VanEck Africa Index ETF

AFK

Market cap $84.3M

A long-time portfolio manager and MoneyShow contributor, Jonathan Hoenig of Capitalistpig Hedge Fund, suggested during last week's MoneyShow livestream that viewers check out the VanEck Africa Index ETF (AFK). AFK is stair-stepping higher, and now up more than 57% year-to-date. The 50-day moving average is acting as support on pullbacks, while the 200-day is increasing its upward slope. Volume is picking up and RSI is strong. As of late last week, AFK owned 78 stocks. Materials (34.9%) and financials (31.3%) were easily the most heavily weighted by sector. By country, South African stocks made up 34.9% of the fund, with Moroccan names next at 13.6%.

Emerging markets investing has had an overall positive year in 2025. Entering the year, with many U.S. investors underweight foreign equities, some market watchers anticipated big opportunities abroad.

It's the year of foreign equities ETF diversification and performance. For many ETF issuers, their international or ex-U.S. ETF strategies have led their suites for performance amid rising domestic risks.

Foreign equities investing is hot this year, and it's clear to see why. U.S. equities face myriad challenges calling for diversification abroad.

Global equities ex-US were already leading US stocks in 2025 by a wide margin ahead of the trade deal announced this week between the US and Japan. Vanguard International Stock ETF rose sharply yesterday, and is now up 21.8% year to date.

AFK invests in a portfolio of stocks that do most of their business on the continent of Africa. It is the only US-traded ETF that can say that. South African gold miners are part of the portfolio but don't dominate it, there is good non-tech diversification here. AFK's portfolio sells for about 10x trailing earnings. That, the chart pattern (long-term) and the potential for this market to be discovered make it a speculative buy.

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--VanEck has announced the 2024 annual distributions per share for its VanEck equity exchange-traded funds (ETFs).

The election victory has fueled a strong rally in US equities, but Trump's comeback is seen as a new risk factor elsewhere as Washington prepares to pivot to new edition of an “America First” policy. The latest surge in US shares has widened the lead for SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) year to date.

ETFs have exploded in popularity over the last decade, accelerating rapidly since the so-called ETF rule arrived in 2019. All kinds of thematic ETFs have emerged for investors to consider.

American stocks are still the year-to-date leader so far in 2024 via SPDR S&P 500, but VanEck Africa is nipping at its heels. AFK, despite its pan-African mandate, is heavily weighted in South Africa stocks, which comprise roughly 40% of assets.