AFSC vs VOO
abrdn Focused US Small Cap Active ETF vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, AFSC or VOO?
Small Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. AFSC led over 1Y, VOO over the full window. AFSC is less concentrated, with 30.2% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 36.4%.
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 | AFSC | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.65% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $10M | $997.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.06% | 1.08% |
| Holdings | 45 | 509 |
| YTD Return | +22.81%Best | +12.74% |
| 1Y Return | +23.73%Best | +19.43% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +21.18% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.76% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.5% | 13.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -21.7% | -18.7%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.6 years | $12,801 | $12,847Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 30.2%Best | 36.4% |
| Fund Family | Aberdeen | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Dec 31, 1997 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.6 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 18, 2025 to Sep 8, 2026 (1.6 years).
AFSC 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 1.6 years both funds cover.
AFSC vs VOO Performance
abrdn Focused US Small Cap Active ETF (AFSC) is an ETF from Aberdeen and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year AFSC returned +23.73% while VOO returned +19.43%. Year to date, AFSC is up 22.81% versus a gain of 12.74% for VOO.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
AFSC has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.5% compared with 13.1% 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 -21.7% for AFSC and -18.7% 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 0.61. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
AFSC charges 0.65% per year while VOO charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $65 vs $3 annually, a gap of $62 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, AFSC currently yields 0.06% against 1.08% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 43 holdings in AFSC and 504 in VOO, totalling 98.3% and 99.9% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
The two holdings books were reported 50 days apart, AFSC as of Aug 19, 2026 and VOO as of Jun 30, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
0 positions in common, counted across the 43 positions we hold weights for in AFSC and 504 in VOO, against full books of 45 and 509.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 494 positions for VOO that do not appear in our book for AFSC (99.3% of the fund), and 43 for AFSC that do not appear in VOO (98.3%).
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 AFSC 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, AFSC or VOO?
AFSC has an expense ratio of 0.65% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $62 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, AFSC or VOO?
Over the past year AFSC returned +23.73% vs +19.43% for VOO, so AFSC leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), AFSC annualized +16.69% vs +16.95% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, AFSC or VOO?
AFSC has been the more volatile fund at 17.5% annualized versus 13.1% for VOO. Worst drawdown: AFSC -21.7% vs VOO -18.7%.
Should I hold both AFSC and VOO?
AFSC and VOO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.61, 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, AFSC or VOO?
AFSC yields 0.06% while VOO yields 1.08%, so VOO currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than AFSC?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. AFSC led over 1Y, VOO over the full window. AFSC is less concentrated, with 30.2% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 36.4%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.