Fund Evaluator:
Principal SAM Strategic Growth A (SACAX)
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Best Performing in Global Aggressive Allocation Over the Last Year
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| 19.3% | Goldman Sachs Growth Allocation Inv (GGSTX) |
Fund Details
Principal SAM Strategic Growth A Overview
Principal SAM Strategic Growth A (SACAX) is an actively managed Allocation Global Aggressive Allocation fund. Principal Funds launched the fund in 1996.
The investment seeks to provide long-term capital appreciation. The Portfolios operate as funds of funds. It generally invests: between 75% and 100% of its assets in equity funds, and less than 50% in any one equity fund; less than 20% of its assets in specialty funds, and less than 20% in any one specialty fund; such funds generally offer unique combinations of traditional equity securities or use alternative investment strategies that aim to offer diversification beyond traditional equity securities and include investments in such assets as infrastructure, commodities, currencies, and natural resources companies.
About Principal SAM Strategic Growth A (SACAX)
There are 3 members of the management team with an average tenure of 8.25 years: Todd Jablonski (2010), Yesim Tokat-Acikel (2023), Brody Dass (2022). Management tenure is more important for actively managed funds than passive index funds.
The fund has 3 primary benchmarks: Bloomberg US Agg Bond TR USD index with a weighting of 5%, MSCI ACWI NR USD index with a weighting of 95% and MSCI ACWI NR USD index with a weighting of 100%. Principal SAM Strategic Growth A has 22 securities in its portfolio. The top 10 holdings constitute 86.7% of the fund’s assets. The fund meets the SEC requirement of being classified as a diversified fund. The fund is not considered to have an ESG focus with its investment selection and management.
Principal SAM Strategic Growth A is part of the Allocation global asset class and is within the Allocation fund group. Principal SAM Strategic Growth A has 31.9% of its portfolio invested in foreign issues. The overall assets allocated to domestic stock is 64.2%. There is 31.9% allocated to foreign stock, and 0.0% is allocated to preferred stocks. The bond allocation as a percentage of total assets is 1.1% (1.1% domestic bond, 0.0% foreign bond and 0.0% convertible bond). Principal SAM Strategic Growth A has 2.7% of the portfolio in cash.
Assets Under Management
The fund has $1 billion in total assets, which is above the $328 million average for the Global Aggressive Allocation category. Normally, lower assets under management translates to higher average expense ratios, and greater total assets are desired. However, for some investment categories, such as small-cap investing, it may be difficult for the manager to fully employ the desired active strategy if assets grow too large or too quickly.
SACAX Performance and Fees
The expense ratio measures how much of a fund’s assets are used for administrative expenses and operating expenses, including adviser fees and fees for the transfer agent and custodial services. The Principal SAM Strategic Growth A expense ratio is high compared to funds in the Global Aggressive Allocation category. Principal SAM Strategic Growth A has an expense ratio of 1.11%, which is 8% higher than its category average, making the fund expense ratio grade a D. While it is difficult to predict returns, it is known that high annual expense ratios reduce your rate of return, and excessive fees are difficult to overcome. Active management normally comes with higher expense ratios than passive index management. Certain investment categories such as small company and foreign also normally have higher expense ratios. It is best to compare fund expense ratios against the category averages for meaningful assessments.
High portfolio turnover can translate to higher expenses and lower aftertax returns. Principal SAM Strategic Growth A has a portfolio turnover rate of 44%, indicating that holds its assets around 0.0 years. By way of comparison, the average portfolio turnover is 30% for the Global Aggressive Allocation category.
Recently, in the month of July 2026, Principal SAM Strategic Growth A returned 0.2%, which earned it a grade of B, as the Global Aggressive Allocation category had an average return of -0.9%. The letter grades of A, B, C, D and F are based upon relative rankings within the investment category. A grade of A, for example, would indicate that the return is in the highest 20% for that time period compared to all funds in that category.
Principal SAM Strategic Growth A has a trailing yield of 0.96%, which is below the 1.37% category average. The fund normally distributes its income annually and its capital gains annually.
It’s natural to seek the best-performing investments, but you must consider the relationship between risk and return and the impact of costs and taxes on your realized returns.
