MLFEX Performance — MFS Lifetime 2040 Fund, Class R1
Data updated: 2026-09-24
MLFEX returned +8.98% year to date and +14.89% over one year to Jul 2026. Annualised returns are +12.55% over 3 years and +6.73% over 5 years. The fund trailed its Target-Date category average: $100 invested three years ago grew to $143, against $146 for the category, and to $115 over one year, against $116. Volatility over the past three years was 10.22% a year. In the 12 months to Jul 2026 the fund lost a net $53.3M, and assets reached $824.44M.
MLFEX Growth of $100
What $100 invested in MFS Lifetime 2040 Fund grew to, compounded from monthly returns reported on SEC Form N-PORT, against the Target-Date category average over the same months.
| Period | MLFEX | Category average |
|---|---|---|
| 1 year (Aug 2025 – Jul 2026) | $115 | $116 |
| 3 years (Aug 2023 – Jul 2026) | $143 | $146 |
| 5 years (Aug 2021 – Jul 2026) | $138 | $142 |
| Since data start (Aug 2019 – Jul 2026) | $188 | $186 |
MLFEX Trailing Returns
Total returns to Jul 2026, from SEC N-PORT.
| Period | Total return |
|---|---|
| YTD | +8.98% |
| 1 year | +14.89% |
| 3 years (annualised) | +12.55% |
| 5 years (annualised) | +6.73% |
MLFEX Annual Returns
Calendar-year total returns of MFS Lifetime 2040 Fund, compounded from monthly SEC N-PORT returns. Partial years show the months covered.
| Year | Total return |
|---|---|
| 2026 (Jan–Jul) | +8.98% |
| 2025 | +13.91% |
| 2024 | +11.25% |
| 2023 | +15.18% |
| 2022 | −16.13% |
| 2021 | +17.69% |
| 2020 | +12.06% |
| 2019 (Aug–Dec) | +6.74% |
MLFEX Monthly Returns
Monthly total returns as reported on SEC Form N-PORT.
| Year | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | +2.8% | +1.8% | −5.2% | +6.3% | +2.1% | +1.0% | +0.1% | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2025 | +3.2% | −0.7% | −2.7% | 0.0% | +4.3% | +3.5% | +0.3% | +2.4% | +1.6% | +0.2% | +0.7% | +0.4% |
| 2024 | +0.1% | +3.2% | +3.3% | −3.5% | +3.5% | +0.4% | +2.7% | +1.8% | +1.8% | −2.0% | +3.6% | −3.6% |
| 2023 | +6.6% | −3.1% | +1.2% | +0.8% | −2.0% | +5.2% | +2.7% | −2.1% | −4.1% | −2.8% | +7.6% | +5.1% |
| 2022 | −4.7% | −2.0% | +1.2% | −6.1% | +0.7% | −7.9% | +6.9% | −3.8% | −8.5% | +5.7% | +6.6% | −3.8% |
| 2021 | −0.6% | +2.4% | +2.7% | +4.5% | +1.3% | +1.0% | +1.5% | +2.0% | −3.5% | +4.1% | −2.6% | +4.0% |
| 2020 | −0.9% | −6.8% | −13.7% | +9.4% | +4.9% | +2.0% | +4.9% | +4.0% | −2.2% | −1.7% | +9.7% | +4.4% |
| 2019 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | −1.5% | +1.4% | +1.9% | +2.1% | +2.7% |
MLFEX Risk
Risk measures from monthly returns over Aug 2023 – Jul 2026.
- 3-year volatility (annualised): 10.22%
- 3-year Sharpe ratio: 0.79 (vs 4.5% risk-free rate)
- Best month: +7.56% (Nov 2023)
- Worst month: −5.16% (Mar 2026)
MLFEX Fund Flows
Monthly money in and out of MFS Lifetime 2040 Fund, from SEC Form N-PORT.
- 12-month net flow: −$53.3M
- 12-month gross sales (incl. reinvestments): $181.4M
- Sales ÷ redemptions: 0.77×
| Month | Sales | Redemptions | Net flow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 2026 | $9.4M | $31.6M | −$22.2M |
| Jun 2026 | $9.2M | $12.2M | −$3.0M |
| May 2026 | $9.3M | $22.4M | −$13.1M |
| Apr 2026 | $8.9M | $12.4M | −$3.5M |
| Mar 2026 | $17.0M | $35.5M | −$18.5M |
| Feb 2026 | $10.4M | $24.0M | −$13.6M |
| Jan 2026 | $11.5M | $25.8M | −$14.3M |
| Dec 2025 | $70.8M | $11.7M | $59.2M |
| Nov 2025 | $8.4M | $20.4M | −$12.0M |
| Oct 2025 | $7.5M | $15.0M | −$7.5M |
| Sep 2025 | $9.9M | $9.6M | $285K |
| Aug 2025 | $9.2M | $14.0M | −$4.8M |
MLFEX Assets Under Management
Net assets of MFS Lifetime 2040 Fund by report date, from SEC N-PORT filings.
| Report date | Net assets |
|---|---|
| 2026-07-31 | $824.44M |
| 2026-04-30 | $834.34M |
| 2026-01-31 | $846.45M |
| 2025-10-31 | $839.13M |
| 2025-07-31 | $815.11M |
| 2025-04-30 | $769.70M |
| 2025-01-31 | $808.64M |
| 2024-10-31 | $780.17M |
| 2024-07-31 | $787.90M |
| 2024-04-30 | $767.14M |
| 2024-01-31 | $729.45M |
| 2023-10-31 | $633.64M |
For information only. Not investment advice: figures are as reported in SEC filings and may contain errors or be out of date. Past performance does not guarantee future results.