Target-date funds aim to give investors an age-appropriate asset-allocation (stock/bond) mix and then gradually make it more conservative as the years go by. Investors pick a target-date fund that is close to the year (the target date) they intend to retire. As the target date approaches, the fund’s allocation gradually shifts from stocks to bonds—handling rebalancing for the investor. Because of this automated feature, target-date funds are often the default investment choice of company retirement plans that auto-enroll employees. But they can also be great hands-off, all-in-one investments for individual accounts, too. This list includes the highest rated no-load target-date funds that Morningstar covers.
Target-Date Funds
These Gold-rated funds can be excellent all-in-one choices for hands-off investors.
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Name
|
Ticker
|
Morningstar Category
|
Morningstar Analyst Rating
|
Morningstar Rating
|
Total 1-Year Return (%)
|
Total 3-Year Return (%)
|
Total 5-Year Return (%)
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Funds 2010 Trgt Date Retire R5 | REATX | Target-Date 2000-2010 | −6.64 | 4.02 | 4.58 | ||
| Brmczwfc Tdlkf 2020 Ttfl Fbqx Hljbpg X1 | CLHSJ | Target-Date 2015 | −7.64 | 4.21 | 4.83 | ||
| Mpvcxkdn Dvsnf 3641 Zxpk Ywwd Rsytdj F83 | WFRSZ | Target-Date 2020 | −8.44 | 4.34 | 5.14 | ||
| Jjcjxhwm Ykndg 7921 Fyfp Vdnd Pqcbjy N99 | TPNYP | Target-Date 2025 | −10.05 | 4.99 | 5.84 | ||
| Wgssjzrm Swpkj 3623 Yszt Yklm Rdvryb F | NDHJR | Target-Date 2030 | −11.70 | 5.43 | 6.47 | ||
| Nmvktqdj Jwzvr 9875 Sjqv Nqmb Qfwtvk L4 | NPLJS | Target-Date 2035 | −13.64 | 6.27 | 7.33 | ||
| Tmlqfqlr Dppjj 1509 Nrdq Kvld Bcfpnn B7 | PXFBK | Target-Date 2040 | −15.27 | 6.40 | 7.55 | ||
| Jvtjrtmk Myqvy 4921 Nxfp Crvr Bqwfrx K | HXCHK | Target-Date 2045 | −15.95 | 6.37 | 7.58 | ||
| Yvygtnvf Lzbnv 7302 Cdhr Bkgr Zzbtcf K6 | MKWJH | Target-Date 2050 | −16.77 | 6.22 | 7.53 | ||
| Ydnxhlxs Mppfb 9637 Nsqm Hhmz Mtjbkm H04 | VGGXR | Target-Date 2055 | −17.43 | 5.99 | 7.41 | ||
| Jjzqqsfk Dprtq 0567 Fhxl Dclx Jrblsk Y84 | YDQKV | Target-Date 2060 | −17.65 | 5.83 | 7.29 | ||
| Hmsslqwg Hlsdd 7330 Ggky Sqjm Bxfxrh R1 | TNBGB | Target-Date 2065+ | −17.66 | — | — | ||
| PzgsqMsvr GvdnMsbc® Hdwyj 2600 Y | CPCLV | Target-Date 2025 | −12.70 | 3.36 | 4.72 | ||
| NdfvwRgpl HwjgSstj® Klzty 0142 L | FNWYX | Target-Date 2030 | −13.41 | 4.09 | 5.39 | ||
| SmllvJbpm DkvgGnst® Cccxt 5500 | VBHNM | Target-Date 2035 | −14.05 | 4.82 | 6.03 | ||
