C Fund vs
Backtest C Fund vs L 2050Jan 31, 2011 – Oct 2, 2026, TSP-C for the C Fund, TSP-L2050 for the L 2050 Fund, TSP-L2050 sets the start date
Growth of $10,000
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Key metrics
| Return | C Fund | L 2050 |
|---|---|---|
| Final balance | $80,045 | $46,701 |
| Total return | +700.45% | +367.01% |
| CAGR | +14.20% | +10.34% |
| Calendar years | C Fund | L 2050 |
|---|---|---|
| Best year | +32.45% | +26.20% |
| Worst year | −18.13% | −15.05% |
| Positive years | 12 of 14 | 12 of 14 |
| Risk | C Fund | L 2050 |
|---|---|---|
| Max drawdown | −33.83% | −29.20% |
| Longest drawdown | 1.9 years | 2.1 years |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.17% | 13.91% |
| Risk-adjusted | C Fund | L 2050 |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratio | 0.87 | 0.78 |
| Sortino ratio | 1.22 | 1.09 |
| Calmar ratio | 0.42 | 0.35 |
Trailing returns
| Period | C Fund | L 2050 | C Fund − L 2050 |
|---|---|---|---|
| YTD | +13.79% | +12.39% | +1.40% |
| 1Y | +16.34% | +15.13% | +1.20% |
| 3Y | +23.23% | +19.18% | +4.05% |
| 5Y | +13.71% | +10.25% | +3.46% |
| 10Y | +15.41% | +11.34% | +4.07% |
| 15Y | +15.75% | +11.75% | +4.00% |
Rolling returns
| Period | C Fund median | L 2050 median | More often ahead |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Y | +16.37% | +12.76% | C Fund 93% |
| 3Y | +13.38% | +9.42% | C Fund 100% |
| 5Y | +13.77% | +9.80% | C Fund 100% |
| 10Y | +13.47% | +9.33% | C Fund 100% |
Worst drawdowns · C Fund
| Decline | Peak | Bottom | Recovered | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| −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 |
| −18.7% | Apr 2011 | Oct 2011 | Feb 2012 | 9 months |
| Decline | Peak | Bottom | Recovered | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| −29.2% | Feb 2020 | Mar 2020 | Aug 2020 | 6 months |
| −22.9% | Nov 2021 | Oct 2022 | Dec 2023 | 2.1 years |
| −19.8% | Apr 2011 | Oct 2011 | Mar 2012 | 11 months |
| −15.6% | Sep 2018 | Dec 2018 | Apr 2019 | 7 months |
| −15.0% | May 2015 | Feb 2016 | Aug 2016 | 1.2 years |
Annual returns
| Year | C Fund | L 2050 | C Fund − L 2050 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | +21.82% | +18.81% | +3.01% |
| 2018 | −4.41% | −6.02% | +1.61% |
| 2019 | +31.45% | +23.33% | +8.12% |
| 2020 | +18.31% | +14.79% | +3.52% |
| 2021 | +28.68% | +16.34% | +12.34% |
| 2022 | −18.13% | −15.05% | −3.08% |
| 2023 | +26.25% | +20.00% | +6.24% |
| 2024 | +24.96% | +14.02% | +10.95% |
| 2025 | +17.85% | +19.07% | −1.22% |
| 2026to Oct 2 | +13.79% | +12.39% | +1.40% |
About C Fund vs L 2050
The C Fund holds only large US companies' stocks. The L 2050 Fund mixes all five of the Thrift Savings Plan's index funds, mostly stocks for now, and moves toward the G and F Funds as 2050 nears.
The C Fund returned 14.2% a year from Jan 2011 to Oct 2026, against 10.3% for the L 2050 Fund. Both fell furthest in 2020, the C Fund by 33.8% and the L 2050 Fund by 29.2%. The C Fund beat the L 2050 Fund in 12 of 14 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 Jan 31, 2011, when TSP-L2050's prices begin.