RAFGX vs. ^GSPC
RAFGX (American Funds AMCAP Fund Class R-6) is Large Cap Growth Equities fund managed by American Funds, while ^GSPC (S&P 500 Index) is an index. Over the past 10 years, RAFGX returned 13.05%/yr vs 13.70%/yr for ^GSPC. With a 0.96 correlation, they move nearly in lockstep.
Performance
RAFGX vs. ^GSPC - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, RAFGX achieves a 3.08% return, which is significantly lower than ^GSPC's 7.49% return. Both investments have delivered pretty close results over the past 10 years, with RAFGX having a 13.05% annualized return and ^GSPC not far ahead at 13.70%.
RAFGX
- 1D
- -1.22%
- 1M
- -0.95%
- YTD
- 3.08%
- 6M
- 2.04%
- 1Y
- 14.85%
- 3Y*
- 18.43%
- 5Y*
- 8.91%
- 10Y*
- 13.05%
^GSPC
- 1D
- -0.10%
- 1M
- -1.54%
- YTD
- 7.49%
- 6M
- 6.15%
- 1Y
- 20.78%
- 3Y*
- 19.17%
- 5Y*
- 11.44%
- 10Y*
- 13.70%
RAFGX vs. ^GSPC - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
RAFGX American Funds AMCAP Fund Class R-6 | 3.08% | 18.05% | 21.50% | 31.47% | -28.42% | 24.11% | 21.80% | 26.76% | -4.08% | 22.45% |
^GSPC S&P 500 Index | 7.49% | 16.39% | 23.31% | 24.23% | -19.44% | 26.89% | 16.26% | 28.88% | -6.24% | 19.42% |
Correlation
The correlation between RAFGX and ^GSPC is 0.94, indicating a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Combining them offers limited diversification - they tend to fall together during downturns.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.94 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.95 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.96 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.95 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jan 4, 2010 | 0.96 |
The correlation between RAFGX and ^GSPC has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.94 to 0.96 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
RAFGX vs. ^GSPC — Risk / Return Rank
RAFGX
^GSPC
RAFGX vs. ^GSPC - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for American Funds AMCAP Fund Class R-6 (RAFGX) and S&P 500 Index (^GSPC). 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.
| RAFGX | ^GSPC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.57 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.71 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.20 | 1.30 | -0.10 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.20 | 2.29 | -1.09 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 4.77 | 10.15 | -5.38 |
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Drawdowns
RAFGX vs. ^GSPC - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum RAFGX drawdown since its inception was -35.07%, smaller than the maximum ^GSPC drawdown of -56.78%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for RAFGX and ^GSPC.
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Drawdown Indicators
| RAFGX | ^GSPC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -35.07% | -56.78% | +21.71% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -14.12% | -9.10% | -5.02% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -19.67% | -18.90% | -0.77% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -35.07% | -25.43% | -9.64% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -35.07% | -33.92% | -1.15% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -3.95% | -3.31% | -0.64% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -5.48% | -10.71% | +5.23% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.55% | 2.05% | +1.50% |
Volatility
RAFGX vs. ^GSPC - Volatility Comparison
American Funds AMCAP Fund Class R-6 (RAFGX) has a higher volatility of 6.06% compared to S&P 500 Index (^GSPC) at 4.87%. This indicates that RAFGX's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than ^GSPC based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| RAFGX | ^GSPC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 6.06% | 4.87% | +1.19% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 12.41% | 9.90% | +2.51% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 15.48% | 12.54% | +2.94% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 19.40% | 17.00% | +2.40% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 18.77% | 18.08% | +0.69% |
Frequently Asked Questions
With a correlation of 0.94, RAFGX and ^GSPC move almost identically. Holding both adds very little diversification - you're essentially doubling your position in the same market segment. Choosing one is usually more capital-efficient.
RAFGX has higher volatility (6.06%) compared to ^GSPC (4.87%). In terms of maximum drawdown, RAFGX dropped -35.07% vs ^GSPC's -56.78%.
^GSPC currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.67 vs 1.10), 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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