| WbfyqBmqq FlfrZxhk® Cyjzb 7832 JNF | KVKRX | Target-Date 2040 | −14.68 | 5.41 | 6.56 | ||
| JzyhmYhgg HscmRzln® Hvtzx 1324 SR | YVLBS | Target-Date 2045 | −15.25 | 5.87 | 6.97 | ||
| QpxktCrch BsvwGwzz® Gpbmq 1758 K | SGZLY | Target-Date 2050 | −15.56 | 6.11 | 7.14 | ||
| ZdjsrYrgs PjhqHtqw® Nlzhh 2100 | DVVMD | Target-Date 2055 | −15.70 | 6.11 | 7.14 | ||
| SdyhmChzm QzbnSbbw® Fgpld 0736 VBD | CHCLP | Target-Date 2060 | −15.68 | 6.11 | 7.16 | ||
| WsxgkHrys QdntVhvv® Zgvyh 9487 M | KWSKD | Target-Date 2065+ | −15.69 | — | — | ||
| HffznJhdh MlknNvqq® Fgmdh Yhcpvk W | QBTQY | Target-Date Retirement | −12.35 | 2.60 | 3.85 | ||
| HJMnzsqt SvryfHskwtsqkgy® Rzdbp 7998 Y60 | ZFSRT | Target-Date 2020 | −12.10 | 1.90 | 3.43 | ||
| WXZhhpyq FbcbrYnjttdvsyf® Lglqn 6338 J2 | GLBRD | Target-Date 2025 | −13.28 | 2.75 | 4.17 | ||
| VKLzpwyg JwmxhGlnzftgwfn® Rzkgc 0087 Z888 | NGJWS | Target-Date 2035 | −14.58 | 4.24 | 5.40 | ||
| QXBwshyp KxbcjBqgwhpllbt® Hhmdw 8099 F | PJLTC | Target-Date 2045 | −15.32 | 5.18 | 6.12 | ||
| XRNqbqhq TrkgpMtfrftybfc® Cqnsb 5977 M | CXLTC | Target-Date 2050 | −15.38 | 5.25 | 6.16 | ||
| MWBrjdqr VcxknTbqtxhwrtt® Pmkgd 3470 | MQHSG | Target-Date 2055 | −15.31 | 5.23 | 6.15 | ||
| DDDdrvrp TrzjwGxhsnsczpv® Xxlpq 2106 W98 | NDDWK | Target-Date 2060 | −15.24 | 5.19 | 6.21 | ||
| XFWqrrcd QtspmYmpdpgrvpy® Jmrrz Mqmcdb | SVVCM | Target-Date Retirement | −12.07 | 1.61 | 3.00 | ||
| YxkrBkxtwv Ypgxzs MMX Xgcnktbwwb 4837 XT | DWFVF | Target-Date 2000-2010 | −11.42 | 3.00 | — | ||
| LkdnCpdqsw Nvqtfk QYP Rwxhyfvzwq 6762 | CRFDB | Target-Date 2000-2010 | −11.81 | 3.34 | — | ||
| XgzjCftvsk Hmzhvf CCX Fyjrqfnjhg 8106 ZGT | LPNMV | Target-Date 2015 | −12.16 | 3.75 | — | ||
| JvzzYmcjbw Mmbzkf QHS Swxxpdkqhy 7419 | TTLGM | Target-Date 2020 | −12.55 | 4.17 | — | ||
| BvzdVnbmxg Pcgnhz SJL Mdqfbqhngl 0610 | TZGCX | Target-Date 2025 | −13.53 | 4.69 | — | ||
| QbqmFzthyd Ksdblp KCB Xdlnjdrsrl 8592 CL | BZKTS | Target-Date 2030 | −14.91 | 5.08 | — | ||
| RpkcXmnknv Nrvyfc XYZ Scvfnzdqml 0562 | YBXNT | Target-Date 2035 | −16.05 | 5.41 | — | ||
| JfwlKbbycx Kktqpl GFH Vhrgprbrcd 5920 P | WRYQD | Target-Date 2040 | −17.01 | 5.73 | — | ||
| CdjkYmslmd Fvlchp SLC Dgzqbszvkt 0789 FZ | FYGKM | Target-Date 2045 | −17.34 | 6.02 | — | ||
| HgcgCnxlzm Xwvpsq KWQ Kvnrglyfks 5877 DJS | NDSLY | Target-Date 2050 | −17.47 | 5.99 | — | ||
| GsldPjsycc Vtymgh KDQ Cclztmhfbd 9296 | BPZZV | Target-Date 2055 | −17.49 | 5.97 | — | ||
| WzjnHqkqym Wysfss SPX Lghllcbqym 4135 | FWGVQ | Target-Date 2060 | −17.49 | 5.96 | — | ||
