AFMBX vs. VUG
Compare and contrast key facts about American Funds American Balanced Fund Class F-3 (AFMBX) and Vanguard Growth ETF (VUG).
AFMBX is managed by American Funds. It was launched on Jul 26, 1975. VUG is a passively managed fund by Vanguard that tracks the performance of the CRSP US Large Cap Growth Index. It was launched on Nov 13, 2000.
Performance
AFMBX vs. VUG - Performance Comparison
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AFMBX vs. VUG - 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% |
VUG Vanguard Growth ETF | -10.37% | 19.40% | 32.69% | 46.83% | -33.16% | 27.35% | 40.25% | 37.03% | -3.32% | 16.49% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, AFMBX achieves a -2.79% return, which is significantly higher than VUG's -10.37% return.
AFMBX
- 1D
- -0.11%
- 1M
- -6.77%
- YTD
- -2.79%
- 6M
- 1.01%
- 1Y
- 15.69%
- 3Y*
- 13.85%
- 5Y*
- 8.39%
- 10Y*
- —
VUG
- 1D
- 4.00%
- 1M
- -5.12%
- YTD
- -10.37%
- 6M
- -8.73%
- 1Y
- 18.30%
- 3Y*
- 21.15%
- 5Y*
- 11.43%
- 10Y*
- 16.03%
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AFMBX vs. VUG - Expense Ratio Comparison
AFMBX has a 0.25% expense ratio, which is higher than VUG'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. VUG — Risk / Return Rank
AFMBX
VUG
AFMBX vs. VUG - 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 Growth ETF (VUG). 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 | VUG | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.46 | 0.81 | +0.65 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 2.14 | 1.31 | +0.83 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.30 | 1.18 | +0.12 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.05 | 1.11 | +0.94 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 8.76 | 3.96 | +4.81 |
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
| AFMBX | VUG | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.46 | 0.81 | +0.65 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.81 | 0.52 | +0.29 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | — | 0.75 | — |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.84 | 0.57 | +0.27 |
Correlation
The correlation between AFMBX and VUG is 0.86, 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. VUG - Dividend Comparison
AFMBX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 8.86%, more than VUG's 0.46% 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% |
VUG Vanguard Growth ETF | 0.46% | 0.41% | 0.47% | 0.58% | 0.70% | 0.48% | 0.66% | 0.95% | 1.32% | 1.14% | 1.39% | 1.30% |
Drawdowns
AFMBX vs. VUG - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum AFMBX drawdown since its inception was -22.34%, smaller than the maximum VUG drawdown of -50.68%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for AFMBX and VUG.
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Drawdown Indicators
| AFMBX | VUG | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -22.34% | -50.68% | +28.34% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -7.34% | -16.53% | +9.19% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -18.58% | -35.61% | +17.03% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | — | -35.61% | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -6.98% | -13.20% | +6.22% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -3.25% | -7.13% | +3.88% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 1.72% | 4.66% | -2.94% |
Volatility
AFMBX vs. VUG - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for American Funds American Balanced Fund Class F-3 (AFMBX) is 3.26%, while Vanguard Growth ETF (VUG) has a volatility of 7.00%. This indicates that AFMBX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than VUG based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| AFMBX | VUG | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 3.26% | 7.00% | -3.74% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 6.74% | 12.65% | -5.91% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 11.10% | 22.68% | -11.58% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 10.42% | 22.23% | -11.81% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 11.16% | 21.38% | -10.22% |