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 | 3.52 | 7.41 | 6.47 | ||
| Zgyqrcfr Xswvl 9090 Jlty Cvvw Xmwywh | TXKNV | Target-Date 2015 | 3.83 | 8.02 | 6.98 | ||
| Cfmmqgdm Gplwf 6707 Wtpf Jmvn Bgydtc V | VVBJP | Target-Date 2020 | 3.76 | 8.43 | 7.52 | ||
| Rzmjldyl Rzqxx 6046 Jxvv Bzwt Tqrhjd M57 | YSRDK | Target-Date 2025 | 3.59 | 9.58 | 8.57 | ||
| Rvcnklnm Xbthc 5278 Wlyq Qnvz Kxkcpw J | CJLCM | Target-Date 2030 | 3.87 | 10.64 | 9.65 | ||
| Wgbtyrhb Wmpzs 6990 Mwlw Wsjg Pmymfm | PXZJV | Target-Date 2035 | 4.49 | 12.32 | 11.08 | ||
| Cnrdfrnj Kqmtt 5593 Bgdr Rybz Fvdgnh M464 | SVTTV | Target-Date 2040 | 4.65 | 13.02 | 11.67 | ||
| Tttxjfbh Qkvwy 7938 Rrhy Dxqn Wcqljf | XLYZP | Target-Date 2045 | 4.49 | 13.21 | 11.84 | ||
| Gsyxbtcm Gvswc 7366 Fdlp Ykqz Sydhsk C6 | SGWNN | Target-Date 2050 | 4.10 | 13.21 | 11.89 | ||
| Khwjlnxm Gnxpb 5334 Ccwk Fvsq Qqqzly Q408 | ZQVVG | Target-Date 2055 | 3.76 | 13.13 | 11.86 | ||
| Lkwcpnfh Qdzjd 2490 Fpsb Blpj Nnhtdh B5 | CGNXP | Target-Date 2060 | 3.65 | 13.03 | 11.77 | ||
| Ypdchzqs Gvkwj 1352 Bqpl Znkb Xlckgw B | DDLFC | Target-Date 2065+ | 3.67 | — | — | ||
| JvbygQkwl VsgtWwty® Vcfdf 7638 | CHXLP | Target-Date 2025 | 1.59 | 8.23 | 7.59 | ||
| RktlrMjjl MjzxBgtn® Gybbk 4640 SM | MTBQH | Target-Date 2030 | 2.93 | 9.55 | 8.66 | ||
| BynpgTrwb FvzdNypy® Mtswq 9047 B | ZTPBK | Target-Date 2035 | 4.16 | 10.80 | 9.66 | ||
| GbhyqKvwl HdfbKjnq® Dzscv 3238 | DZGLH | Target-Date 2040 | 5.28 | 11.88 | 10.55 | ||
| VdfjrZcnh ZbhdRsgr® Nnsgg 3565 VBC | NQWFC | Target-Date 2045 | 6.12 | 12.78 | 11.25 | ||
| WmsjvDypw QmtxXxll® Nbxsv 4766 Y | WWFJW | Target-Date 2050 | 6.60 | 13.25 | 11.56 | ||
| LnsfxZjnd HzxpLxks® Bywzf 1799 Z | YQQVR | Target-Date 2055 | 6.62 | 13.29 | 11.60 | ||
| VhpsyYmty QfqvVpdj® Rccbv 2732 J | HFDQQ | Target-Date 2060 | 6.58 | 13.27 | 11.59 | ||
| MbgxkZtvc TcyzBtcf® Sqsmd 9128 LMV | ZHRBK | Target-Date 2065+ | 6.68 | — | — | ||
| HqztmNzhg RjthTwff® Flclx Lmycyt BRF | KBCFR | Target-Date Retirement | 0.60 | 7.13 | 6.38 | ||
| TXRzwqqw XgjtlJxbpkzczvm® Gnmmf 5395 T | VSXLX | Target-Date 2020 | −0.06 | 6.21 | 5.99 | ||
| DTDtdfzq ZhhsrGlmpbztnwf® Mvdsk 0988 M6 | KDWVC | Target-Date 2025 | 0.79 | 7.64 | 7.14 | ||
| KYZzjstw VbfbnPtmmjvkwtg® Hmzdg 3499 M3 | LNZTZ | Target-Date 2035 | 3.26 | 10.22 | 9.10 | ||
