AFK vs VTI
VanEck Africa Index ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, AFK or VTI?
Mid Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. AFK led over 1Y and 3Y, VTI over 5Y and the full window. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.6%.
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 | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.76% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $95M | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.91% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 73 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | +8.19% | +13.14%Best |
| 1Y Return | +20.70%Best | +16.63% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +28.43%Best | +22.30% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +9.04% | +12.01%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 23.3% | 17.4%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -43.2% | -35.0%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $15,414 | $17,631Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 37.6% | 33.3%Best |
| Fund Family | VanEck | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jul 10, 2008 | May 24, 2001 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 2, 2019 to Sep 23, 2026 (6.8 years).
AFK vs VTI 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 VTI Performance
VanEck Africa Index ETF (AFK) is an ETF from VanEck and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year AFK returned +20.70% while VTI returned +16.63%. Year to date, AFK is up 8.19% versus a gain of 13.14% for VTI.
Over three years, AFK compounded at +28.43% per year against +22.30% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +9.04% and +12.01% respectively. Across the full 7-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +14.90% 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 17.4% for VTI. 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 -35.0% for VTI. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.69. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
AFK charges 0.76% per year while VTI 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 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
0.4% of AFK's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 0.1% of VTI'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 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 73 and 3,543.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1,149 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for AFK (97.3% of the fund), and 5 for AFK that do not appear in VTI (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 VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| RCLRoyal Caribbean Cruises | 0.42% | 0.11% | 0.31% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of AFK and VTI 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 VTI?
AFK has an expense ratio of 0.76% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $73 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, AFK or VTI?
Over the past year AFK returned +20.70% vs +16.63% for VTI, so AFK leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (7 years), AFK annualized +8.35% vs +14.90% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, AFK or VTI?
AFK has been the more volatile fund at 23.3% annualized versus 17.4% for VTI. Worst drawdown: AFK -43.2% vs VTI -35.0%.
Should I hold both AFK and VTI?
AFK and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.69, 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 VTI?
AFK yields 0.91% while VTI yields 1.03%, so VTI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than AFK?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. AFK led over 1Y and 3Y, VTI over 5Y and the full window. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.6%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.