TCLOX vs. VFIFX
Compare and contrast key facts about TIAA-CREF Lifecycle 2040 Fund (TCLOX) and Vanguard Target Retirement 2050 Fund (VFIFX).
TCLOX is managed by TIAA Investments. It was launched on Oct 14, 2004. VFIFX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Jun 7, 2006.
Performance
TCLOX vs. VFIFX - Performance Comparison
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TCLOX vs. VFIFX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
TCLOX TIAA-CREF Lifecycle 2040 Fund | -4.48% | 16.72% | 12.55% | 18.04% | -16.86% | 13.93% | 16.06% | 24.38% | -9.26% | 20.21% |
VFIFX Vanguard Target Retirement 2050 Fund | -3.95% | 21.42% | 14.45% | 20.39% | -17.48% | 16.42% | 16.40% | 24.99% | -7.89% | 19.15% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, TCLOX achieves a -4.48% return, which is significantly lower than VFIFX's -3.95% return. Over the past 10 years, TCLOX has underperformed VFIFX with an annualized return of 9.08%, while VFIFX has yielded a comparatively higher 10.29% annualized return.
TCLOX
- 1D
- -0.22%
- 1M
- -7.58%
- YTD
- -4.48%
- 6M
- -2.00%
- 1Y
- 12.84%
- 3Y*
- 11.92%
- 5Y*
- 6.18%
- 10Y*
- 9.08%
VFIFX
- 1D
- -0.28%
- 1M
- -8.41%
- YTD
- -3.95%
- 6M
- -1.01%
- 1Y
- 17.29%
- 3Y*
- 14.65%
- 5Y*
- 8.11%
- 10Y*
- 10.29%
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TCLOX vs. VFIFX - Expense Ratio Comparison
TCLOX has a 0.49% expense ratio, which is higher than VFIFX's 0.08% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
TCLOX vs. VFIFX — Risk / Return Rank
TCLOX
VFIFX
TCLOX vs. VFIFX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for TIAA-CREF Lifecycle 2040 Fund (TCLOX) and Vanguard Target Retirement 2050 Fund (VFIFX). 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.
| TCLOX | VFIFX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.00 | 1.17 | -0.18 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.46 | 1.70 | -0.24 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.21 | 1.25 | -0.04 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.19 | 1.48 | -0.30 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 5.25 | 6.86 | -1.61 |
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
| TCLOX | VFIFX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.00 | 1.17 | -0.18 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.49 | 0.58 | -0.09 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.64 | 0.69 | -0.04 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.43 | 0.47 | -0.04 |
Correlation
The correlation between TCLOX and VFIFX is 0.99, 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
TCLOX vs. VFIFX - Dividend Comparison
TCLOX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 5.16%, more than VFIFX's 2.18% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
TCLOX TIAA-CREF Lifecycle 2040 Fund | 5.16% | 4.93% | 2.49% | 1.37% | 5.82% | 8.32% | 5.54% | 3.87% | 7.20% | 2.84% | 5.28% | 5.77% |
VFIFX Vanguard Target Retirement 2050 Fund | 2.18% | 2.09% | 2.26% | 2.21% | 2.38% | 12.83% | 1.84% | 2.20% | 2.51% | 0.03% | 2.04% | 2.36% |
Drawdowns
TCLOX vs. VFIFX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum TCLOX drawdown since its inception was -53.88%, roughly equal to the maximum VFIFX drawdown of -51.68%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for TCLOX and VFIFX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| TCLOX | VFIFX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -53.88% | -51.68% | -2.20% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -9.26% | -10.52% | +1.26% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -24.27% | -25.40% | +1.13% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -30.12% | -31.36% | +1.24% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -8.09% | -8.87% | +0.78% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -7.64% | -6.93% | -0.71% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.16% | 2.27% | -0.11% |
Volatility
TCLOX vs. VFIFX - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for TIAA-CREF Lifecycle 2040 Fund (TCLOX) is 4.15%, while Vanguard Target Retirement 2050 Fund (VFIFX) has a volatility of 4.70%. This indicates that TCLOX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than VFIFX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| TCLOX | VFIFX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 4.15% | 4.70% | -0.55% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 7.50% | 8.53% | -1.03% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 13.06% | 14.79% | -1.73% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 12.77% | 14.07% | -1.30% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 14.19% | 15.05% | -0.86% |