| PZWtnbzf ZgbbgVbqgftqlxg® Lcqwc 4938 J0 | DSBSQ | Target-Date 2045 | 4.93 | 11.86 | 10.26 | ||
| GKYldfgm PvcdlLbtxlykfzr® Zsklx 4866 Q479 | HMPKZ | Target-Date 2050 | 4.95 | 11.95 | 10.33 | ||
| MWBflkbv SdnfgBhpstsxhdn® Tqbvy 0870 J | PPVXW | Target-Date 2055 | 4.94 | 11.91 | 10.28 | ||
| GNKngsbg DxxjhBzmfzwfchx® Cxwwq 0498 K91 | RWRTM | Target-Date 2060 | 5.00 | 11.87 | 10.36 | ||
| TGLyfhrb JfblsCyxcrxrlkc® Kbdbb WznmhgY4 | KJMLZ | Target-Date Retirement | −0.12 | 5.82 | 5.42 | ||
| RwybRsvhzm Fbhfvb VLT Rtddfbbdrl 3638 C | GBWNP | Target-Date 2000-2010 | 1.38 | 7.57 | — | ||
| HnxmVqdvly Ychdgz HJY Mlfjpbctwg 0857 K | PRLWH | Target-Date 2000-2010 | 1.62 | 8.10 | — | ||
| HxcnFwlwks Jkqmwl WJW Mkssjpwrpx 8730 X | GZLWJ | Target-Date 2015 | 1.82 | 8.68 | — | ||
| LcdgSnfsrr Rsztky ZBS Ghmwkfhfcm 5749 | YDDPR | Target-Date 2020 | 2.01 | 9.32 | — | ||
| WkpbPpjhby Nycgrp WNF Wqkmvcvnbt 8205 JHG | JQXCR | Target-Date 2025 | 2.27 | 10.27 | — | ||
| BtpxNxgprt Jwvjdk DXH Zywfcmnztv 6282 JGC | JRGTN | Target-Date 2030 | 2.60 | 11.20 | — | ||
| DbllPqkhhl Yvxdkk BYH Xjptbbrnzf 4232 | SCYCS | Target-Date 2035 | 2.94 | 12.03 | — | ||
| WnywTkrmlw Cbkfbf BDH Vkvjjzgzgr 1814 VV | VNHVM | Target-Date 2040 | 3.20 | 12.75 | — | ||
| VqmmTgfxtb Qytkzv QCD Gzfvcypzxr 7614 CS | TBGSP | Target-Date 2045 | 3.37 | 13.24 | — | ||
| HyxsYyzlll Fslwdg NXN Jctylkzmmd 5008 Z | LGVWY | Target-Date 2050 | 3.43 | 13.25 | — | ||
| ZjgwHnxvkl Gkxgjr GDZ Fpcmtzypqy 2844 | QDLFW | Target-Date 2055 | 3.49 | 13.27 | — | ||
| QppvPlmgwr Rvzhwm LPX Rvxhdcwnhf 7036 | DVPSK | Target-Date 2060 | 3.48 | 13.26 | — | ||
| FRTSK DxjhCywd Whvzr 8116 Nqlcxzynpmknnrp | LHKVC | Target-Date 2025 | 3.73 | 9.83 | 8.49 | ||
| VDKZC RsdbTwlv Bccbx 2273 Trvlfzgtqtsg | SMSQS | Target-Date 2030 | 4.65 | 10.52 | 9.17 | ||
| PTCJX KccsSszp Qrgck 2123 Xfvdyqcgtth | THVDK | Target-Date 2035 | 5.67 | 11.21 | 9.73 | ||
| SCJCK ZwgtZqnc Gdzbl 7065 Jxtwtbjchxncmfk | BQVNM | Target-Date 2040 | 6.29 | 11.90 | 10.24 | ||
| GXQDG CjcvMlff Xpqfp 5286 Klpczpbdpscrxq | TLXBC | Target-Date 2045 | 6.82 | 12.41 | 10.64 | ||
| BYKMQ HmfrGcyb Bkvfc 7901 Stxbnprfngt | ZPBLB | Target-Date 2050 | 7.06 | 12.63 | 10.81 | ||
| FQDTW FwhgRrlp Nqsmx 3012 Fvmhhfgpzhtlpr | TCLPL | Target-Date 2055 | 7.15 | 12.59 | 10.74 | ||
| SSQKW ZcpkStvp Skzfk 4163 Rrxxsbfbhzttnzr | FYTWD | Target-Date 2060 | 7.52 | — | — | ||
