AFMBX vs. VOO
Compare and contrast key facts about American Funds American Balanced Fund Class F-3 (AFMBX) and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO).
AFMBX is managed by American Funds. It was launched on Jul 26, 1975. VOO is a passively managed fund by Vanguard that tracks the performance of the S&P 500 Index. It was launched on Sep 7, 2010.
Performance
AFMBX vs. VOO - Performance Comparison
Loading graphics...
AFMBX vs. VOO - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AFMBX American Funds American Balanced Fund Class F-3 | -2.79% | 18.82% | 15.36% | 13.89% | -11.83% | 16.12% | 11.17% | 18.96% | -3.07% | 10.06% |
VOO Vanguard S&P 500 ETF | -4.42% | 17.82% | 24.98% | 26.32% | -18.17% | 28.79% | 18.32% | 31.37% | -4.50% | 13.97% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, AFMBX achieves a -2.79% return, which is significantly higher than VOO's -4.42% return.
AFMBX
- 1D
- -0.11%
- 1M
- -6.77%
- YTD
- -2.79%
- 6M
- 1.01%
- 1Y
- 15.69%
- 3Y*
- 13.85%
- 5Y*
- 8.39%
- 10Y*
- —
VOO
- 1D
- 2.86%
- 1M
- -5.01%
- YTD
- -4.42%
- 6M
- -1.84%
- 1Y
- 17.67%
- 3Y*
- 18.27%
- 5Y*
- 11.75%
- 10Y*
- 14.05%
Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs
Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.
AFMBX vs. VOO - Expense Ratio Comparison
AFMBX has a 0.25% expense ratio, which is higher than VOO's 0.03% expense ratio. However, both funds are considered low-cost compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios usually range from 0.3% to 0.9%.
Return for Risk
AFMBX vs. VOO — Risk / Return Rank
AFMBX
VOO
AFMBX vs. VOO - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for American Funds American Balanced Fund Class F-3 (AFMBX) and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO). 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.
| AFMBX | VOO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.46 | 0.98 | +0.48 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 2.14 | 1.50 | +0.64 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.30 | 1.23 | +0.07 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.05 | 1.53 | +0.52 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 8.76 | 7.29 | +1.47 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
Loading graphics...
Sharpe Ratios by Period
| AFMBX | VOO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.46 | 0.98 | +0.48 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.81 | 0.70 | +0.11 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | — | 0.78 | — |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.84 | 0.83 | +0.01 |
Correlation
The correlation between AFMBX and VOO is 0.94, 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
AFMBX vs. VOO - Dividend Comparison
AFMBX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 8.86%, more than VOO's 1.19% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AFMBX American Funds American Balanced Fund Class F-3 | 8.86% | 8.57% | 7.51% | 2.27% | 2.63% | 4.60% | 4.65% | 3.78% | 5.81% | 4.94% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
VOO Vanguard S&P 500 ETF | 1.19% | 1.13% | 1.24% | 1.46% | 1.69% | 1.25% | 1.54% | 1.88% | 2.06% | 1.78% | 2.02% | 2.10% |
Drawdowns
AFMBX vs. VOO - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum AFMBX drawdown since its inception was -22.34%, smaller than the maximum VOO drawdown of -33.99%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for AFMBX and VOO.
Loading graphics...
Drawdown Indicators
| AFMBX | VOO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -22.34% | -33.99% | +11.65% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -7.34% | -11.98% | +4.64% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -18.58% | -24.52% | +5.94% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | — | -33.99% | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -6.98% | -6.29% | -0.69% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -3.25% | -3.72% | +0.47% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 1.72% | 2.52% | -0.80% |
Volatility
AFMBX vs. VOO - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for American Funds American Balanced Fund Class F-3 (AFMBX) is 3.26%, while Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) has a volatility of 5.29%. This indicates that AFMBX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than VOO based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
Loading graphics...
Volatility by Period
| AFMBX | VOO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 3.26% | 5.29% | -2.03% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 6.74% | 9.44% | -2.70% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 11.10% | 18.10% | -7.00% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 10.42% | 16.82% | -6.40% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 11.16% | 17.99% | -6.83% |