AAFTX vs. VO
Compare and contrast key facts about American Funds 2035 Target Date Retirement Fund (AAFTX) and Vanguard Mid-Cap ETF (VO).
AAFTX is managed by American Funds. It was launched on Jan 31, 2007. VO is a passively managed fund by Vanguard that tracks the performance of the CRSP US Mid Cap Index. It was launched on Jan 26, 2004.
Performance
AAFTX vs. VO - Performance Comparison
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AAFTX vs. VO - 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% |
VO Vanguard Mid-Cap ETF | -0.05% | 11.62% | 15.31% | 16.03% | -18.73% | 24.70% | 18.10% | 30.98% | -9.24% | 19.28% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, AAFTX achieves a -1.92% return, which is significantly lower than VO's -0.05% return. Over the past 10 years, AAFTX has underperformed VO with an annualized return of 9.73%, while VO has yielded a comparatively higher 10.74% 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%
VO
- 1D
- 0.63%
- 1M
- -5.18%
- YTD
- -0.05%
- 6M
- -0.76%
- 1Y
- 13.07%
- 3Y*
- 12.85%
- 5Y*
- 6.79%
- 10Y*
- 10.74%
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AAFTX vs. VO - Expense Ratio Comparison
AAFTX has a 0.33% expense ratio, which is higher than VO's 0.04% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
AAFTX vs. VO — Risk / Return Rank
AAFTX
VO
AAFTX vs. VO - 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 Mid-Cap ETF (VO). 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 | VO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.33 | 0.75 | +0.58 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.96 | 1.15 | +0.81 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.28 | 1.16 | +0.11 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.91 | 1.06 | +0.86 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 8.22 | 4.83 | +3.39 |
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 | VO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.33 | 0.75 | +0.58 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.58 | 0.39 | +0.20 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.77 | 0.57 | +0.20 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.50 | 0.48 | +0.02 |
Correlation
The correlation between AAFTX and VO is 0.92, 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. VO - Dividend Comparison
AAFTX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 6.10%, more than VO's 1.50% 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% |
VO Vanguard Mid-Cap ETF | 1.50% | 1.52% | 1.49% | 1.52% | 1.60% | 1.12% | 1.45% | 1.48% | 1.82% | 1.35% | 1.45% | 1.47% |
Drawdowns
AAFTX vs. VO - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum AAFTX drawdown since its inception was -49.89%, smaller than the maximum VO drawdown of -58.87%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for AAFTX and VO.
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Drawdown Indicators
| AAFTX | VO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -49.89% | -58.87% | +8.98% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -7.54% | -12.74% | +5.20% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -23.31% | -27.57% | +4.26% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -26.72% | -39.37% | +12.65% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -5.23% | -5.53% | +0.30% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -6.85% | -7.91% | +1.06% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 1.75% | 2.79% | -1.04% |
Volatility
AAFTX vs. VO - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for American Funds 2035 Target Date Retirement Fund (AAFTX) is 4.03%, while Vanguard Mid-Cap ETF (VO) has a volatility of 4.83%. This indicates that AAFTX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than VO based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| AAFTX | VO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 4.03% | 4.83% | -0.80% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 6.60% | 9.73% | -3.13% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 10.79% | 17.57% | -6.78% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 11.43% | 17.61% | -6.18% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 12.71% | 18.94% | -6.23% |