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CUSIP
399874403
Inception Date
Dec 1, 1973
Index Tracked
No Index (Active)
Distribution Policy
Distributing
Asset Class
Equity
Asset Class Size
Large-Cap
Asset Class Style
Growth

Share Price Chart


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Performance

GFAFX Performance Chart

American Funds Growth Fund of America Class F-1 (GFAFX) is up 10.4% since the beginning of the year. GFAFX is currently trading at $88 per share. Investors who bought $1,000 worth of GFAFX shares 5 years ago would now be looking at an investment worth $1,785.


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S&P 500 Index

Returns By Period

American Funds Growth Fund of America Class F-1 (GFAFX) has returned 10.42% so far this year and 27.06% over the past 12 months. Looking at the last ten years, GFAFX has achieved an annualized return of 15.95%, outperforming the S&P 500 Index benchmark, which averaged 13.75% per year.


American Funds Growth Fund of America Class F-1

1D
0.38%
1M
7.35%
YTD
10.42%
6M
10.68%
1Y
27.06%
3Y*
25.23%
5Y*
12.29%
10Y*
15.95%

Benchmark (S&P 500 Index)

1D
0.13%
1M
5.25%
YTD
11.16%
6M
11.43%
1Y
28.20%
3Y*
21.12%
5Y*
12.66%
10Y*
13.75%
*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

GFAFX Monthly Returns History

Based on dividend-adjusted daily data since Jan 2, 2002, GFAFX's average daily return is +0.05%, while the average monthly return is +0.95%. At this rate, an investment would double in approximately 6.1 years.

Historically, 62% of months were positive and 38% were negative. The best month was Apr 2020 with a return of +14.3%, while the worst month was Oct 2008 at -17.5%. The longest winning streak lasted 7 consecutive months, and the longest losing streak was 6 months.

On a daily basis, GFAFX closed higher 54% of trading days. The best single day was Dec 18, 2014 with a return of +13.5%, while the worst single day was Mar 16, 2020 at -11.5%.


JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecTotal
20260.60%-2.33%-6.44%11.38%7.45%0.38%10.42%
20255.17%-3.76%-7.54%1.84%8.35%6.89%1.98%1.72%2.97%2.48%-0.89%-0.07%19.66%
20241.76%7.27%3.10%-4.37%4.07%4.28%-0.08%2.23%3.01%-0.43%6.72%-2.01%27.96%
20239.80%-1.99%3.31%0.70%2.67%7.00%4.16%-1.76%-4.65%-3.11%10.88%6.38%37.15%
2022-10.00%-3.65%2.96%-12.02%-2.09%-9.44%10.19%-3.41%-8.58%4.54%4.54%-6.54%-30.78%
2021-0.01%1.60%0.87%5.45%-0.66%3.38%0.98%3.58%-3.48%8.67%-2.83%0.82%19.24%

Benchmark Metrics

American Funds Growth Fund of America Class F-1 has an annualized alpha of 3.01%, beta of 0.95, and R2 of 0.89 versus S&P 500 Index. Calculated based on daily prices since January 03, 2002.

  • This fund captured 109.56% of S&P 500 Index gains but only 97.25% of its losses - a favorable profile for investors.
  • This fund generated an annualized alpha of 3.01% versus S&P 500 Index - delivering returns beyond what market exposure alone would predict.
  • With beta of 0.95 and R2 of 0.89, this fund moves broadly in line with S&P 500 Index - much of its variation is explained by market exposure rather than independent behavior.

Alpha
3.01%
Beta
0.95
0.89
Upside Capture
109.56%
Downside Capture
97.25%

Expense Ratio

GFAFX has an expense ratio of 0.65%, placing it in the medium range.


Return for Risk

Risk / Return Rank

GFAFX ranks 36 for risk / return — below 36% of mutual funds on our site. The returns aren't fully compensating for the risk involved. This isn't necessarily a dealbreaker, but factor it into your decision — especially if you're risk-averse.


GFAFX Risk / Return Rank: 3636
Overall Rank
GFAFX Sharpe Ratio Rank: 4040
Sharpe Ratio Rank
GFAFX Sortino Ratio Rank: 3737
Sortino Ratio Rank
GFAFX Omega Ratio Rank: 3939
Omega Ratio Rank
GFAFX Calmar Ratio Rank: 3030
Calmar Ratio Rank
GFAFX Martin Ratio Rank: 3636
Martin Ratio Rank
The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

Return / Risk — by metrics

The table below present risk-adjusted performance metrics for American Funds Growth Fund of America Class F-1 (GFAFX) and compare them to S&P 500 Index.


