TSP funds at the close

Tuesday was a down day for nearly everything in the TSP except the G Fund. Stocks fell, bonds slipped, and the one steady holding was the one that never takes price risk.

The S Fund had the roughest session, dropping 1.42% to $114.9163. That was the only one-day move over 1%. It also fell 2.44% over five days, the weakest stretch on the board. The S Fund follows the Dow Jones U.S. Completion index, which covers mid-sized and smaller companies outside the S&P 500, so it tends to swing harder when the broad market turns lower. Even so, it is still up 13.03% for the year.

The C Fund, which tracks the S&P 500, lost 0.70% to $123.0160. That lines up with the S&P's 0.71% decline in the index data below. It is down 0.58% over five days and up 12.09% year to date.

The I Fund slipped 0.61% to $65.7339. It follows the MSCI ACWI ex-US ex-China index, so it moves with developed and emerging markets outside the U.S. and China. Its five-day loss of 1.15% was the second-largest after the S Fund, but its 17.32% year-to-date gain is still the best in the TSP.

The F Fund, tied to the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate bond index, fell 0.27% to $20.7913 and is down 0.88% over five days. It is slightly negative for the year at -0.33%. The G Fund rose 0.01% to $20.1774 and is up 2.99% for the year. Its return follows a Treasury rate, not market prices, so it posts small, steady gains.

L Funds followed their stock weights

L Funds blend the G, F, C, S and I funds, so their results mostly reflect how much stock each one holds. The pattern was orderly:

  • L Income: -0.22% (YTD 5.92%)
  • L 2030: -0.42%
  • L 2040: -0.56%
  • L 2050: -0.64%
  • L 2055 through L 2075: -0.76% each

Funds with longer time horizons hold more stock, so they fell more. L Income and L 2030 lean on the G and F funds, which cushioned the drop. The long-dated funds are up about 14.0% for the year, against 8.93% for L 2030.

What moved IRA index funds and ETFs

The index data below is from the prior session close, so it is a close read on Tuesday but not an exact match. The picture was the same: stocks lower, bonds lower.

The S&P 500 fell 0.71% to 7,631.47. The Dow lost 0.79% to 52,766.879. The Nasdaq Composite dropped 1.03% to 26,099.77, the only major index to lose more than 1%. Vanguard Total Stock Market (VTI) fell 0.79% to $375.17, and Vanguard Total International (VXUS) lost 0.70% to $86.71.

Bonds did not offer shelter. Vanguard Total Bond Market (BND) slipped 0.62% to $71.79. The 10-year Treasury yield rose 0.80% to 4.796, and bond prices move opposite to yields. A rising yield pushes existing bond prices down, which fits both BND's loss and the F Fund's smaller decline. Bond funds and stock funds falling together is the sort of day that makes a mixed portfolio feel less protected than usual.

What it means for your plan

One down session rarely changes a long-term plan. The S Fund's 1.42% drop stands out on the screen, but the fund is still up 13.03% this year, and the C and I funds remain well ahead of where they began 2026.

The L Fund pattern is a reminder that your mix of stocks and stability decides how a day like this feels. If your allocation matches your timeline and your comfort with swings, a single red day is not a reason to rethink it. If it keeps you up at night, that is worth considering when you next review your plan, not in the middle of a down session.

This recap is general information, not personal advice.