AFK vs IVV
VanEck Africa Index ETF vs iShares Core S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, AFK or IVV?
Mid Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
IVV has a lower expense ratio. AFK led over 1Y and 3Y, IVV over 5Y and the full window. AFK is less concentrated, with 37.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.8%.
MarketXLS is not an investment adviser. This comparison is generated automatically from market data and is for information only. A Best mark means the better reading on that one measure, not a recommendation to buy.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | AFK | IVV |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.76% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $95M | $876.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.91% | 1.06% |
| Holdings | 73 | 508 |
| YTD Return | +8.19% | +13.32%Best |
| 1Y Return | +20.70%Best | +17.08% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +28.43%Best | +22.72% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +9.04% | +13.20%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 23.3% | 16.9%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -43.2% | -33.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $15,414 | $18,588Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 37.6%Best | 37.8% |
| Fund Family | VanEck | iShares by BlackRock (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jul 10, 2008 | May 15, 2000 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 2, 2019 to Sep 23, 2026 (6.8 years).
AFK vs IVV growth
Month-end closes. Both lines start at 0% in the first month shown, so the gap between them is the difference in growth across that window. The full view covers the 6.8 years both funds cover.
AFK vs IVV Performance
VanEck Africa Index ETF (AFK) is an ETF from VanEck and iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US). Over the past year AFK returned +20.70% while IVV returned +17.08%. Year to date, AFK is up 8.19% versus a gain of 13.32% for IVV.
Over three years, AFK compounded at +28.43% per year against +22.72% for IVV; over five years the annualized figures are +9.04% and +13.20% respectively. Across the full 7-year window we track, IVV has the edge at +15.48% annualized vs +8.35%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
AFK has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 23.3% compared with 16.9% for IVV. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -43.2% for AFK and -33.9% for IVV. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.68. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
AFK charges 0.76% per year while IVV charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $76 vs $3 annually, a gap of $73 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, AFK currently yields 0.91% against 1.06% for IVV.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 71 holdings in AFK and 490 in IVV, totalling 100.6% and 99.3% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 71 positions we hold weights for in AFK and 490 in IVV, against full books of 73 and 508.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 482 positions for IVV that do not appear in our book for AFK (98.6% of the fund), and 6 for AFK that do not appear in IVV (5.3%).
Some of those will be the same company recorded under a different code in one of the two books, so the real difference in what you would own is no larger than this and may be smaller. We do not name the individual positions here for that reason.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of AFK and IVV you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, AFK or IVV?
AFK has an expense ratio of 0.76% while IVV charges 0.03%. IVV is the cheaper option, by $73 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, AFK or IVV?
Over the past year AFK returned +20.70% vs +17.08% for IVV, so AFK leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (7 years), AFK annualized +8.35% vs +15.48% for IVV. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, AFK or IVV?
AFK has been the more volatile fund at 23.3% annualized versus 16.9% for IVV. Worst drawdown: AFK -43.2% vs IVV -33.9%.
Should I hold both AFK and IVV?
AFK and IVV have a monthly-return correlation of 0.68, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, AFK or IVV?
AFK yields 0.91% while IVV yields 1.06%, so IVV currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is IVV better than AFK?
IVV has a lower expense ratio. AFK led over 1Y and 3Y, IVV over 5Y and the full window. AFK is less concentrated, with 37.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.