
- YTD
- -5.09%
- 6M
- -2.87%
- 1Y
- 12.44%
- 3Y*
- 14.70%
- 5Y*
- 7.68%
- 10Y*
- 10.25%
VOO
- 1D
- 2.86%
- 1M
- -5.01%
- YTD
- -4.42%
- 6M
- -1.84%
- 1Y
- 17.67%
- 3Y*
- 18.27%
- 5Y*
- 11.75%
- 10Y*
- 14.05%
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PPLIX vs. VOO - Expense Ratio Comparison
PPLIX has a 0.01% expense ratio, which is lower than VOO's 0.03% 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
PPLIX vs. VOO — Risk / Return Rank
PPLIX
VOO
PPLIX vs. VOO - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Principal LifeTime 2050 Fund (PPLIX) and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO). 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.
| PPLIX | VOO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 0.81 | 0.98 | -0.17 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.25 | 1.50 | -0.24 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.18 | 1.23 | -0.05 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 0.94 | 1.53 | -0.60 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 4.59 | 7.29 | -2.71 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
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Sharpe Ratios by Period
| PPLIX | VOO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.81 | 0.98 | -0.17 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.50 | 0.70 | -0.20 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.66 | 0.78 | -0.12 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.42 | 0.83 | -0.41 |
Correlation
The correlation between PPLIX and VOO is 0.95, 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
PPLIX vs. VOO - Dividend Comparison
PPLIX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 10.48%, more than VOO's 1.19% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PPLIX Principal LifeTime 2050 Fund | 10.48% | 9.95% | 11.56% | 4.41% | 9.40% | 8.04% | 5.23% | 7.16% | 8.64% | 5.12% | 4.82% | 6.07% |
VOO Vanguard S&P 500 ETF | 1.19% | 1.13% | 1.24% | 1.46% | 1.69% | 1.25% | 1.54% | 1.88% | 2.06% | 1.78% | 2.02% | 2.10% |
Drawdowns
PPLIX vs. VOO - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum PPLIX drawdown since its inception was -55.61%, which is greater than VOO's maximum drawdown of -33.99%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for PPLIX and VOO.
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Drawdown Indicators
| PPLIX | VOO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -55.61% | -33.99% | -21.62% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -11.42% | -11.98% | +0.56% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -26.85% | -24.52% | -2.33% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -32.67% | -33.99% | +1.32% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -8.57% | -6.29% | -2.28% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -8.35% | -3.72% | -4.63% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.34% | 2.52% | -0.18% |
Volatility
PPLIX vs. VOO - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Principal LifeTime 2050 Fund (PPLIX) is 4.83%, while Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) has a volatility of 5.29%. This indicates that PPLIX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than VOO based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| PPLIX | VOO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 4.83% | 5.29% | -0.46% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 8.67% | 9.44% | -0.77% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 15.54% | 18.10% | -2.56% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 15.38% | 16.82% | -1.44% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 15.53% | 17.99% | -2.46% |