TCLRX vs. CBALX
TCLRX (TIAA-CREF Lifecycle 2035 Fund) and CBALX (Columbia Balanced Fund) are both mutual funds - TCLRX is a Target Retirement Date fund managed by TIAA, while CBALX is a Diversified Portfolio fund managed by Columbia. Over the past 10 years, TCLRX returned 8.79%/yr vs 9.71%/yr for CBALX. Their 0.95 correlation means they have historically moved very closely together. TCLRX charges 0.50%/yr vs 0.67%/yr for CBALX.
Performance
TCLRX vs. CBALX - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, TCLRX achieves a 5.83% return, which is significantly higher than CBALX's 5.53% return. Over the past 10 years, TCLRX has underperformed CBALX with an annualized return of 8.79%, while CBALX has yielded a comparatively higher 9.71% annualized return.
TCLRX
- 1D
- 1.50%
- 1M
- -0.42%
- 6M
- 3.91%
- YTD
- 5.83%
- 1Y
- 13.94%
- 3Y*
- 11.71%
- 5Y*
- 6.08%
- 10Y*
- 8.79%
- ALL TIME*
- 6.95%
CBALX
- 1D
- 1.25%
- 1M
- -0.54%
- 6M
- 5.02%
- YTD
- 5.53%
- 1Y
- 12.15%
- 3Y*
- 13.22%
- 5Y*
- 7.55%
- 10Y*
- 9.71%
- ALL TIME*
- 8.19%
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 |
TCLRX vs. CBALX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
TCLRX TIAA-CREF Lifecycle 2035 Fund | 5.83% | 15.07% | 11.00% | 16.13% | -16.19% | 12.38% | 15.07% | 22.77% | -8.30% | 18.45% |
CBALX Columbia Balanced Fund | 5.53% | 14.14% | 14.60% | 21.49% | -16.63% | 14.92% | 17.91% | 23.05% | -5.75% | 14.29% |
Correlation
The correlation between TCLRX and CBALX is 0.94, 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. | 0.94 |
Correlation (3Y) Balances recent behavior with more history. | 0.95 |
Correlation (5Y) Shows whether the relationship held over a longer period. | 0.95 |
Correlation (10Y) Provides a long-term view across more market conditions. | 0.94 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Oct 6, 2004 | 0.95 |
The correlation between TCLRX and CBALX has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.94 to 0.95 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
TCLRX vs. CBALX — Risk / Return Rank
TCLRX
CBALX
TCLRX vs. CBALX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for TIAA-CREF Lifecycle 2035 Fund (TCLRX) and Columbia Balanced Fund (CBALX). 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.
| TCLRX | CBALX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.14 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.21 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.25 | 1.23 | +0.03 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.86 | 1.71 | +0.15 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 7.84 | 6.88 | +0.96 |
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Drawdowns
TCLRX vs. CBALX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum TCLRX drawdown since its inception was -53.91%, which is greater than CBALX's maximum drawdown of -34.53%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for TCLRX and CBALX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| TCLRX | CBALX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -53.91% | -34.53% | -19.38% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -6.98% | -6.63% | -0.35% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -11.24% | -12.06% | +0.82% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -23.09% | -20.91% | -2.18% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -27.96% | -22.73% | -5.23% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -1.15% | -1.39% | +0.24% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -7.36% | -5.29% | -2.07% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 1.66% | 1.65% | +0.01% |
Volatility
TCLRX vs. CBALX - Volatility Comparison
TIAA-CREF Lifecycle 2035 Fund (TCLRX) has a higher volatility of 2.82% compared to Columbia Balanced Fund (CBALX) at 2.65%. This indicates that TCLRX's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than CBALX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| TCLRX | CBALX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 2.82% | 2.65% | +0.17% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 7.76% | 7.31% | +0.45% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 9.37% | 9.08% | +0.29% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 11.30% | 11.20% | +0.10% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 12.53% | 11.37% | +1.16% |
TCLRX vs. CBALX - Expense Ratio Comparison
TCLRX has a 0.50% expense ratio, which is lower than CBALX's 0.67% expense ratio.
Dividends
TCLRX vs. CBALX - Dividend Comparison
TCLRX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.58%, less than CBALX's 6.21% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CBALX Columbia Balanced Fund | 6.21% | 6.42% | 7.83% | 1.84% | 5.36% | 9.26% | 5.31% | 4.16% | 5.82% | 2.79% | 1.60% | 4.05% |
TCLRX TIAA-CREF Lifecycle 2035 Fund | 4.58% | 4.85% | 2.74% | 1.61% | 5.83% | 7.91% | 5.16% | 3.80% | 6.54% | 2.60% | 5.11% | 5.35% |
Frequently Asked Questions
With a correlation of 0.94, TCLRX and CBALX 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.
TCLRX has higher volatility (2.82%) compared to CBALX (2.65%). In terms of maximum drawdown, TCLRX dropped -53.91% vs CBALX's -34.53%.
TCLRX currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.39 vs 1.25), 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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