AFMC vs VOO
First Trust Active Factor Mid Cap ETF vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, AFMC or VOO?
Mid Cap Blend against Large Cap Blend.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. AFMC led over 1Y, VOO over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. AFMC is less concentrated, with 11.8% 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 | AFMC | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.68% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $214M | $997.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.69% | 1.04% |
| Holdings | 526 | 509 |
| YTD Return | +13.74%Best | +12.23% |
| 1Y Return | +16.29%Best | +15.47% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +19.92% | +22.78%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +10.84% | +13.71%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 20.3% | 16.9%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -42.1% | -34.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $16,729 | $19,010Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 11.8%Best | 37.6% |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Dec 4, 2019 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 4, 2019 to Sep 30, 2026 (6.8 years).
AFMC 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.
AFMC vs VOO Performance
First Trust Active Factor Mid Cap ETF (AFMC) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US) and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year AFMC returned +16.29% while VOO returned +15.47%. Year to date, AFMC is up 13.74% versus a gain of 12.23% for VOO.
Over three years, AFMC compounded at +19.92% per year against +22.78% for VOO; over five years the annualized figures are +10.84% and +13.71% respectively. Across the full 7-year window we track, VOO has the edge at +15.34% annualized vs +11.43%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
AFMC has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 20.3% 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 -42.1% for AFMC 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 0.88. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
AFMC charges 0.68% per year while VOO charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $68 vs $3 annually, a gap of $65 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, AFMC currently yields 0.69% against 1.04% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
15.0% of AFMC's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 1.3% of VOO's money is in holdings AFMC also owns.
AFMC and VOO share little of their money.
38 positions in common, counted across the 262 positions we hold weights for in AFMC and 494 in VOO, against full books of 526 and 509.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 450 positions for VOO that do not appear in our book for AFMC (97.9% of the fund), and 217 for AFMC that do not appear in VOO (79.9%).
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 AFMC | Weight in VOO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| CASYCaseys General | 1.19% | 0.05% | 1.14% |
| APAApa Corp | 0.88% | 0.02% | 0.86% |
| CFCf Industries Holdings Inc. | 0.85% | 0.03% | 0.82% |
| FIXComfort Systems USA Inc. | 0.66% | 0.09% | 0.57% |
| LITELumentum Holdings Inc | 0.60% | 0.09% | 0.51% |
| FLEX:SIFlex Ltd | 0.61% | 0.07% | 0.54% |
| FFIVF5 Networks Inc. | 0.62% | 0.04% | 0.58% |
| NTAPNetapp Inc | 0.61% | 0.05% | 0.56% |
| INCYIncyte Corp. | 0.59% | 0.03% | 0.56% |
| HSTHost Hotels & Resorts Inc | 0.59% | 0.02% | 0.57% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of AFMC 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, AFMC or VOO?
AFMC has an expense ratio of 0.68% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $65 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, AFMC or VOO?
Over the past year AFMC returned +16.29% vs +15.47% for VOO, so AFMC leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (7 years), AFMC annualized +11.43% vs +15.34% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, AFMC or VOO?
AFMC has been the more volatile fund at 20.3% annualized versus 16.9% for VOO. Worst drawdown: AFMC -42.1% vs VOO -34.3%.
Should I hold both AFMC and VOO?
AFMC and VOO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.88, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between AFMC and VOO?
15.0% of AFMC's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 1.3% of VOO's is in holdings AFMC also owns. They hold 38 positions in common, counted across the 262 positions we hold weights for in AFMC and 494 in VOO.
Which pays a higher dividend, AFMC or VOO?
AFMC yields 0.69% while VOO yields 1.04%, so VOO currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than AFMC?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. AFMC led over 1Y, VOO over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. AFMC is less concentrated, with 11.8% 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.