TENM vs USMC

TENM vs USMC

Which is better, TENM or USMC?

Each has led over a different period.

USMC has a lower expense ratio. TENM led over 1Y, USMC over the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.94.

Lower Fees: USMCHigher Returns: split

MarketXLS is not an investment adviser. This comparison is generated automatically from market data and is for information only. A Best mark means the better reading on that one measure, not a recommendation to buy.

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricTENMUSMC
Expense Ratio0.50%0.12%Best
AUM$46M$4.8B
Dividend Yield0.27%0.74%
Holdings16213
YTD Return+9.80%+11.54%Best
1Y Return+10.66%Best+9.85%
3Y Return (annualized)-+21.10%
5Y Return (annualized)-+13.28%
Volatility (annualized)6.7%Best12.2%
Max Drawdown-3.6%Best-10.3%
$10,000 over 1.1 years$11,250$11,293Best
Fund FamilyiShares by BlackRock (US)Principal Funds
CategoryEquityEquity
StyleLarge Cap BlendLarge Cap Blend
InceptionOct 21, 2025Oct 11, 2017

Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.

Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.1 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 22, 2025 to Nov 11, 2026 (1.1 years).

TENM vs USMC growth

Month-end closes. Both lines start at 0% in the first month shown, so the gap between them is the difference in growth across that window. The full view covers the 1.1 years both funds cover.

Compare TENM against instead:TENM vs SPYTENM vs QQQTENM vs VOOTENM vs VTIUSMC against:USMC vs VXUS

TENM vs USMC Performance

iShares Large Cap 10% Target Buffer Mar ETF (TENM) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and Principal U.S. Mega-Cap ETF (USMC) is an ETF from Principal Funds. Over the past year TENM returned +10.66% while USMC returned +9.85%. Year to date, TENM is up 9.80% versus a gain of 11.54% for USMC.

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns

USMC has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 12.2% compared with 6.7% for TENM. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.

The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -3.6% for TENM and -10.3% for USMC. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.

The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.94. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.

Fees and Cost Over Time

TENM charges 0.50% per year while USMC charges 0.12%. On a $10,000 position that is $50 vs $12 annually, a gap of $38 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, TENM currently yields 0.27% against 0.74% for USMC.

Holdings Overlap

We hold position weights for 2 holdings in TENM and 101 in USMC, totalling 104.5% and 100.0% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.

0 positions in common, counted across the 2 positions we hold weights for in TENM and 101 in USMC, against full books of 16 and 213.

You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.

Whichever of TENM and USMC you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.

TENMUSMC

Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, TENM or USMC?

TENM has an expense ratio of 0.50% while USMC charges 0.12%. USMC is the cheaper option, by $38 a year on a $10,000 investment.

Which performed better, TENM or USMC?

Over the past year TENM returned +10.66% vs +9.85% for USMC, so TENM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), TENM annualized +11.30% vs +11.69% for USMC. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.

Which is riskier, TENM or USMC?

USMC has been the more volatile fund at 12.2% annualized versus 6.7% for TENM. Worst drawdown: TENM -3.6% vs USMC -10.3%.

Should I hold both TENM and USMC?

TENM and USMC have a monthly-return correlation of 0.94, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.

Which pays a higher dividend, TENM or USMC?

TENM yields 0.27% while USMC yields 0.74%, so USMC currently pays the higher dividend yield.

Is USMC better than TENM?

USMC has a lower expense ratio. TENM led over 1Y, USMC over the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.94. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.