Principal SAM Strategic Growth A Grades
Year to date, the fund has returned 11.2%, 0.8 percentage points better than the category, which translates into a grade of B. The fund has returned 19.4% over the past year (grade of D), 16.4% over the past three years (grade of B) and 9.1% per year over the past five years (grade of A) and 11.2% per year over the past 10 years (grade of B).
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SACAX Trailing NAV Total Returns Data as of 7/31/26
| Last Month |
Last Quarter |
Ann'l. 1Yr |
Ann'l. 3Yr |
Ann'l. 5Yr |
Ann'l. 10Yr |
|
| SACAX Return (NAV) | 0.2% | 4.0% | 19.4% | 16.4% | 9.1% | 11.2% |
| SACAX Grade | B | A | D | B | A | B |
| +/- Category | 1.0% | 0.8% | -0.1% | 0.7% | 0.8% | 0.4% |
| Global Aggressive Allocation Avg | -0.9% | 3.2% | 19.6% | 15.7% | 8.2% | 10.8% |
| SACAX Tax Cost Ratio | na | na | 2.9% | 1.7% | 1.8% | 1.9% |
SACAX Annual NAV Total ReturnsData as of 7/31/26
| 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |
| SACAX Return (NAV) | 11.2% | 16.5% | 16.5% | 21.4% | -19.1% | 19.4% | 15.1% | 26.9% | -8.9% | 21.7% | 5.7% |
| SACAX Grade | B | D | A | B | D | A | D | B | B | C | D |
| +/- Category | 0.8% | -1.9% | 1.8% | 2.8% | -0.3% | 2.6% | -2.9% | 1.4% | 1.3% | -1.6% | -1.5% |
| Global Aggressive Allocation Avg | 10.5% | 18.4% | 14.7% | 18.6% | -18.8% | 16.8% | 18.0% | 25.5% | -10.3% | 23.3% | 7.2% |
| Risk Measures | |
| Standard Deviation: | 11.9% |
| Total Risk Index: | 0.97 - Average |
| Category Risk Index: | 0.94 - Below Average |
| Category Risk Grade: | B (27% Rank) |
| Beta: | 1.21 |
| R-Squared: | 91% |
| Leveraged Fund: | No |
| Inverse Fund: | No |
| Portfolio Characteristics | |
| Equity Investment Style: | Large-Cap Blend |
| Bond Investment Style: | na |
| Yield: | 1.0% |
| Dividend Distribution: | Annually |
| Cap Gains Distribution: | Annually |
| Total Assets: | $2619 Mil |
| Fund Total Assets: | $1,461 Mil |
| Share Class Type: | A |
| Portfolio Turnover: | 45% |
Management Team
| Number of Managers: 3 | |||
| Longest Tenure: 16.6 years | |||
| Average Tenure: 8.3 years | |||
| Managers (Year): Jablonski Todd (2010), Dass Brody (2022), Tokat-Acikel Yesim (2023) | |||
Portfolio Composition (as of 6/30/26)
| # of Holdings: | 22 |
| % in Top 10 Holdings: | 86.7% |
| Fund is Non-Diversified: | No |
| % in Foreign Issues: | 31.9% |
Portfolio Allocation |
|
| Domestic Stock: | 64.2% |
| Foreign Stock: | 31.9% |
| Preferred Stock: | 0.0% |
| Domestic Bond: | 1.1% |
| Foreign Bond: | 0.0% |
| Convertible Bond: | 0.0% |
| Other: | 0.1% |
| Cash: | 2.7% |
Purchase Information
| Fund Family: | Principal Funds |
| Phone Number: | 800-222-5852 |
| Website: | www.principalfunds.com |
| Status: | Open |
| Inception Date: | July 25, 1996 |
| Min. Initial Purchase: | $1,000 |
| Min. Initial IRA Purchase: | $ 0 |
| True No-Load: | No |
| Front Load Maximum: | 5.50% |
| Deferred Charge Maximum: | 0.00% |
| Redemption Charge Maximum: | 0.00% |
| 12b-1 Fee: | 0.25% |
Expenses and Fees | |
| Expense Ratio (%): | 1.11% ( Rating : High ) |
| Category Average Expense Ratio (%): | 1.02% |
| Share Class: | Principal SAM Strategic Growth A |
| Min. Subsequent Purchase: | $ 100 |
| Min. Subsequent IRA Purchase: | $ 0 |
