TFTIX vs. PLWIX
TFTIX (TIAA-CREF Lifecycle 2050 Fund) and PLWIX (Principal LifeTime 2020 Fund) are both Target Retirement Date funds. Over the past 10 years, TFTIX returned 10.85%/yr vs 7.07%/yr for PLWIX. Their 0.96 correlation means they have historically moved very closely together. TFTIX charges 0.22%/yr vs 0.01%/yr for PLWIX.
Performance
TFTIX vs. PLWIX - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, TFTIX achieves a 8.14% return, which is significantly higher than PLWIX's 3.96% return. Over the past 10 years, TFTIX has outperformed PLWIX with an annualized return of 10.85%, while PLWIX has yielded a comparatively lower 7.07% annualized return.
TFTIX
- 1D
- 2.17%
- 1M
- -0.29%
- 6M
- 5.52%
- YTD
- 8.14%
- 1Y
- 18.91%
- 3Y*
- 14.85%
- 5Y*
- 8.36%
- 10Y*
- 10.85%
- ALL TIME*
- 7.67%
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 |
TFTIX vs. PLWIX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
TFTIX TIAA-CREF Lifecycle 2050 Fund | 8.14% | 18.80% | 14.28% | 20.02% | -17.71% | 16.37% | 17.42% | 26.21% | -9.90% | 20.54% |
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 TFTIX and PLWIX 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. | 0.90 |
Correlation (5Y) Shows whether the relationship held over a longer period. | 0.92 |
Correlation (10Y) Provides a long-term view across more market conditions. | 0.93 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jan 2, 2008 | 0.96 |
The correlation between TFTIX and PLWIX has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.90 to 0.96 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
TFTIX vs. PLWIX — Risk / Return Rank
TFTIX
PLWIX
TFTIX vs. PLWIX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for TIAA-CREF Lifecycle 2050 Fund (TFTIX) 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.
| TFTIX | PLWIX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 0.00 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.02 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.25 | 1.25 | 0.00 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.85 | 1.81 | +0.04 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 7.81 | 7.75 | +0.06 |
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Drawdowns
TFTIX vs. PLWIX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum TFTIX drawdown since its inception was -51.99%, which is greater than PLWIX's maximum drawdown of -49.07%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for TFTIX and PLWIX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| TFTIX | PLWIX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -51.99% | -49.07% | -2.92% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -9.33% | -4.75% | -4.58% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -15.58% | -6.97% | -8.61% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -25.68% | -19.73% | -5.95% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -32.44% | -20.29% | -12.15% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -1.36% | -0.71% | -0.65% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -7.66% | -5.69% | -1.97% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.21% | 1.11% | +1.10% |
Volatility
TFTIX vs. PLWIX - Volatility Comparison
TIAA-CREF Lifecycle 2050 Fund (TFTIX) has a higher volatility of 3.88% compared to Principal LifeTime 2020 Fund (PLWIX) at 1.73%. This indicates that TFTIX'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
| TFTIX | PLWIX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 3.88% | 1.73% | +2.15% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 10.59% | 5.32% | +5.27% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 12.82% | 6.39% | +6.43% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 14.85% | 8.29% | +6.56% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 15.94% | 8.52% | +7.42% |
TFTIX vs. PLWIX - Expense Ratio Comparison
TFTIX has a 0.22% 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
TFTIX vs. PLWIX - Dividend Comparison
TFTIX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 6.79%, 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% |
TFTIX TIAA-CREF Lifecycle 2050 Fund | 6.79% | 7.34% | 3.79% | 2.01% | 8.81% | 11.71% | 6.91% | 5.63% | 5.37% | 0.84% | 3.85% | 3.53% |
Frequently Asked Questions
With a correlation of 0.94, TFTIX 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.
TFTIX has higher volatility (3.88%) compared to PLWIX (1.73%). In terms of maximum drawdown, TFTIX dropped -51.99% vs PLWIX's -49.07%.
PLWIX currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.35 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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