AFK vs. TDEC
AFK (VanEck Vectors Africa Index ETF) and TDEC (FT Vest Emerging Markets Buffer ETF - December) are both exchange-traded funds - AFK is a Emerging Markets Equities fund tracking the Dow Jones Africa Titans 50 Index, while TDEC is a Defined Outcome fund tracking the MSCI Emerging Markets. Both are passively managed. Over the past year, AFK returned 26.56% vs 18.15% for TDEC. Their 0.59 correlation means they have sometimes moved together and sometimes differently. AFK charges 0.78%/yr vs 0.95%/yr for TDEC.
Performance
AFK vs. TDEC - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, AFK achieves a -2.32% return, which is significantly lower than TDEC's 8.27% return.
AFK
- 1D
- 0.15%
- 1M
- 0.08%
- 6M
- -6.31%
- YTD
- -2.32%
- 1Y
- 26.56%
- 3Y*
- 19.94%
- 5Y*
- 6.08%
- 10Y*
- 5.25%
- ALL TIME*
- -0.03%
TDEC
- 1D
- 0.45%
- 1M
- 0.74%
- 6M
- 4.07%
- YTD
- 8.27%
- 1Y
- 18.15%
- 3Y*
- —
- 5Y*
- —
- 10Y*
- —
- ALL TIME*
- 18.05%
Liquidity Comparison
| Position | Avg. Volume Value (2W) | Avg. Volume Value (1M) | Avg. Volume Value (3M) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $3.06M | $2.15M | $2.08M | |
| $55.89K | $75.20K | $190.42K |
AFK vs. TDEC - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|
AFK VanEck Vectors Africa Index ETF | -2.32% | 74.71% | -2.40% |
TDEC FT Vest Emerging Markets Buffer ETF - December | 8.27% | 21.39% | -0.75% |
Correlation
The correlation between AFK and TDEC is 0.62, which is moderate. They have sometimes moved together and sometimes differently, sharing some price drivers without tracking each other closely.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most. | 0.62 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Dec 23, 2024 | 0.59 |
The correlation between AFK and TDEC has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.59 to 0.62 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
AFK vs. TDEC — Risk / Return Rank
AFK
TDEC
AFK vs. TDEC - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for VanEck Vectors Africa Index ETF (AFK) and FT Vest Emerging Markets Buffer ETF - December (TDEC). 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.
Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.
| AFK | TDEC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.63 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.84 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.18 | 1.34 | -0.16 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.34 | 2.16 | -0.82 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 2.99 | 8.78 | -5.79 |
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Drawdowns
AFK vs. TDEC - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum AFK drawdown since its inception was -62.46%, which is greater than TDEC's maximum drawdown of -10.30%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for AFK and TDEC.
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Drawdown Indicators
| AFK | TDEC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -62.46% | -10.30% | -52.16% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -19.54% | -8.16% | -11.38% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -19.54% | — | — |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -37.62% | — | — |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -53.33% | — | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -14.50% | -1.58% | -12.92% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -31.88% | -1.12% | -30.76% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 8.74% | 2.01% | +6.73% |
Volatility
AFK vs. TDEC - Volatility Comparison
VanEck Vectors Africa Index ETF (AFK) has a higher volatility of 5.45% compared to FT Vest Emerging Markets Buffer ETF - December (TDEC) at 3.54%. This indicates that AFK's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than TDEC based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| AFK | TDEC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 5.45% | 3.54% | +1.91% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 23.20% | 10.30% | +12.90% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 27.08% | 11.07% | +16.01% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 22.45% | 11.98% | +10.47% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 22.14% | 11.98% | +10.16% |
AFK vs. TDEC - Expense Ratio Comparison
AFK has a 0.78% expense ratio, which is lower than TDEC's 0.95% expense ratio.
Dividends
AFK vs. TDEC - Dividend Comparison
AFK's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.04%, while TDEC has not paid dividends to shareholders.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AFK VanEck Vectors Africa Index ETF | 1.04% | 1.02% | 0.00% | 2.27% | 3.59% | 4.17% | 3.91% | 6.34% | 1.71% | 1.99% | 2.67% | 2.16% |
TDEC FT Vest Emerging Markets Buffer ETF - December | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Frequently Asked Questions
AFK and TDEC have a correlation of 0.62, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
AFK has higher volatility (5.45%) compared to TDEC (3.54%). In terms of maximum drawdown, AFK dropped -62.46% vs TDEC's -10.30%.
On 1-year performance, AFK leads with 26.56% vs 18.15% for TDEC. On fees, AFK is cheaper at 0.78% per year. On volatility, TDEC has been the lower-risk option at 3.54%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 1-year period, AFK has performed better with a 26.56% return vs 18.15%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
AFK is cheaper with a 0.78% expense ratio, compared with 0.95% for TDEC.
AFK has the higher dividend yield at 1.04%, compared with 0.00% for TDEC.
AFK is categorized as Emerging Markets Equities, while TDEC is Defined Outcome. AFK tracks Dow Jones Africa Titans 50 Index, while TDEC tracks MSCI Emerging Markets. They also come from different issuers: VanEck and FT Vest. Their fees differ too: 0.78% for AFK and 0.95% for TDEC.
TDEC currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.59 vs 0.97), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.
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