After disappointing returns in June, Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) investors may be feeling better about their TSP investments in July.
The I fund had a significant gain with a 2.08% return. The I fund has the biggest gain for the year-to-date with a return of 8.73%. The C fund, the second largest holding for TSP investors, came out on top for the month with a return of 2.10%. It is ahead 3.39% for the year.
The only fund to suffer a loss last month was the S fund with a small downturn of -0.12%. It is still ahead 4.83% for the year and up 11.28% for the past twelve months.
The biggest holding among TSP investors, the G fund, was up 0.19% for the month and it is up 1.15% for the year.
Very conservative investors may want to also consider the L Income fund for their investment dollars. It comes out ahead of the G fund for the month, the year-to-date and also for the past 12 months. It was up 0.55% in June, it us up 1.95% for the year-to-date and up 3.52% for the past twelve months.
Since its inception in 2006, the Income fund has consistently done better than the G fund finishing ahead of the more popular G fund in eight out of the last nine years.
Here are the results for all of the TSP funds for July, the year-to-date and for the past 12 months:
| G Fund | F Fund | C Fund | S Fund | I Fund | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | 0.19% | 0.74% | 2.10% | -0.12% | 2.08% |
| YTD | 1.15% | 0.79% | 3.39% | 4.83% | 8.73% |
| 12 Month | 2.09% | 3.27% | 11.29% | 11.28% | 0.00% |
| L Income | L 2020 | L 2030 | L 2040 | L 2050 | |
| Month | 0.55% | 1.03% | 1.22% | 1.33% | 1.46% |
| YTD | 1.95% | 3.29% | 3.89% | 4.27% | 4.73% |
| 12 Month | 3.52% | 5.23% | 6.14% | 6.79% | 7.20% |
So far in 2015, the S&P 500 index has traded in a very narrow range. (The C fund is based on this S&P index.)
After a big jump in February, the index has traded in a range between the highs and lows of only 4.4%. In 2014 and 2013, the range between the closing low and closing high was 20% and 26.8% respectively. 2015 has been an unusually calm year for stock prices.
TSP Statistics for June
In June, TSP investors flocked to the G fund, moving almost $1.7 billion into this fund. The C fund lost about $628 million transferred from this fund. $470 million was transferred from the S fund and another $445 million was transferred from the I fund. $61 million was transferred from the F fund.
As a result of the decline in stock market prices in June, assets under management at the TSP went down $3.68 billion. The FERS participation rate was unchanged at 88.5%.
