AFK ETF — VanEck Africa Index ETF

VanEck Africa Index ETF (AFK)

Updated October 16, 2026.

AFK is an ETF. its distribution rate is 1.17%, its trailing-12-month yield is 1.02%, its expense ratio is 0.76%. Dividend Vision Distribution Safety Score™ is 75/100 (Generally safe). Total return is 1.8% over the past 18.3 years, 764.9 points behind SPY at 766.7%.

VanEck Africa Index ETF tracks an index of African companies, including both locally incorporated firms and non-African companies with at least half their revenues or assets in Africa, investing at least 80% of assets in index securities. The fund carries a modest current distribution rate with an annual payout frequency and a 0.76% expense ratio; note that its latest distribution was special and may not recur on a regular basis. The fund appeals to international equity investors seeking exposure to African markets.

AFK performance versus SPY

Price and return data through 2026-10-16.

Total return is 1.8% over the past 18.3 years, 764.9 points behind SPY at 766.7%. Over the past year its total return — price change plus distributions reinvested — is 9.2%. Its deepest 1-year drawdown was 19.5%.

AFK key facts

Distribution Safety Score™

75 · Generally safe

Safety-Adjusted Yield

0.88%

Issuer

VanEck

Asset type

ETF

Asset class

Equity

Inception date

07/10/2008

Expense ratio

0.76%

Distribution rate

1.17%

Distribution frequency

Annual

Trailing yield

1.02%

Last close

$26.79 (as of 2026-10-16)

AUM

$95,701,421

Average volume

203722.0

Dividend

$0.272

Ex-dividend date

12/22/2025

Payment date

12/26/2025

Beta

1.12

How Dividend Vision calculates yield and returns

Distribution rate (1.17%) uses calculation basis unavailable. Issuer rates can use a different denominator and date, including ex-date NAV. Trailing-12-month yield (1.02%) is the sum of split-adjusted cash distributions with ex-dates in the last 12 months, divided by the published price. It lags a recent raise or cut. Total return uses split-adjusted close with distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date (a modeling convention, not the cash-settlement date) from the first stored bar on or after inception through the latest bar, compared with the same window on the benchmark. That is the security's total return, not your personal gain/loss.

Yield and safety methodology · Distribution rate methodology · Distribution Safety Score methodology

Sources and review

Primary sources: VanEck; prices and distributions from Dividend Vision, derived from vendor EOD data.

Reviewed by Bert Sweet, CEO and Co-owner of Dividend Vision. Methodology: Distribution Safety Score.

AFK risks and drawbacks

AFK's current distribution rate is moderate, not a high-yield payout — the strategy is dividend quality more than maximum income. Payments are annual, so cash flow is lumpy versus a monthly fund. Total return has trailed SPY over the available window. The deepest 1-year drawdown on record here is 19.5%.

Who may consider AFK — and who may not

It is a weaker fit for investors who need monthly cash flow (AFK pays annual); investors hunting double-digit covered-call yields; investors whose main goal is matching SPY total return. This is educational context, not a recommendation to buy or sell.

More on AFK

• All tickers starting with A

Tagged: International, Index.

Frequently asked questions

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