VTINX vs. PMTIX
VTINX (Vanguard Target Retirement Income Fund) and PMTIX (Principal LifeTime 2030 Fund) are both Target Retirement Date funds. Over the past 10 years, VTINX returned 5.31%/yr vs 8.84%/yr for PMTIX. Their correlation of 0.85 suggests significant overlap in exposure. VTINX charges 0.08%/yr vs 0.01%/yr for PMTIX.
Performance
VTINX vs. PMTIX - Performance Comparison
Loading charts...
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VTINX achieves a 4.47% return, which is significantly lower than PMTIX's 5.67% return. Over the past 10 years, VTINX has underperformed PMTIX with an annualized return of 5.31%, while PMTIX has yielded a comparatively higher 8.84% annualized return.
VTINX
- 1D
- 0.49%
- 1M
- 0.98%
- YTD
- 4.47%
- 6M
- 4.54%
- 1Y
- 11.60%
- 3Y*
- 9.10%
- 5Y*
- 4.22%
- 10Y*
- 5.31%
PMTIX
- 1D
- 0.80%
- 1M
- 1.27%
- YTD
- 5.67%
- 6M
- 5.63%
- 1Y
- 14.94%
- 3Y*
- 12.81%
- 5Y*
- 6.33%
- 10Y*
- 8.84%
VTINX vs. PMTIX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VTINX Vanguard Target Retirement Income Fund | 4.47% | 11.31% | 6.66% | 10.66% | -12.75% | 5.24% | 10.02% | 13.16% | -1.98% | 7.46% |
PMTIX Principal LifeTime 2030 Fund | 5.67% | 13.25% | 12.86% | 15.11% | -16.81% | 12.70% | 14.71% | 22.40% | -7.45% | 18.41% |
Correlation
The correlation between VTINX and PMTIX is 0.94, indicating a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Combining them offers limited diversification - they tend to fall together during downturns.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.94 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.91 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.90 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.89 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Oct 27, 2003 | 0.85 |
The correlation between VTINX and PMTIX has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.85 to 0.94 - a consistent structural relationship.
Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs
Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.
Return for Risk
VTINX vs. PMTIX — Risk / Return Rank
VTINX
PMTIX
VTINX vs. PMTIX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Target Retirement Income Fund (VTINX) and Principal LifeTime 2030 Fund (PMTIX). 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.
| VTINX | PMTIX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.39 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.60 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.44 | 1.34 | +0.09 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.77 | 2.52 | +0.25 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 11.98 | 10.99 | +0.99 |
Loading charts...
Drawdowns
VTINX vs. PMTIX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VTINX drawdown since its inception was -19.96%, smaller than the maximum PMTIX drawdown of -52.14%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VTINX and PMTIX.
Loading charts...
Drawdown Indicators
| VTINX | PMTIX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -19.96% | -52.14% | +32.18% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -4.14% | -5.85% | +1.71% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -5.26% | -9.62% | +4.36% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -17.02% | -23.05% | +6.03% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -17.02% | -25.87% | +8.85% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.21% | -0.33% | +0.12% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -2.20% | -6.78% | +4.58% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.96% | 1.34% | -0.38% |
Volatility
VTINX vs. PMTIX - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Vanguard Target Retirement Income Fund (VTINX) is 2.18%, while Principal LifeTime 2030 Fund (PMTIX) has a volatility of 3.28%. This indicates that VTINX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than PMTIX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
Loading charts...
Volatility by Period
| VTINX | PMTIX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 2.18% | 3.28% | -1.10% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 4.40% | 6.72% | -2.32% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 5.18% | 8.09% | -2.91% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 6.12% | 10.62% | -4.50% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 5.76% | 11.24% | -5.48% |
VTINX vs. PMTIX - Expense Ratio Comparison
VTINX has a 0.08% expense ratio, which is higher than PMTIX'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
VTINX vs. PMTIX - Dividend Comparison
VTINX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.81%, less than PMTIX's 9.17% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PMTIX Principal LifeTime 2030 Fund | 9.17% | 9.69% | 9.60% | 4.26% | 10.05% | 8.87% | 6.37% | 6.49% | 8.21% | 5.87% | 3.97% | 9.44% |
VTINX Vanguard Target Retirement Income Fund | 4.81% | 5.02% | 5.89% | 4.01% | 3.08% | 8.63% | 3.42% | 2.62% | 4.19% | 1.56% | 2.27% | 3.53% |
Frequently Asked Questions
With a correlation of 0.94, VTINX and PMTIX 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.
PMTIX has higher volatility (3.28%) compared to VTINX (2.18%). In terms of maximum drawdown, VTINX dropped -19.96% vs PMTIX's -52.14%.
VTINX currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.22 vs 1.83), 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.
Find the right allocation for VTINX and PMTIX
Add both to a portfolio and optimize allocations for your target — whether that's maximizing returns, minimizing drawdowns, or balancing risk across holdings.
Open Portfolio Optimizer