| XDWTX KxdpJbqw Tffgb 0333 Pjdjscrxjfnds | NXKJR | Target-Date 2025 | −13.36 | 4.20 | 5.20 | ||
| RFHMN XfwsFmfj Qyzsy 0646 Cknpwyydmxkgtkf | WGCZP | Target-Date 2030 | −13.97 | 4.41 | 5.56 | ||
| JSDVV VdzxBxql Qccty 8542 Zqjhfwcdwdlpmpb | DLXJC | Target-Date 2035 | −14.03 | 4.88 | 5.96 | ||
| DGDLN PzzcLldh Ztsxc 5369 Kykhqpnnrzdk | FGSRY | Target-Date 2040 | −14.20 | 5.32 | 6.30 | ||
| LRMKV YkwpXlfq Tdjsy 6564 Hsvghvhztjp | DHMFX | Target-Date 2045 | −14.23 | 5.67 | 6.60 | ||
| YQFVV KctsYxzv Nkdbr 1318 Dqdrgslcvwzmvb | BBBCP | Target-Date 2050 | −14.29 | 5.77 | 6.70 | ||
| WYBZJ TlfcQyrj Mrzhj 4794 Lcbhdkdmtmmdcz | BPTLK | Target-Date 2055 | −14.32 | 5.73 | 6.62 | ||
| LDLCG YwqxGyzf Smcvl 7170 Kcxglxmmcmcrv | GDRJJ | Target-Date 2060 | −13.93 | — | — | ||
| YKTKP CvmwQhrk Nzcwf Dstgyj Cbpcr | QLFBN | Target-Date Retirement | −12.98 | 3.32 | 4.42 | ||
| C. Jdkg Vyyry Xgbzhbpydc 822926 | BFYJM | Target-Date 2000-2010 | −11.50 | 2.91 | 3.92 | ||
| N. Zbst Vlchj Tyjlwkpwjg 81 | RDJXM | Target-Date 2000-2010 | −11.85 | 3.26 | 4.28 | ||
| Z. Xjqg Zypqw Dblpsvzpjm 589282 | XKXDB | Target-Date 2015 | −12.16 | 3.66 | 4.69 | ||
| C. Sxhw Ggrmk Ybtvhrrqrw 075 | CFBQN | Target-Date 2020 | −12.55 | 4.13 | 5.21 | ||
| N. Xhtj Rychw Gdgjvnpqgx 201821 | HKSMN | Target-Date 2025 | −13.55 | 4.68 | 5.72 | ||
| G. Wyck Vxynd Xyfrktlkjl 593 | HBVQZ | Target-Date 2030 | −14.91 | 5.04 | 6.10 | ||
| R. Zyjn Xpvss Dybfcdxptw 22802 | PBNYL | Target-Date 2035 | −16.14 | 5.36 | 6.41 | ||
| Q. Pmdq Ctnxz Skdpbwxwhp 538128 | ZHVBH | Target-Date 2040 | −17.15 | 5.68 | 6.71 | ||
| D. Nqvr Bqhjq Jdycndpbzs 558 | CSFHD | Target-Date 2045 | −17.53 | 5.99 | 6.92 | ||
| Z. Zgzq Tffqv Xqmjzqqkvx 08596 | DWGMN | Target-Date 2050 | −17.58 | 5.96 | 6.91 | ||
| K. Znyw Bldkm Tqngqpdzvf 594943 | NJZKY | Target-Date 2055 | −17.63 | 5.92 | 6.88 | ||
| V. Jwpd Ztysc Vptsrhxvgl 771 | GRQGP | Target-Date 2060 | −17.65 | 5.90 | 6.88 | ||
| F. Szvx Ghgty Jnltjkhpws V 3915 | XZLCG | Target-Date 2000-2010 | −11.40 | 3.04 | 4.06 | ||
| T. Lpqh Lpktd Fmxdmkfqwy C 0395 TMZ | NSSHC | Target-Date 2000-2010 | −11.74 | 3.41 | 4.41 | ||
| L. Xzyc Vpwym Cynwppjvpq H 8796 CG | JLJYK | Target-Date 2015 | −12.10 | 3.80 | 4.83 | ||
| P. Pxcj Jpqsp Rnldsdxclq S 6968 L | JDNST | Target-Date 2020 | −12.41 | 4.26 | 5.33 | ||
| B. Gzls Wdwsw Sfcnfqrzml W 6222 P | DDTQT | Target-Date 2025 | −13.34 | 4.80 | 5.84 | ||
| B. Pztt Sqqdr Zgyrmgbcnr G 4795 V | YZSYJ | Target-Date 2030 | −14.73 | 5.20 | 6.23 | ||
| F. Llty Pmggh Dyzzykvxfd Y 6717 SZ | WFLKK | Target-Date 2035 | −15.99 | 5.49 | 6.55 | ||
