SWYEX vs. PLWIX
SWYEX (Schwab Target 2030 Index Fund) and PLWIX (Principal LifeTime 2020 Fund) are both Target Retirement Date funds. Over the past 5 years, SWYEX returned 6.48%/yr vs 4.88%/yr for PLWIX. Their 0.96 correlation means they have historically moved very closely together. SWYEX charges 0.04%/yr vs 0.01%/yr for PLWIX.
Performance
SWYEX vs. PLWIX - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, SWYEX achieves a 6.64% return, which is significantly higher than PLWIX's 3.96% return.
SWYEX
- 1D
- 1.02%
- 1M
- -0.53%
- 6M
- 4.86%
- YTD
- 6.64%
- 1Y
- 14.17%
- 3Y*
- 12.06%
- 5Y*
- 6.48%
- 10Y*
- —
- ALL TIME*
- 8.67%
PLWIX
- 1D
- 0.72%
- 1M
- -0.16%
- 6M
- 2.52%
- YTD
- 3.96%
- 1Y
- 9.09%
- 3Y*
- 10.38%
- 5Y*
- 4.88%
- 10Y*
- 7.07%
- ALL TIME*
- 5.98%
Liquidity Comparison
| Position | Avg. Volume Value (2W) | Avg. Volume Value (1M) | Avg. Volume Value (3M) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
| $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
SWYEX vs. PLWIX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SWYEX Schwab Target 2030 Index Fund | 6.64% | 14.82% | 10.38% | 16.65% | -15.68% | 12.58% | 13.17% | 20.88% | -5.07% | 16.22% |
PLWIX Principal LifeTime 2020 Fund | 3.96% | 11.32% | 12.21% | 12.23% | -14.36% | 9.05% | 12.70% | 18.40% | -5.72% | 14.96% |
Correlation
The correlation between SWYEX and PLWIX is 0.97 - they have historically moved very closely together. At this level, their price movements offset little of one another.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most. | 0.97 |
Correlation (3Y) Balances recent behavior with more history. | 0.95 |
Correlation (5Y) Shows whether the relationship held over a longer period. | 0.96 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Aug 30, 2016 | 0.96 |
The correlation between SWYEX and PLWIX has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.95 to 0.97 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
SWYEX vs. PLWIX — Risk / Return Rank
SWYEX
PLWIX
SWYEX vs. PLWIX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Schwab Target 2030 Index Fund (SWYEX) and Principal LifeTime 2020 Fund (PLWIX). 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.
| SWYEX | PLWIX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.29 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.39 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.30 | 1.25 | +0.05 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.25 | 1.81 | +0.44 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 9.67 | 7.75 | +1.92 |
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Drawdowns
SWYEX vs. PLWIX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum SWYEX drawdown since its inception was -23.23%, smaller than the maximum PLWIX drawdown of -49.07%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for SWYEX and PLWIX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| SWYEX | PLWIX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -23.23% | -49.07% | +25.84% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -5.92% | -4.75% | -1.17% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -9.70% | -6.97% | -2.73% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -22.03% | -19.73% | -2.30% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | — | -20.29% | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -1.05% | -0.71% | -0.34% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -3.63% | -5.69% | +2.06% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 1.38% | 1.11% | +0.27% |
Volatility
SWYEX vs. PLWIX - Volatility Comparison
Schwab Target 2030 Index Fund (SWYEX) has a higher volatility of 2.18% compared to Principal LifeTime 2020 Fund (PLWIX) at 1.73%. This indicates that SWYEX's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than PLWIX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| SWYEX | PLWIX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 2.18% | 1.73% | +0.45% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 6.73% | 5.32% | +1.41% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 8.16% | 6.39% | +1.77% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 10.95% | 8.29% | +2.66% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 11.50% | 8.52% | +2.98% |
SWYEX vs. PLWIX - Expense Ratio Comparison
SWYEX has a 0.04% expense ratio, which is higher than PLWIX's 0.01% expense ratio. However, both funds are considered low-cost compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios usually range from 0.3% to 0.9%.
Dividends
SWYEX vs. PLWIX - Dividend Comparison
SWYEX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.35%, less than PLWIX's 9.70% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PLWIX Principal LifeTime 2020 Fund | 9.70% | 10.08% | 11.91% | 5.12% | 9.82% | 9.40% | 5.90% | 8.69% | 7.35% | 5.74% | 3.73% | 8.75% |
SWYEX Schwab Target 2030 Index Fund | 2.35% | 2.51% | 2.60% | 2.28% | 2.14% | 1.85% | 1.72% | 1.92% | 2.23% | 1.31% | 1.02% | 0.00% |
Frequently Asked Questions
With a correlation of 0.97, SWYEX and PLWIX 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.
SWYEX has higher volatility (2.18%) compared to PLWIX (1.73%). In terms of maximum drawdown, SWYEX dropped -23.23% vs PLWIX's -49.07%.
SWYEX currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.64 vs 1.35), 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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