GAFFX vs. SPY
Compare and contrast key facts about American Funds Growth Fund of Amer F3 (GAFFX) and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY).
GAFFX is managed by American Funds. It was launched on Aug 1, 2008. SPY is a passively managed fund by State Street that tracks the performance of the S&P 500 Index. It was launched on Jan 22, 1993.
Performance
GAFFX vs. SPY - Performance Comparison
Loading graphics...
GAFFX vs. SPY - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GAFFX American Funds Growth Fund of Amer F3 | -8.00% | 20.09% | 28.41% | 37.68% | -30.54% | 19.67% | 38.31% | 28.57% | -2.89% | 20.76% |
SPY State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF | -3.65% | 17.72% | 24.89% | 26.18% | -18.18% | 28.73% | 18.33% | 31.22% | -4.57% | 19.52% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, GAFFX achieves a -8.00% return, which is significantly lower than SPY's -3.65% return.
GAFFX
- 1D
- 3.55%
- 1M
- -6.33%
- YTD
- -8.00%
- 6M
- -7.02%
- 1Y
- 17.18%
- 3Y*
- 20.63%
- 5Y*
- 9.29%
- 10Y*
- —
SPY
- 1D
- 0.75%
- 1M
- -4.28%
- YTD
- -3.65%
- 6M
- -1.42%
- 1Y
- 18.14%
- 3Y*
- 18.48%
- 5Y*
- 11.86%
- 10Y*
- 14.06%
Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs
Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.
GAFFX vs. SPY - Expense Ratio Comparison
GAFFX has a 0.30% expense ratio, which is higher than SPY's 0.09% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
GAFFX vs. SPY — Risk / Return Rank
GAFFX
SPY
GAFFX vs. SPY - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for American Funds Growth Fund of Amer F3 (GAFFX) and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY). 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.
| GAFFX | SPY | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 0.86 | 0.96 | -0.10 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.37 | 1.49 | -0.13 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.20 | 1.23 | -0.03 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.29 | 1.53 | -0.24 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 4.90 | 7.27 | -2.36 |
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
| GAFFX | SPY | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.86 | 0.96 | -0.10 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.46 | 0.70 | -0.24 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | — | 0.79 | — |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.71 | 0.56 | +0.14 |
Correlation
The correlation between GAFFX and SPY 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
GAFFX vs. SPY - Dividend Comparison
GAFFX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 11.96%, more than SPY's 1.13% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GAFFX American Funds Growth Fund of Amer F3 | 11.96% | 11.00% | 9.30% | 7.71% | 4.45% | 8.50% | 4.58% | 7.47% | 12.37% | 7.36% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
SPY State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF | 1.13% | 1.07% | 1.21% | 1.40% | 1.65% | 1.20% | 1.52% | 1.75% | 2.04% | 1.80% | 2.03% | 2.06% |
Drawdowns
GAFFX vs. SPY - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum GAFFX drawdown since its inception was -36.19%, smaller than the maximum SPY drawdown of -55.19%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for GAFFX and SPY.
Loading graphics...
Drawdown Indicators
| GAFFX | SPY | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -36.19% | -55.19% | +19.00% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -13.71% | -12.05% | -1.66% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -36.19% | -24.50% | -11.69% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | — | -33.72% | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -10.64% | -5.53% | -5.11% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -7.51% | -9.09% | +1.58% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.62% | 2.54% | +1.08% |
Volatility
GAFFX vs. SPY - Volatility Comparison
American Funds Growth Fund of Amer F3 (GAFFX) has a higher volatility of 6.76% compared to State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) at 5.35%. This indicates that GAFFX's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than SPY based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
Loading graphics...
Volatility by Period
| GAFFX | SPY | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 6.76% | 5.35% | +1.41% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 12.14% | 9.50% | +2.64% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 21.02% | 19.06% | +1.96% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 20.23% | 17.06% | +3.17% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 20.22% | 17.92% | +2.30% |