TLSTX vs. VSTSX
Compare and contrast key facts about TIAA-CREF Life Funds Stock Index Fund (TLSTX) and Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund Institutional Select Shares (VSTSX).
TLSTX is managed by TIAA Investments. It was launched on Jan 3, 1999. VSTSX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Jun 27, 2016.
Performance
TLSTX vs. VSTSX - Performance Comparison
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TLSTX vs. VSTSX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
TLSTX TIAA-CREF Life Funds Stock Index Fund | -6.73% | 17.08% | 23.66% | 25.90% | -19.24% | 25.61% | 20.74% | 15.48% |
VSTSX Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund Institutional Select Shares | -6.74% | 17.16% | 23.27% | 26.54% | -19.49% | 25.75% | 21.02% | 15.45% |
Returns By Period
The year-to-date returns for both stocks are quite close, with TLSTX having a -6.73% return and VSTSX slightly lower at -6.74%.
TLSTX
- 1D
- -0.45%
- 1M
- -7.70%
- YTD
- -6.73%
- 6M
- -4.49%
- 1Y
- 14.63%
- 3Y*
- 16.64%
- 5Y*
- 10.16%
- 10Y*
- —
VSTSX
- 1D
- -0.46%
- 1M
- -7.71%
- YTD
- -6.74%
- 6M
- -4.45%
- 1Y
- 14.80%
- 3Y*
- 16.73%
- 5Y*
- 10.15%
- 10Y*
- —
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TLSTX vs. VSTSX - Expense Ratio Comparison
TLSTX has a 0.09% expense ratio, which is higher than VSTSX'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%.
Return for Risk
TLSTX vs. VSTSX — Risk / Return Rank
TLSTX
VSTSX
TLSTX vs. VSTSX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for TIAA-CREF Life Funds Stock Index Fund (TLSTX) and Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund Institutional Select Shares (VSTSX). 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.
| TLSTX | VSTSX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 0.94 | 0.84 | +0.10 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.32 | 1.30 | +0.02 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.20 | 1.20 | 0.00 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.04 | 1.05 | -0.01 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 4.85 | 5.10 | -0.25 |
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
| TLSTX | VSTSX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.94 | 0.84 | +0.10 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.60 | 0.59 | +0.02 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.68 | 0.70 | -0.02 |
Correlation
The correlation between TLSTX and VSTSX 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
TLSTX vs. VSTSX - Dividend Comparison
TLSTX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 5.88%, more than VSTSX's 1.23% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
TLSTX TIAA-CREF Life Funds Stock Index Fund | 5.88% | 5.48% | 2.73% | 2.22% | 3.82% | 1.38% | 1.84% | 2.24% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
VSTSX Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund Institutional Select Shares | 1.23% | 1.13% | 1.27% | 1.43% | 1.67% | 1.23% | 1.44% | 1.79% | 2.07% | 1.74% |
Drawdowns
TLSTX vs. VSTSX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum TLSTX drawdown since its inception was -34.91%, roughly equal to the maximum VSTSX drawdown of -34.97%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for TLSTX and VSTSX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| TLSTX | VSTSX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -34.91% | -34.97% | +0.06% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -12.37% | -12.41% | +0.04% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -25.12% | -25.35% | +0.23% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -8.86% | -8.92% | +0.06% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -5.62% | -4.97% | -0.65% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.65% | 2.56% | +0.09% |
Volatility
TLSTX vs. VSTSX - Volatility Comparison
TIAA-CREF Life Funds Stock Index Fund (TLSTX) and Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund Institutional Select Shares (VSTSX) have volatilities of 4.37% and 4.40%, respectively, indicating that both stocks experience similar levels of price fluctuations. This suggests that the risk associated with both stocks, as measured by volatility, is nearly the same. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| TLSTX | VSTSX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 4.37% | 4.40% | -0.03% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 9.28% | 9.33% | -0.05% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 16.28% | 18.42% | -2.14% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 16.91% | 17.33% | -0.42% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 20.21% | 18.84% | +1.37% |