GFAFXBenchmarkDifference

Sharpe ratio

Return per unit of total volatility

1.85

2.39

-0.53

Sortino ratio

Return per unit of downside risk

2.53

3.25

-0.73

Omega ratio

Gain probability vs. loss probability

1.33

1.43

-0.10

Calmar ratio

Return relative to maximum drawdown

2.04

3.11

-1.08

Martin ratio

Return relative to average drawdown

7.95

14.38

-6.43

Dividends

Dividend History

American Funds Growth Fund of America Class F-1 provided a 9.73% dividend yield over the last twelve months, with an annual payout of $8.56 per share. The fund has been increasing its distributions for 3 consecutive years.


4.00%6.00%8.00%10.00%12.00%$0.00$2.00$4.00$6.00$8.0020152016201720182019202020212022202320242025
Dividends
Dividend Yield
PeriodTTM20252024202320222021202020192018201720162015
Dividend$8.56$8.56$6.65$4.64$1.97$6.01$2.87$3.62$5.08$3.43$2.76$3.64

Dividend yield

9.73%10.75%9.01%7.41%4.02%8.16%4.28%7.14%11.96%6.98%6.60%8.86%

Monthly Dividends

The table displays the monthly dividend distributions for American Funds Growth Fund of America Class F-1. The dividends shown in the table have been adjusted to account for any splits that may have occurred.


JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecTotal
2026$0.00$0.00$0.00$0.00$0.00$0.00$0.00
2025$0.00$0.00$0.00$0.00$0.00$0.00$0.00$0.00$0.00$0.00$0.00$8.56$8.56
2024$0.00$0.00$0.00$0.00$0.00$0.00$0.00$0.00$0.00$0.00$0.00$6.65$6.65
2023$0.00$0.00$0.00$0.00$0.00$0.00$0.00$0.00$0.00$0.00$0.00$4.64$4.64
2022$0.00$0.00$0.00$0.00$0.00$0.00$0.00$0.00$0.00$0.00$0.00$1.97$1.97
2021$0.00$0.00$0.00$0.00$0.00$0.00$0.00$0.00$0.00$0.00$0.00$6.01$6.01

Drawdowns

Drawdowns Chart

The Drawdowns chart displays portfolio losses from any high point along the way. Drawdowns are calculated considering price movements and all distributions paid, if any.


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Worst Drawdowns

The table below displays the maximum drawdowns of the American Funds Growth Fund of America Class F-1. A maximum drawdown is a measure of risk, indicating the largest reduction in portfolio value due to a series of losing trades.

The maximum drawdown for the American Funds Growth Fund of America Class F-1 was 51.87%, occurring on Mar 9, 2009. Recovery took 889 trading sessions.


Related event

Drawdown

Fall

Recovery

Underwater

Financial crisis2007–2009
-51.87%Mar 2009
1y 4mo3y 6mo
4y 10moNov 2007 - Sep 2012
Bear market2022
-36.41%Oct 2022
11mo 1d1y 4mo
2y 3moNov 2021 - Mar 2024
Dot-com crash2000–2002
-32.18%Oct 2002
9mo 5d1y 2mo
1y 11moJan 2002 - Dec 2003
COVID crash2020
-30.37%Mar 2020
1mo 2d3mo 10d
4mo 12dFeb 2020 - Jul 2020
2025 selloff2025
-21.57%Apr 2025
1mo 19d2mo 17d
4mo 6dFeb 2025 - Jun 2025

Drawdown Indicators


GFAFXBenchmarkDifference

Max Drawdown

Largest peak-to-trough decline

-51.87%

-56.78%

+4.91%

Max Drawdown (1Y)

Largest decline over 1 year

-13.79%

-9.10%

-4.69%

Max Drawdown (3Y)

Largest decline over 3 years

-21.57%

-18.90%

-2.67%

Max Drawdown (5Y)

Largest decline over 5 years

-36.41%

-25.43%

-10.98%

Max Drawdown (10Y)

Largest decline over 10 years

-36.41%

-33.92%

-2.49%

Current Drawdown

Current decline from peak

0.00%

0.00%

0.00%

Average Drawdown

Average peak-to-trough decline

-8.62%

-10.72%

+2.10%

Ulcer Index

Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks

3.53%

1.97%

+1.56%

Volatility

Volatility Chart

The chart below shows the rolling one-month volatility.


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Portfolio Analyzer

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