TLZIX vs. VBAIX
Compare and contrast key facts about TIAA-CREF Lifecycle Index 2040 Fund (TLZIX) and Vanguard Balanced Index Fund Institutional Shares (VBAIX).
TLZIX is managed by TIAA Investments. It was launched on Sep 29, 2009. VBAIX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Dec 1, 2000.
Performance
TLZIX vs. VBAIX - Performance Comparison
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TLZIX vs. VBAIX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
TLZIX TIAA-CREF Lifecycle Index 2040 Fund | -1.46% | 18.86% | 13.52% | 18.98% | -16.69% | 14.86% | 16.26% | 24.52% | -6.39% | 18.09% |
VBAIX Vanguard Balanced Index Fund Institutional Shares | -2.42% | 13.60% | 17.78% | 17.55% | -16.87% | 14.20% | 16.40% | 21.79% | -2.83% | 13.86% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, TLZIX achieves a -1.46% return, which is significantly higher than VBAIX's -2.42% return. Over the past 10 years, TLZIX has outperformed VBAIX with an annualized return of 10.10%, while VBAIX has yielded a comparatively lower 9.28% annualized return.
TLZIX
- 1D
- 2.26%
- 1M
- -4.81%
- YTD
- -1.46%
- 6M
- 0.68%
- 1Y
- 16.76%
- 3Y*
- 14.10%
- 5Y*
- 7.62%
- 10Y*
- 10.10%
VBAIX
- 1D
- 1.84%
- 1M
- -3.63%
- YTD
- -2.42%
- 6M
- -0.90%
- 1Y
- 12.54%
- 3Y*
- 13.28%
- 5Y*
- 7.12%
- 10Y*
- 9.28%
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TLZIX vs. VBAIX - Expense Ratio Comparison
TLZIX has a 0.10% expense ratio, which is higher than VBAIX's 0.06% 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
TLZIX vs. VBAIX — Risk / Return Rank
TLZIX
VBAIX
TLZIX vs. VBAIX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for TIAA-CREF Lifecycle Index 2040 Fund (TLZIX) and Vanguard Balanced Index Fund Institutional Shares (VBAIX). 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.
| TLZIX | VBAIX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.30 | 1.14 | +0.16 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.88 | 1.70 | +0.18 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.28 | 1.25 | +0.03 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.67 | 1.71 | -0.04 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 7.64 | 8.02 | -0.38 |
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
| TLZIX | VBAIX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.30 | 1.14 | +0.16 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.60 | 0.65 | -0.05 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.73 | 0.83 | -0.10 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.70 | 0.63 | +0.07 |
Correlation
The correlation between TLZIX and VBAIX is 0.96, 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
TLZIX vs. VBAIX - Dividend Comparison
TLZIX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.88%, less than VBAIX's 5.75% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
TLZIX TIAA-CREF Lifecycle Index 2040 Fund | 3.88% | 3.82% | 2.49% | 2.11% | 2.62% | 2.93% | 1.95% | 2.26% | 2.68% | 0.18% | 2.64% | 0.31% |
VBAIX Vanguard Balanced Index Fund Institutional Shares | 5.75% | 6.01% | 8.01% | 4.36% | 2.84% | 3.20% | 2.65% | 2.29% | 2.33% | 1.96% | 2.10% | 2.10% |
Drawdowns
TLZIX vs. VBAIX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum TLZIX drawdown since its inception was -28.82%, smaller than the maximum VBAIX drawdown of -35.82%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for TLZIX and VBAIX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| TLZIX | VBAIX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -28.82% | -35.82% | +7.00% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -9.49% | -7.80% | -1.69% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -24.21% | -21.52% | -2.69% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -28.82% | -22.77% | -6.05% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -5.68% | -4.11% | -1.57% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -4.04% | -4.45% | +0.41% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.07% | 1.66% | +0.41% |
Volatility
TLZIX vs. VBAIX - Volatility Comparison
TIAA-CREF Lifecycle Index 2040 Fund (TLZIX) has a higher volatility of 4.92% compared to Vanguard Balanced Index Fund Institutional Shares (VBAIX) at 3.71%. This indicates that TLZIX's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than VBAIX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| TLZIX | VBAIX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 4.92% | 3.71% | +1.21% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 7.75% | 6.20% | +1.55% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 13.33% | 11.39% | +1.94% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 12.83% | 11.09% | +1.74% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 13.91% | 11.21% | +2.70% |