AAFTX vs. VFIAX
Compare and contrast key facts about American Funds 2035 Target Date Retirement Fund (AAFTX) and Vanguard 500 Index Fund Admiral Shares (VFIAX).
AAFTX is managed by American Funds. It was launched on Jan 31, 2007. VFIAX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Nov 13, 2000.
Performance
AAFTX vs. VFIAX - Performance Comparison
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AAFTX vs. VFIAX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AAFTX American Funds 2035 Target Date Retirement Fund | -1.92% | 16.77% | 12.40% | 16.50% | -16.53% | 15.20% | 17.23% | 22.81% | -5.48% | 20.68% |
VFIAX Vanguard 500 Index Fund Admiral Shares | -4.35% | 17.83% | 24.97% | 26.24% | -18.16% | 28.65% | 18.32% | 31.46% | -4.45% | 21.78% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, AAFTX achieves a -1.92% return, which is significantly higher than VFIAX's -4.35% return. Over the past 10 years, AAFTX has underperformed VFIAX with an annualized return of 9.73%, while VFIAX has yielded a comparatively higher 14.04% annualized return.
AAFTX
- 1D
- 1.89%
- 1M
- -4.70%
- YTD
- -1.92%
- 6M
- 0.05%
- 1Y
- 13.81%
- 3Y*
- 12.60%
- 5Y*
- 6.63%
- 10Y*
- 9.73%
VFIAX
- 1D
- 2.92%
- 1M
- -5.03%
- YTD
- -4.35%
- 6M
- -2.16%
- 1Y
- 17.30%
- 3Y*
- 18.27%
- 5Y*
- 11.75%
- 10Y*
- 14.04%
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AAFTX vs. VFIAX - Expense Ratio Comparison
AAFTX has a 0.33% expense ratio, which is higher than VFIAX's 0.04% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
AAFTX vs. VFIAX — Risk / Return Rank
AAFTX
VFIAX
AAFTX vs. VFIAX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for American Funds 2035 Target Date Retirement Fund (AAFTX) and Vanguard 500 Index Fund Admiral Shares (VFIAX). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.
| AAFTX | VFIAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.33 | 0.97 | +0.36 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.96 | 1.49 | +0.47 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.28 | 1.23 | +0.05 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.91 | 1.52 | +0.39 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 8.22 | 7.29 | +0.92 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
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Sharpe Ratios by Period
| AAFTX | VFIAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.33 | 0.97 | +0.36 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.58 | 0.70 | -0.11 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.77 | 0.78 | -0.01 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.50 | 0.44 | +0.06 |
Correlation
The correlation between AAFTX and VFIAX is 0.96, which is considered to be high. That indicates a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Having highly-correlated positions in a portfolio may signal a lack of diversification, potentially leading to increased risk during market downturns.
Dividends
AAFTX vs. VFIAX - Dividend Comparison
AAFTX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 6.10%, more than VFIAX's 1.18% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AAFTX American Funds 2035 Target Date Retirement Fund | 6.10% | 5.99% | 4.26% | 2.61% | 5.43% | 5.25% | 3.53% | 4.21% | 4.80% | 2.38% | 3.52% | 5.63% |
VFIAX Vanguard 500 Index Fund Admiral Shares | 1.18% | 1.12% | 1.24% | 1.45% | 1.68% | 1.24% | 1.53% | 1.87% | 2.05% | 1.78% | 2.02% | 2.10% |
Drawdowns
AAFTX vs. VFIAX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum AAFTX drawdown since its inception was -49.89%, smaller than the maximum VFIAX drawdown of -55.20%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for AAFTX and VFIAX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| AAFTX | VFIAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -49.89% | -55.20% | +5.31% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -7.54% | -12.12% | +4.58% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -23.31% | -24.53% | +1.22% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -26.72% | -33.83% | +7.11% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -5.23% | -6.24% | +1.01% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -6.85% | -9.46% | +2.61% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 1.75% | 2.52% | -0.77% |
Volatility
AAFTX vs. VFIAX - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for American Funds 2035 Target Date Retirement Fund (AAFTX) is 4.03%, while Vanguard 500 Index Fund Admiral Shares (VFIAX) has a volatility of 5.35%. This indicates that AAFTX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than VFIAX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| AAFTX | VFIAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 4.03% | 5.35% | -1.32% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 6.60% | 9.53% | -2.93% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 10.79% | 18.32% | -7.53% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 11.43% | 16.91% | -5.48% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 12.71% | 18.05% | -5.34% |