Jun 2, 2003 – Oct 2, 2026, TSP-C for the C Fund, TSP-G for the G Fund
Growth of $10,000
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Key metrics
| Return | C Fund | G Fund |
|---|---|---|
| Final balance | $124,245 | $20,262 |
| Total return | +1,142.45% | +102.62% |
| CAGR | +11.40% | +3.07% |
| Calendar years | C Fund | G Fund |
|---|---|---|
| Best year | +32.45% | +4.93% |
| Worst year | −36.99% | +0.97% |
| Positive years | 19 of 22 | 22 of 22 |
| Risk | C Fund | G Fund |
|---|---|---|
| Max drawdown | −55.22% | 0.00% |
| Longest drawdown | 4.5 years | None |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.63% | 0.29% |
| Risk-adjusted | C Fund | G Fund |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratio | 0.68 | 10.45 |
| Sortino ratio | 0.95 | — |
| Calmar ratio | 0.21 | — |
Trailing returns
| Period | C Fund | G Fund | C Fund − G Fund |
|---|---|---|---|
| YTD | +13.79% | +3.44% | +10.35% |
| 1Y | +16.34% | +4.52% | +11.82% |
| 3Y | +23.23% | +4.50% | +18.72% |
| 5Y | +13.71% | +3.98% | +9.74% |
| 10Y | +15.41% | +2.98% | +12.43% |
| 15Y | +15.75% | +2.61% | +13.14% |
| 20Y | +11.29% | +2.84% | +8.46% |
Rolling returns
| Period | C Fund median | G Fund median | More often ahead |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Y | +14.21% | +2.79% | C Fund 81% |
| 3Y | +11.94% | +2.44% | C Fund 84% |
| 5Y | +12.57% | +2.30% | C Fund 77% |
| 10Y | +12.50% | +2.42% | C Fund 100% |
Worst drawdowns · C Fund
| Decline | Peak | Bottom | Recovered | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| −55.2% | Oct 2007 | Mar 2009 | Mar 2012 | 4.5 years |
| −33.8% | Feb 2020 | Mar 2020 | Aug 2020 | 6 months |
| −24.5% | Jan 2022 | Oct 2022 | Dec 2023 | 1.9 years |
| −19.4% | Sep 2018 | Dec 2018 | Apr 2019 | 7 months |
| −18.8% | Feb 2025 | Apr 2025 | Jun 2025 | 4 months |
| Decline | Peak | Bottom | Recovered | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| None | ||||
Annual returns
| Year | C Fund | G Fund | C Fund − G Fund |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | +21.82% | +2.33% | +19.50% |
| 2018 | −4.41% | +2.91% | −7.32% |
| 2019 | +31.45% | +2.24% | +29.21% |
| 2020 | +18.31% | +0.97% | +17.34% |
| 2021 | +28.68% | +1.38% | +27.30% |
| 2022 | −18.13% | +2.98% | −21.11% |
| 2023 | +26.25% | +4.22% | +22.02% |
| 2024 | +24.96% | +4.40% | +20.56% |
| 2025 | +17.85% | +4.44% | +13.40% |
| 2026to Oct 2 | +13.79% | +3.44% | +10.35% |
About C Fund vs G Fund
The C Fund holds the S&P 500's stocks. The G Fund holds Treasury securities issued only to the Thrift Savings Plan, whose price never falls. They're the plan's stock market fund and its safest one.
The C Fund returned 11.4% a year from Jun 2003 to Oct 2026, against 3.1% for the G Fund. The C Fund beat the G Fund in 17 of 22 full years and in every rolling 10-year period.
Uses daily closing prices with dividends reinvested. Fund fees are included, but not taxes or trading costs. The comparison starts on Jun 2, 2003, when both funds' prices begin.