TLLIX vs. SPY
Compare and contrast key facts about TIAA-CREF Lifecycle Index 2050 Fund (TLLIX) and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY).
TLLIX is managed by TIAA Investments. It was launched on Sep 29, 2009. SPY is a passively managed fund by State Street that tracks the performance of the S&P 500 Index. It was launched on Jan 22, 1993.
Performance
TLLIX vs. SPY - Performance Comparison
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TLLIX vs. SPY - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
TLLIX TIAA-CREF Lifecycle Index 2050 Fund | -4.26% | 20.75% | 15.17% | 20.53% | -17.52% | 17.12% | 17.20% | 26.04% | -7.05% | 19.20% |
SPY State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF | -4.37% | 17.72% | 24.89% | 26.18% | -18.18% | 28.73% | 18.33% | 31.22% | -4.57% | 21.71% |
Returns By Period
The year-to-date returns for both stocks are quite close, with TLLIX having a -4.26% return and SPY slightly lower at -4.37%. Over the past 10 years, TLLIX has underperformed SPY with an annualized return of 10.65%, while SPY has yielded a comparatively higher 13.98% annualized return.
TLLIX
- 1D
- -0.25%
- 1M
- -8.27%
- YTD
- -4.26%
- 6M
- -1.50%
- 1Y
- 16.12%
- 3Y*
- 14.53%
- 5Y*
- 8.19%
- 10Y*
- 10.65%
SPY
- 1D
- 2.91%
- 1M
- -4.94%
- YTD
- -4.37%
- 6M
- -1.82%
- 1Y
- 17.59%
- 3Y*
- 18.19%
- 5Y*
- 11.69%
- 10Y*
- 13.98%
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TLLIX vs. SPY - Expense Ratio Comparison
TLLIX has a 0.10% expense ratio, which is higher than SPY's 0.09% 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%.
Return for Risk
TLLIX vs. SPY — Risk / Return Rank
TLLIX
SPY
TLLIX vs. SPY - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for TIAA-CREF Lifecycle Index 2050 Fund (TLLIX) and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY). 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.
| TLLIX | SPY | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.08 | 0.93 | +0.15 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.58 | 1.45 | +0.13 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.23 | 1.22 | +0.01 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.27 | 1.53 | -0.25 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 6.02 | 7.30 | -1.28 |
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
| TLLIX | SPY | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.08 | 0.93 | +0.15 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.57 | 0.69 | -0.12 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.69 | 0.78 | -0.09 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.68 | 0.56 | +0.12 |
Correlation
The correlation between TLLIX and SPY is 0.97, 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
TLLIX vs. SPY - Dividend Comparison
TLLIX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.26%, more than SPY's 1.14% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
TLLIX TIAA-CREF Lifecycle Index 2050 Fund | 3.26% | 3.12% | 2.26% | 2.17% | 2.35% | 2.29% | 1.71% | 2.25% | 2.67% | 0.15% | 2.57% | 0.27% |
SPY State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF | 1.14% | 1.07% | 1.21% | 1.40% | 1.65% | 1.20% | 1.52% | 1.75% | 2.04% | 1.80% | 2.03% | 2.06% |
Drawdowns
TLLIX vs. SPY - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum TLLIX drawdown since its inception was -31.41%, smaller than the maximum SPY drawdown of -55.19%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for TLLIX and SPY.
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Drawdown Indicators
| TLLIX | SPY | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -31.41% | -55.19% | +23.78% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -10.75% | -12.05% | +1.30% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -25.38% | -24.50% | -0.88% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -31.41% | -33.72% | +2.31% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -8.79% | -6.24% | -2.55% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -4.19% | -9.09% | +4.90% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.38% | 2.52% | -0.14% |
Volatility
TLLIX vs. SPY - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for TIAA-CREF Lifecycle Index 2050 Fund (TLLIX) is 4.68%, while State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) has a volatility of 5.31%. This indicates that TLLIX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than SPY based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| TLLIX | SPY | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 4.68% | 5.31% | -0.63% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 8.51% | 9.47% | -0.96% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 15.13% | 19.05% | -3.92% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 14.37% | 17.06% | -2.69% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 15.46% | 17.92% | -2.46% |