Jun 2, 2003 – Oct 2, 2026, TSP-C for the C Fund, TSP-I for the I Fund
Growth of $10,000
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Key metrics
| Return | C Fund | I Fund |
|---|---|---|
| Final balance | $124,245 | $63,778 |
| Total return | +1,142.45% | +537.78% |
| CAGR | +11.40% | +8.26% |
| Calendar years | C Fund | I Fund |
|---|---|---|
| Best year | +32.45% | +32.45% |
| Worst year | −36.99% | −42.43% |
| Positive years | 19 of 22 | 16 of 22 |
| Risk | C Fund | I Fund |
|---|---|---|
| Max drawdown | −55.22% | −60.89% |
| Longest drawdown | 4.5 years | 6.5 years |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.63% | 18.91% |
| Risk-adjusted | C Fund | I Fund |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratio | 0.68 | 0.52 |
| Sortino ratio | 0.95 | 0.72 |
| Calmar ratio | 0.21 | 0.14 |
Trailing returns
| Period | C Fund | I Fund | C Fund − I Fund |
|---|---|---|---|
| YTD | +13.79% | +16.89% | −3.09% |
| 1Y | +16.34% | +22.52% | −6.19% |
| 3Y | +23.23% | +21.94% | +1.29% |
| 5Y | +13.71% | +11.09% | +2.62% |
| 10Y | +15.41% | +10.11% | +5.30% |
| 15Y | +15.75% | +9.39% | +6.36% |
| 20Y | +11.29% | +5.98% | +5.31% |
Rolling returns
| Period | C Fund median | I Fund median | More often ahead |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Y | +14.21% | +12.08% | C Fund 62% |
| 3Y | +11.94% | +6.31% | C Fund 84% |
| 5Y | +12.57% | +5.20% | C Fund 86% |
| 10Y | +12.50% | +5.55% | C Fund 96% |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| −60.9% | Oct 2007 | Mar 2009 | May 2014 | 6.5 years |
| −33.2% | Jan 2020 | Mar 2020 | Nov 2020 | 10 months |
| −29.1% | Sep 2021 | Sep 2022 | Feb 2024 | 2.4 years |
| −22.6% | May 2015 | Feb 2016 | May 2017 | 1.9 years |
| −21.1% | Jan 2018 | Dec 2018 | Jan 2020 | 1.9 years |
Annual returns
| Year | C Fund | I Fund | C Fund − I Fund |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | +21.82% | +25.42% | −3.60% |
| 2018 | −4.41% | −13.43% | +9.02% |
| 2019 | +31.45% | +22.47% | +8.98% |
| 2020 | +18.31% | +8.17% | +10.14% |
| 2021 | +28.68% | +11.45% | +17.23% |
| 2022 | −18.13% | −13.94% | −4.19% |
| 2023 | +26.25% | +18.38% | +7.86% |
| 2024 | +24.96% | +4.27% | +20.70% |
| 2025 | +17.85% | +32.45% | −14.61% |
| 2026to Oct 2 | +13.79% | +16.89% | −3.09% |
About C Fund vs I Fund
Both are index funds in the Thrift Savings Plan. The C Fund holds the S&P 500, about 500 large US companies. The I Fund holds stocks outside the US, from developed markets and, since 2024, emerging ones too, leaving out China and Hong Kong. The two move with different economies and currencies.
The C Fund returned 11.4% a year from Jun 2003 to Oct 2026, against 8.3% for the I Fund. Both fell furthest in 2007–2009, the C Fund by 55.2% and the I Fund by 60.9%. The C Fund beat the I Fund in 13 of 22 full years and in 96% of rolling 10-year periods.
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.