AFSC vs VYM
abrdn Focused US Small Cap Active ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, AFSC or VYM?
Small Cap Growth against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. AFSC led over 1Y, VYM over the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 32.4%.
MarketXLS is not an investment adviser. This comparison is generated automatically from market data and is for information only. A Best mark means the better reading on that one measure, not a recommendation to buy.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | AFSC | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.65% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $10M | $78.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.06% | 2.37% |
| Holdings | 88 | 608 |
| YTD Return | +18.19%Best | +11.83% |
| 1Y Return | +21.46%Best | +15.96% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +18.60% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +11.51% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.5% | 10.7%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -21.7% | -14.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.7 years | $12,304 | $12,428Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 32.4% | 25.8%Best |
| Fund Family | Aberdeen | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Growth | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Dec 31, 1997 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.7 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 18, 2025 to Oct 14, 2026 (1.7 years).
AFSC vs VYM growth
Month-end closes. Both lines start at 0% in the first month shown, so the gap between them is the difference in growth across that window. The full view covers the 1.7 years both funds cover.
AFSC vs VYM Performance
abrdn Focused US Small Cap Active ETF (AFSC) is an ETF from Aberdeen and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year AFSC returned +21.46% while VYM returned +15.96%. Year to date, AFSC is up 18.19% versus a gain of 11.83% for VYM.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
AFSC has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.5% compared with 10.7% for VYM. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -21.7% for AFSC and -14.5% for VYM. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.69. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
AFSC charges 0.65% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $65 vs $4 annually, a gap of $61 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, AFSC currently yields 0.06% against 2.37% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
13.8% of AFSC's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 0.1% of VYM's money is in holdings AFSC also owns.
AFSC and VYM share little of their money.
5 positions in common, counted across the 41 positions we hold weights for in AFSC and 602 in VYM, against full books of 88 and 608.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 568 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for AFSC (97.8% of the fund), and 36 for AFSC that do not appear in VYM (86.1%).
Some of those will be the same company recorded under a different code in one of the two books, so the real difference in what you would own is no larger than this and may be smaller. We do not name the individual positions here for that reason.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of AFSC and VYM you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, AFSC or VYM?
AFSC has an expense ratio of 0.65% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $61 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, AFSC or VYM?
Over the past year AFSC returned +21.46% vs +15.96% for VYM, so AFSC leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), AFSC annualized +12.97% vs +13.64% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, AFSC or VYM?
AFSC has been the more volatile fund at 17.5% annualized versus 10.7% for VYM. Worst drawdown: AFSC -21.7% vs VYM -14.5%.
Should I hold both AFSC and VYM?
AFSC and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.69, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between AFSC and VYM?
13.8% of AFSC's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 0.1% of VYM's is in holdings AFSC also owns. They hold 5 positions in common, counted across the 41 positions we hold weights for in AFSC and 602 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, AFSC or VYM?
AFSC yields 0.06% while VYM yields 2.37%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than AFSC?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. AFSC led over 1Y, VYM over the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 32.4%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.