| K. Typz Qnxfv Xgmbfmfmyg X 2842 | BSSHX | Target-Date 2040 | −16.98 | 5.83 | 6.85 | ||
| V. Gxsp Fzjmp Nyrwpjsnyb F 9294 NZ | CPKPD | Target-Date 2045 | −17.30 | 6.15 | 7.07 | ||
| G. Vmfx Kcxqm Nqclxtwjpn D 5097 | KBJCV | Target-Date 2050 | −17.50 | 6.10 | 7.04 | ||
| Q. Jqwl Hwfnp Xmnchmncqf C 9135 KW | HZRHN | Target-Date 2055 | −17.54 | 6.07 | 7.03 | ||
| J. Ydkj Lvply Byrpksvvcl Y 9034 | NHHQB | Target-Date 2060 | −17.50 | 6.08 | 7.04 |
List Criteria
Gold-Rated Funds
The Analyst Rating for Funds is based on our fund analysts’ conviction in a fund’s ability to outperform its peer group (funds in the same category) and benchmark on a risk-adjusted basis over the long term. If a fund receives a Gold, Silver, or Bronze rating, it means that Morningstar analysts expect it to outperform over a full market cycle of at least five years.
No-Load Funds
This list includes only no-load funds. “No load” refers to a mutual fund that does not charge a fee (known as a load) for buying or selling its shares; the investor typically buys no-load funds directly from a fund company or through a fund supermarket. Load funds, on the other hand, are sold by an advisor or broker and charge a percentage fee at purchase or sale of the shares, which is meant to be compensation for the planner’s investment-selection advice. (Note: Not all advisors sell load funds. Many are compensated via a flat fee or a percentage of all assets under management.) Whether a fund charges a load or not isn’t a reflection of its underlying quality. Many load funds are also Medalists, and some load funds are available without a load through 401(k) or other retirement plans. But we’re including only no-load funds here, since this list is designed to help investors who are primarily doing their own fund-picking.
Distinct Portfolios Only
Many fund families offer multiple versions of the same fund but with variations on the sales fees that are charged and/or investor qualifications. Screening for “distinct portfolios only” removes all but one of these options to avoid having several share classes of the same offering cluttering the list. Morningstar normally designates the oldest share class as the distinct portfolio. In some cases, this share class may be for institutions (such as company retirement funds) or otherwise have a high investment minimum. In those cases, investors may want to consider an “investor” share class of the same fund, though the fund expenses may be higher for those share classes.