What October Did to a $100,000 TSP Balance
A hypothetical $100,000 in the TSP's C Fund lost about $870 in October, while the same amount in the F Fund gained about $2,470.
Source: Thrift Savings Plan, daily share prices through October 30, 2026.
October returns by fund
| Fund | October | Year to date | 12 months | October on $100,000 |
| G Fund | +0.46% | +3.89% | +4.61% | +$460 |
| F Fund | +2.47% | -0.35% | +0.03% | +$2,470 |
| C Fund | -0.87% | +11.75% | +12.09% | -$870 |
| S Fund | -0.40% | +11.17% | +10.10% | -$400 |
| I Fund | -2.89% | +13.09% | +17.02% | -$2,890 |
Returns run through the October 30 close. The dollar column is an illustration only: it ignores contributions, withdrawals, and fees, and past performance does not predict future results. You can check each fund's official figures on TSP.gov, and FFEBA's TSP share prices page tracks each fund's latest close.
Why the funds went opposite ways
The F Fund holds bonds, and bond prices rise when yields fall. The 10-year Treasury yield topped 5% around the Federal Reserve's October 28 meeting, then slipped back under it by month's end. The Fed held rates steady, but two members voted to raise them, and markets put the odds of a December increase at about 85%.
Stocks had to absorb that uncertainty plus a technology-led selloff on the last trading day.
The last day did most of the damage
Through the October 29 close, the C Fund was up about 1% for the month. On October 30, it fell 1.81%, the S Fund fell 2.08%, and the I Fund fell 1.51%. That single session turned a small gain into a loss.
What a stock-and-bond mix did
A hypothetical mix of 60% C Fund and 40% F Fund would have gained about 0.47% in October, or roughly $470 on $100,000, while the C Fund alone lost 0.87%.
The cushion is not guaranteed. In September, the F Fund fell 2.59% along with the stock funds, and only the G Fund gained. Stocks and bonds sometimes move together, and October showed the other case.
For how the individual funds are built, see FFEBA's TSP guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which TSP fund did best in October 2026?
The F Fund, up 2.47%. The G Fund gained 0.46%, while the C, S, and I Funds lost 0.87%, 0.40%, and 2.89%.
Why did the F Fund rise while the stock funds fell?
The F Fund holds bonds, and bond prices rise when yields fall. The 10-year Treasury yield topped 5% around the Federal Reserve's October 28 meeting, then slipped back under it by month's end.
What happened to the TSP funds on October 30, 2026?
The C Fund fell 1.81%, the S Fund fell 2.08%, and the I Fund fell 1.51%. That single session turned the C Fund's small October gain into a loss.
How did a 60/40 mix of the C and F Funds do in October?
A hypothetical 60% C Fund and 40% F Fund mix would have gained about 0.47%, roughly $470 on $100,000, while the C Fund alone lost 0.87%.
Sources: Thrift Savings Plan, daily share prices through October 30, 2026; Federal Reserve, FOMC statement (October 28, 2026); CME Group, FedWatch Tool.
Related guides
