TCLEX vs. MLLIX
TCLEX (TIAA-CREF Lifecycle 2010 Fund) and MLLIX (MFS Lifetime Income Fund) are both Target Retirement Date funds. Over the past 10 years, TCLEX returned 5.62%/yr vs 4.87%/yr for MLLIX. Their correlation of 0.89 means they have usually moved in the same direction. TCLEX charges 0.51%/yr vs 0.00%/yr for MLLIX.
Performance
TCLEX vs. MLLIX - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
The year-to-date returns for both stocks are quite close, with TCLEX having a 3.64% return and MLLIX slightly lower at 3.48%. Over the past 10 years, TCLEX has outperformed MLLIX with an annualized return of 5.62%, while MLLIX has yielded a comparatively lower 4.87% annualized return.
TCLEX
- 1D
- 0.79%
- 1M
- -0.36%
- 6M
- 2.42%
- YTD
- 3.64%
- 1Y
- 9.03%
- 3Y*
- 8.43%
- 5Y*
- 3.83%
- 10Y*
- 5.62%
- ALL TIME*
- 5.28%
MLLIX
- 1D
- 0.32%
- 1M
- -0.32%
- 6M
- 2.18%
- YTD
- 3.48%
- 1Y
- 7.47%
- 3Y*
- 7.16%
- 5Y*
- 3.05%
- 10Y*
- 4.87%
- ALL TIME*
- 5.07%
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 |
TCLEX vs. MLLIX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
TCLEX TIAA-CREF Lifecycle 2010 Fund | 3.64% | 11.22% | 7.31% | 10.64% | -12.64% | 6.62% | 10.95% | 15.14% | -4.14% | 9.99% |
MLLIX MFS Lifetime Income Fund | 3.48% | 9.32% | 5.62% | 9.12% | -11.99% | 6.63% | 10.06% | 13.91% | -2.37% | 8.24% |
Correlation
The correlation between TCLEX and MLLIX is 0.88, meaning they have usually moved in the same direction, including during past declines.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most. | 0.88 |
Correlation (3Y) Balances recent behavior with more history. | 0.89 |
Correlation (5Y) Shows whether the relationship held over a longer period. | 0.92 |
Correlation (10Y) Provides a long-term view across more market conditions. | 0.90 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Sep 29, 2005 | 0.89 |
The correlation between TCLEX and MLLIX has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.88 to 0.92 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
TCLEX vs. MLLIX — Risk / Return Rank
TCLEX
MLLIX
TCLEX vs. MLLIX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for TIAA-CREF Lifecycle 2010 Fund (TCLEX) and MFS Lifetime Income Fund (MLLIX). 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.
| TCLEX | MLLIX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.08 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.15 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.30 | 1.31 | -0.01 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.07 | 1.97 | +0.09 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 8.79 | 8.67 | +0.12 |
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Drawdowns
TCLEX vs. MLLIX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum TCLEX drawdown since its inception was -35.33%, which is greater than MLLIX's maximum drawdown of -17.32%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for TCLEX and MLLIX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| TCLEX | MLLIX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -35.33% | -17.32% | -18.01% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -4.28% | -3.86% | -0.42% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -8.25% | -4.93% | -3.32% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -17.31% | -16.08% | -1.23% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -17.31% | -16.08% | -1.23% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.78% | -0.64% | -0.14% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -3.96% | -2.14% | -1.82% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 1.00% | 0.88% | +0.12% |
Volatility
TCLEX vs. MLLIX - Volatility Comparison
TIAA-CREF Lifecycle 2010 Fund (TCLEX) has a higher volatility of 1.60% compared to MFS Lifetime Income Fund (MLLIX) at 1.06%. This indicates that TCLEX's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than MLLIX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| TCLEX | MLLIX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 1.60% | 1.06% | +0.54% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 4.62% | 3.66% | +0.96% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 5.51% | 4.51% | +1.00% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 6.97% | 5.95% | +1.02% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 6.97% | 5.71% | +1.26% |
TCLEX vs. MLLIX - Expense Ratio Comparison
TCLEX has a 0.51% expense ratio, which is higher than MLLIX's 0.00% expense ratio.
Dividends
TCLEX vs. MLLIX - Dividend Comparison
TCLEX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 5.14%, less than MLLIX's 7.43% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MLLIX MFS Lifetime Income Fund | 7.43% | 6.01% | 6.26% | 3.70% | 3.92% | 6.12% | 3.18% | 3.80% | 4.20% | 3.56% | 4.21% | 2.51% |
TCLEX TIAA-CREF Lifecycle 2010 Fund | 5.14% | 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
TCLEX and MLLIX have a correlation of 0.88, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
TCLEX has higher volatility (1.60%) compared to MLLIX (1.06%). In terms of maximum drawdown, TCLEX dropped -35.33% vs MLLIX's -17.32%.
MLLIX currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.69 vs 1.61), 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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