SACAX vs. PLTHX
SACAX (Principal SAM Strategic Growth Portfolio) and PLTHX (Principal LifeTime Hybrid 2060 Fund) are both mutual funds - SACAX is a Diversified Portfolio fund managed by Principal, while PLTHX is a Target Retirement Date fund managed by Principal. Over the past 10 years, SACAX returned 12.60%/yr vs 12.37%/yr for PLTHX. With a 0.99 correlation, they move nearly in lockstep. SACAX charges 0.61%/yr vs 0.05%/yr for PLTHX.
Performance
SACAX vs. PLTHX - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
The year-to-date returns for both stocks are quite close, with SACAX having a 11.18% return and PLTHX slightly lower at 10.63%. Both investments have delivered pretty close results over the past 10 years, with SACAX having a 12.60% annualized return and PLTHX not far behind at 12.37%.
SACAX
- 1D
- -0.08%
- 1M
- 1.90%
- YTD
- 11.18%
- 6M
- 10.53%
- 1Y
- 23.82%
- 3Y*
- 21.05%
- 5Y*
- 10.83%
- 10Y*
- 12.60%
PLTHX
- 1D
- -0.28%
- 1M
- 1.56%
- YTD
- 10.63%
- 6M
- 9.95%
- 1Y
- 25.90%
- 3Y*
- 19.31%
- 5Y*
- 10.35%
- 10Y*
- 12.37%
SACAX vs. PLTHX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SACAX Principal SAM Strategic Growth Portfolio | 11.18% | 16.56% | 24.20% | 21.42% | -19.06% | 19.34% | 15.11% | 26.87% | -9.13% | 21.68% |
PLTHX Principal LifeTime Hybrid 2060 Fund | 10.63% | 19.91% | 17.18% | 20.28% | -18.52% | 20.05% | 16.11% | 26.46% | -9.93% | 21.32% |
Correlation
The correlation between SACAX and PLTHX is 0.99 - these two move nearly in lockstep. At this level, holding both provides almost no diversification benefit. If you already own one, adding the other does little to reduce portfolio risk.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.99 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.98 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.99 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.99 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Oct 1, 2014 | 0.99 |
The correlation between SACAX and PLTHX has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.98 to 0.99 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
SACAX vs. PLTHX — Risk / Return Rank
SACAX
PLTHX
SACAX vs. PLTHX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Principal SAM Strategic Growth Portfolio (SACAX) and Principal LifeTime Hybrid 2060 Fund (PLTHX). 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.
| SACAX | PLTHX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.10 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.12 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.38 | 1.39 | -0.02 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.82 | 3.15 | -0.33 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 12.38 | 14.01 | -1.63 |
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Drawdowns
SACAX vs. PLTHX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum SACAX drawdown since its inception was -54.31%, which is greater than PLTHX's maximum drawdown of -33.26%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for SACAX and PLTHX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| SACAX | PLTHX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -54.31% | -33.26% | -21.05% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -8.85% | -8.60% | -0.25% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -15.88% | -16.64% | +0.76% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -26.96% | -25.49% | -1.47% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -34.90% | -33.26% | -1.64% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.46% | -0.97% | +0.51% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -9.77% | -4.79% | -4.98% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.01% | 1.93% | +0.08% |
Volatility
SACAX vs. PLTHX - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Principal SAM Strategic Growth Portfolio (SACAX) is 4.65%, while Principal LifeTime Hybrid 2060 Fund (PLTHX) has a volatility of 5.05%. This indicates that SACAX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than PLTHX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| SACAX | PLTHX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 4.65% | 5.05% | -0.40% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 10.10% | 10.44% | -0.34% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 12.25% | 12.70% | -0.45% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 15.72% | 15.62% | +0.10% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 16.09% | 16.02% | +0.07% |
SACAX vs. PLTHX - Expense Ratio Comparison
SACAX has a 0.61% expense ratio, which is higher than PLTHX's 0.05% expense ratio.
Dividends
SACAX vs. PLTHX - Dividend Comparison
SACAX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 10.79%, more than PLTHX's 3.95% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PLTHX Principal LifeTime Hybrid 2060 Fund | 3.95% | 4.37% | 4.30% | 2.76% | 7.91% | 3.84% | 2.91% | 3.67% | 3.47% | 2.37% | 2.20% | 1.65% |
SACAX Principal SAM Strategic Growth Portfolio | 10.79% | 11.99% | 13.37% | 1.16% | 9.30% | 7.53% | 4.02% | 4.47% | 20.79% | 6.82% | 3.68% | 14.08% |
Frequently Asked Questions
With a correlation of 0.99, SACAX and PLTHX 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.
PLTHX has higher volatility (5.05%) compared to SACAX (4.65%). In terms of maximum drawdown, SACAX dropped -54.31% vs PLTHX's -33.26%.
PLTHX currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.14 vs 2.04), 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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