| GXBBV SltqCkvf Xjzrs Ttmqrd Lxqfxfh | RLLKH | Target-Date Retirement | 2.52 | 8.52 | 7.36 | ||
| D. Qzrp Sybzl Rkctcrtyfs 5274 | ZNKRJ | Target-Date 2000-2010 | 1.14 | 7.39 | 6.44 | ||
| X. Hjbp Dzgzw Zvcxzyycdz 92 | WXLTM | Target-Date 2000-2010 | 1.39 | 7.94 | 6.92 | ||
| Q. Hwvf Jjxlk Qbpnptsbzv 0206 | CYMYG | Target-Date 2015 | 1.66 | 8.50 | 7.50 | ||
| R. Krcb Flhdz Ljkfwhnzkl 04 | KXPRC | Target-Date 2020 | 1.89 | 9.18 | 8.23 | ||
| M. Stfv Vltkx Myvnfwmzxj 94 | SZKGY | Target-Date 2025 | 2.16 | 10.14 | 9.06 | ||
| K. Yfhb Rgysb Whmmtrmwlq 543 | PKGXH | Target-Date 2030 | 2.45 | 11.07 | 9.85 | ||
| D. Fkst Wdzkt Trgvpnfbpn 54 | RQHLK | Target-Date 2035 | 2.69 | 11.90 | 10.50 | ||
| J. Hlkl Hvyjc Xwmclszsjr 842 | LBPSS | Target-Date 2040 | 2.92 | 12.63 | 11.09 | ||
| Z. Hzxh Lwvnr Skxgzmsjkq 69498 | HRLYR | Target-Date 2045 | 3.17 | 13.13 | 11.43 | ||
| J. Tntw Btglr Czbvrlpwmj 2674 | ZQJWZ | Target-Date 2050 | 3.25 | 13.17 | 11.46 | ||
| X. Ntwh Mdkdv Pnksgmxsgr 634355 | XRTST | Target-Date 2055 | 3.21 | 13.12 | 11.41 | ||
| B. Rwwt Tcfgx Vcbncwrjjc 0958 | MPJCQ | Target-Date 2060 | 3.21 | 13.13 | 11.43 | ||
| V. Ydmk Kcscl Syhdfgyqsr D 5690 | GFSVV | Target-Date 2000-2010 | 1.30 | 7.54 | 6.58 | ||
| Z. Tcky Dhxwz Klpfbdgffv T 1541 P | RDVXB | Target-Date 2000-2010 | 1.55 | 8.07 | 7.06 | ||
| D. Tryn Yzvcp Yqztgcnvvk X 8085 CGT | WNRWK | Target-Date 2015 | 1.81 | 8.70 | 7.65 | ||
| F. Gmcs Fkygq Wnlfgcbqdm D 5953 | HHCGV | Target-Date 2020 | 2.05 | 9.32 | 8.36 | ||
| W. Dgyf Xzrsd Trlgdznpsd R 1545 NXM | HRMLH | Target-Date 2025 | 2.29 | 10.28 | 9.18 | ||
| S. Zyhv Xtrmz Qljckfxldh Y 0974 RR | ZFDWM | Target-Date 2030 | 2.64 | 11.21 | 9.97 | ||
| G. Qfhj Whhjf Nsvyryxtxm N 4524 | VMHMS | Target-Date 2035 | 2.95 | 12.04 | 10.65 | ||
| B. Dbsn Vvdfb Cnyvdzdxvp Q 8270 | JZVNM | Target-Date 2040 | 3.18 | 12.81 | 11.25 | ||
| Y. Hprf Bgmdw Nfhlkppjhk N 5005 LGV | FVVKV | Target-Date 2045 | 3.32 | 13.27 | 11.56 | ||
| V. Lprr Xkcsl Npdmqxkjbf W 9649 KT | KJPPB | Target-Date 2050 | 3.39 | 13.31 | 11.60 | ||
| F. Ljql Xnnrd Sfjhbcrwsm S 5804 | GQHPW | Target-Date 2055 | 3.44 | 13.32 | 11.61 | ||
| V. Pdqf Ytmkd Bcllywgvdj Y 4975 VKL | TJJXM | Target-Date 2060 | 3.40 | 13.34 | 11.61 |
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.