AFK: VANECK AFRICA INDEX ETF
ETF Education Report: VanEck Africa Index ETF (AFK)
What this ETF is trying to do
The VanEck Africa Index ETF (AFK) is an exchange-traded fund designed to track an index of companies in Africa. It provides investors with exposure to various businesses across the continent. This ETF holds a total of 82 different holdings.
What the numbers show
The current price of AFK is $26.88. When looking at how the price has changed over time, we can see different types of returns:
• Price Return: This measures only the change in the share price. The one-year price return was approximately 9.71%. Over three years, the price return was approximately 94.50%.
• Total Return: This includes both the share price changes and any distributions (cash payments) made to investors. The one-year total return was approximately 10.84%. Over three years, the total return was approximately 101.00%.
• Year-to-Date (YTD): So far this year, the price return and total return are both approximately 0.49%.
To visualize the price change, an investor's share price was estimated to be approximately $24.50 roughly one year ago.
Income and distribution explanation
This ETF pays out distributions, which are cash payments to shareholders. The distribution yield is approximately 1.01%. It is important to remember that a distribution yield tells you how much cash was paid out relative to the price, but it is not the same as your total return.
The data shows that distributions for this ETF are "irregular" or "less frequent," with one payout recorded in the last 12 months.
NAV erosion explanation
"NAV erosion" refers to a situation where the value of the underlying assets in the fund decreases significantly. StockValueFinder uses an "erosion-risk score" to help monitor this. For AFK, the erosion score is 100, and the label indicates "No price erosion detected." There is no severe erosion-risk flag for this ETF.
Top Holdings
The following are some of the top holdings in this portfolio (note that this is a partial list):
• Attijariwafa Bank SA: 4.41%
• Anglogold Ashanti PLC: 4.28%
• Endeavour Mining PLC: 3.52%
• Aradel Holdings PLC: 3.45%
• Gold Fields Ltd ADR: 3.44%
• Firstrand Ltd: 3.31%
• Naspers Ltd Class N: 3.31%
• Ivanhoe Mines Ltd Class A: 3.26%
• Aya Gold & Silver Inc: 2.88%
• Seplat Energy PLC: 2.87%
*Holdings can change over time.*
Pros
• The ETF has shown positive price returns and total returns over the one-year and three-year periods.
• The erosion-risk measurement is rated as "good."
Cons
• Distributions are irregular and do not happen on a frequent schedule.
Beginner takeaway
When looking at AFK, it is helpful to distinguish between the share price (price return) and the total amount earned including cash payments (total return). While this ETF provides exposure to African markets, investors should always look at both price movement and distribution frequency when studying an ETF's history.
Top Holdings
Structured portfolio holdings supplied by the ETF data provider. These figures are not generated by the AI article.
| # | Holding | Ticker | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ATTIJARIWAFA BANK SA REGISTERED SHARES | n/a | 4.41% |
| 2 | ANGLOGOLD ASHANTI PLC | AU | 4.28% |
| 3 | ENDEAVOUR MINING PLC | n/a | 3.52% |
| 4 | ARADEL HOLDINGS PLC | n/a | 3.45% |
| 5 | GOLD FIELDS LTD ADR | GFI | 3.44% |
| 6 | FIRSTRAND LTD | n/a | 3.31% |
| 7 | NASPERS LTD CLASS N | n/a | 3.31% |
| 8 | IVANHOE MINES LTD CLASS A | IVPAF | 3.26% |
| 9 | AYA GOLD & SILVER INC | AYA | 2.88% |
| 10 | SEPLAT ENERGY PLC | n/a | 2.87% |