AFK vs VOO
VanEck Africa Index ETF vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, AFK or VOO?
Mid Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. AFK led over 1Y and 3Y, VOO over 5Y and the full window.
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 | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.76% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $95M | $997.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.91% | 1.04% |
| Holdings | 73 | 509 |
| YTD Return | +9.93% | +14.14%Best |
| 1Y Return | +22.95%Best | +17.31% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +28.38%Best | +23.16% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +9.75% | +13.85%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 23.3% | 16.9%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -43.2% | -34.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $15,923 | $19,128Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 37.6%Tie | 37.6%Tie |
| Fund Family | VanEck | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jul 10, 2008 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 2, 2019 to Sep 21, 2026 (6.8 years).
AFK vs VOO 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 VOO Performance
VanEck Africa Index ETF (AFK) is an ETF from VanEck and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year AFK returned +22.95% while VOO returned +17.31%. Year to date, AFK is up 9.93% versus a gain of 14.14% for VOO.
Over three years, AFK compounded at +28.38% per year against +23.16% for VOO; over five years the annualized figures are +9.75% and +13.85% respectively. Across the full 7-year window we track, VOO has the edge at +15.66% annualized vs +8.62%.
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 VOO. 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 -34.3% for VOO. 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 VOO 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 1.04% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
0.4% of AFK's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 0.1% of VOO's money is in holdings AFK also owns.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
1 positions in common, counted across the 71 positions we hold weights for in AFK and 494 in VOO, against full books of 73 and 509.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 486 positions for VOO that do not appear in our book for AFK (99.0% of the fund), and 5 for AFK that do not appear in VOO (4.8%).
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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in AFK | Weight in VOO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| RCLRoyal Caribbean Cruises | 0.42% | 0.12% | 0.30% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of AFK and VOO 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 VOO?
AFK has an expense ratio of 0.76% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $73 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, AFK or VOO?
Over the past year AFK returned +22.95% vs +17.31% for VOO, so AFK leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (7 years), AFK annualized +8.62% vs +15.66% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, AFK or VOO?
AFK has been the more volatile fund at 23.3% annualized versus 16.9% for VOO. Worst drawdown: AFK -43.2% vs VOO -34.3%.
Should I hold both AFK and VOO?
AFK and VOO 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 VOO?
AFK yields 0.91% while VOO yields 1.04%, so VOO currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than AFK?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. AFK led over 1Y and 3Y, VOO over 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.