AFK vs. EZA
Compare and contrast key facts about VanEck Vectors Africa Index ETF (AFK) and iShares MSCI South Africa ETF (EZA).
AFK and EZA are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. AFK is a passively managed fund by VanEck that tracks the performance of the Dow Jones Africa Titans 50 Index. It was launched on Jul 10, 2008. EZA is a passively managed fund by iShares that tracks the performance of the MSCI South Africa Index. It was launched on Feb 7, 2003. Both AFK and EZA are passive ETFs, meaning that they are not actively managed but aim to replicate the performance of the underlying index as closely as possible.
Scroll down to visually compare performance, riskiness, drawdowns, and other indicators and decide which better suits your portfolio: AFK or EZA.
Key characteristics
| AFK | EZA | |
|---|---|---|
| YTD Return | 19.35% | 20.98% |
| 1Y Return | 19.95% | 26.28% |
| 3Y Return (Ann) | -5.53% | 4.10% |
| 5Y Return (Ann) | -0.78% | 4.49% |
| 10Y Return (Ann) | -2.51% | 1.24% |
| Sharpe Ratio | 1.04 | 1.22 |
| Sortino Ratio | 1.51 | 1.84 |
| Omega Ratio | 1.18 | 1.21 |
| Calmar Ratio | 0.45 | 0.91 |
| Martin Ratio | 5.78 | 5.85 |
| Ulcer Index | 4.06% | 5.30% |
| Daily Std Dev | 22.41% | 25.16% |
| Max Drawdown | -62.45% | -64.64% |
| Current Drawdown | -39.08% | -9.89% |
Correlation
The correlation between AFK and EZA is 0.69, which is considered to be moderate. This suggests that the two assets have some degree of positive relationship in their price movements. Moderate correlation can be acceptable for portfolio diversification, offering a balance between risk and potential returns.
Performance
AFK vs. EZA - Performance Comparison
In the year-to-date period, AFK achieves a 19.35% return, which is significantly lower than EZA's 20.98% return. Over the past 10 years, AFK has underperformed EZA with an annualized return of -2.51%, while EZA has yielded a comparatively higher 1.24% annualized return. The chart below displays the growth of a $10,000 investment in both assets, with all prices adjusted for splits and dividends.
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AFK vs. EZA - Expense Ratio Comparison
AFK has a 0.78% expense ratio, which is higher than EZA's 0.59% expense ratio.
Risk-Adjusted Performance
AFK vs. EZA - Risk-Adjusted Performance Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for VanEck Vectors Africa Index ETF (AFK) and iShares MSCI South Africa ETF (EZA). 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.
Dividends
AFK vs. EZA - Dividend Comparison
AFK's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.90%, less than EZA's 2.28% yield.
| TTM | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AFK VanEck Vectors Africa Index ETF | 1.90% | 2.27% | 3.59% | 4.17% | 3.91% | 6.34% | 1.71% | 1.99% | 2.67% | 2.16% | 2.92% | 2.68% |
EZA iShares MSCI South Africa ETF | 2.28% | 2.84% | 3.90% | 2.05% | 5.51% | 12.27% | 3.81% | 1.55% | 4.10% | 3.03% | 2.20% | 2.44% |
Drawdowns
AFK vs. EZA - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum AFK drawdown since its inception was -62.45%, roughly equal to the maximum EZA drawdown of -64.64%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for AFK and EZA. For additional features, visit the drawdowns tool.
Volatility
AFK vs. EZA - Volatility Comparison
VanEck Vectors Africa Index ETF (AFK) has a higher volatility of 6.22% compared to iShares MSCI South Africa ETF (EZA) at 5.00%. This indicates that AFK's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than EZA based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.