American Funds The Growth Fund of America (Class A)
Figures last verified October 31, 2026
Multi-manager active growth investing; Capital Group's 'multiple portfolio counselor' system divides the fund among independent managers.
Growth Fund of America is among the largest actively managed funds ever built, and Capital Group's multi-manager system — slicing the portfolio among independent counselors — is a genuinely thoughtful piece of fund engineering that reduces key-person risk and smooths style bets. The 0.58% expense ratio is moderate for active management, and the very-long-term record is respectable.
The part that needs daylight: A-shares carry a sales load of up to 5.75% — a $5,750 haircut on a $100,000 investment before a dollar is at work — because American Funds distributes through commissioned advisors. Inside many 401(k) plans the load is waived (R-share classes), which changes the math entirely; check your share class letter before judging. Load-waived, it's a decent active growth fund. Load-paid, the index alternative isn't just cheaper — you start nearly 6% ahead on day one, a lead the manager has to claw back before adding any value at all.
Advisor-channel investors — and anyone deciding whether the load was worth it.
AGTHX alternatives & comparable funds
If you’re weighing AGTHX against the field, these are the funds most investors line it up against — same job, different provider, slightly different terms.
| Fund | Family | Expense Ratio | Minimum |
|---|---|---|---|
| AGTHX — American Funds The Growth … | American Funds | 0.58% | $250 |
| VIGAX — Vanguard Growth Index Fund… | Vanguard | 0.05% | $3,000 |
| FSPGX — Fidelity Large Cap Growth Index Fund | Fidelity | 0.035% | $0 |
| FCNTX — Fidelity Contrafund | Fidelity | 0.74% | $0 |
Head-to-head comparisons
Frequently asked questions
What is the expense ratio of AGTHX?
AGTHX (American Funds The Growth Fund of America (Class A)) has an expense ratio of 0.58%, which works out to roughly $58 per year for every $10,000 invested. That is high relative to index alternatives, and it compounds against you every year, so the fund needs to outperform just to break even versus a cheaper option.
What is the minimum investment for AGTHX?
AGTHX requires a minimum initial investment of $250.
What does AGTHX invest in?
Multi-manager active growth investing; Capital Group's 'multiple portfolio counselor' system divides the fund among independent managers. It falls in the large growth category and is an actively managed fund.
What are good alternatives to AGTHX?
The funds most often compared with AGTHX are VIGAX, FSPGX, FCNTX — broadly similar exposure from different providers, with small differences in fee, minimum, and portability that usually come down to which brokerage holds your account.
Expense ratio and minimum for AGTHX drawn from American Funds fund documentation; last verified October 31, 2026. Figures change — confirm against the official prospectus before investing. This review is editorial opinion, not investment advice.