AFSC vs VTI
abrdn Focused US Small Cap Active ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, AFSC or VTI?
Small Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. AFSC led over 1Y, VTI over 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 | AFSC | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.65% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $9M | $689.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.06% | 1.06% |
| Holdings | 88 | 3,542 |
| YTD Return | +18.61%Best | +10.82% |
| 1Y Return | +20.90%Best | +11.60% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +20.95% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +10.57% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.1% | 12.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -21.7% | -19.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.7 years | $12,237 | $12,424Best |
| Fund Family | Aberdeen | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Dec 31, 1997 | May 24, 2001 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.7 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 18, 2025 to Nov 10, 2026 (1.7 years).
AFSC 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 1.7 years both funds cover.
AFSC vs VTI Performance
abrdn Focused US Small Cap Active ETF (AFSC) is an ETF from Aberdeen and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year AFSC returned +20.90% while VTI returned +11.60%. Year to date, AFSC is up 18.61% versus a gain of 10.82% for VTI.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
AFSC has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.1% compared with 12.6% 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 -21.7% for AFSC and -19.3% 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 0.65. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
AFSC charges 0.65% per year while VTI 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 1.06% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.2% of VTI's money is in holdings AFSC also owns.
Stated as a floor: for AFSC, our book for it covers 94.5% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
38 positions in common, counted across the 40 positions we hold weights for in AFSC and 3,464 in VTI, against full books of 88 and 3,542.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in AFSC | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| KNSAKiniksa Pharmaceuticals Ltd | 3.46% | 0.00% | 3.46% |
| AHRAmerican Healthcare REIT Inc | 3.38% | 0.02% | 3.36% |
| MMSIMerit Medical Systems Inc | 3.37% | 0.01% | 3.36% |
| KWRQuaker Chemical Corp. | 3.23% | 0.00% | 3.23% |
| MGYMagnolia Oil & Gas Corp | 3.03% | 0.01% | 3.02% |
| LGNDLigand Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | 3.01% | 0.01% | 3.00% |
| SBCFSeacoast Banking Corp Of Florida | 2.81% | 0.00% | 2.81% |
| SUPNSupernus Pharmaceuticals Inc | 2.80% | 0.00% | 2.80% |
| QTWOQ2 Holdings, Inc. | 2.69% | 0.00% | 2.69% |
| ABCBAmeris Bancorp Common Stock Usd1.0 | 2.67% | 0.01% | 2.66% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of AFSC 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, AFSC or VTI?
AFSC has an expense ratio of 0.65% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $62 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, AFSC or VTI?
Over the past year AFSC returned +20.90% vs +11.60% for VTI, so AFSC leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), AFSC annualized +12.61% vs +13.62% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, AFSC or VTI?
AFSC has been the more volatile fund at 17.1% annualized versus 12.6% for VTI. Worst drawdown: AFSC -21.7% vs VTI -19.3%.
Should I hold both AFSC and VTI?
AFSC and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.65, 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 VTI?
AFSC yields 0.06% while VTI yields 1.06%, so VTI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than AFSC?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. AFSC led over 1Y, VTI over the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.