AVUV vs DFAT
Avantis US Small Cap Value ETF vs Dimensional US Targeted Value ETF
Which is better, AVUV or DFAT?
Nearly the same fund. AVUV costs less.
AVUV has a lower expense ratio. AVUV led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.99.
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 | AVUV | DFAT |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.25%Best | 0.28% |
| AUM | $31.1B | $30.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.28% | 1.40% |
| Holdings | 796 | 1,234 |
| YTD Return | +16.69%Best | +13.08% |
| 1Y Return | +21.79%Best | +18.14% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +17.63%Best | +16.01% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +10.56%Best | +9.45% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 20.9% | 19.8%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -28.8% | -26.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $16,519Best | $15,706 |
| Fund Family | Avantis Investors | Dimensional |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Value | Small Cap Value |
| Inception | Sep 24, 2019 | Dec 11, 1998 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 14, 2021 to Oct 14, 2026 (5.3 years).
AVUV vs DFAT 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 5.3 years both funds cover.
AVUV vs DFAT Performance
Avantis US Small Cap Value ETF (AVUV) is an ETF from Avantis Investors and Dimensional US Targeted Value ETF (DFAT) is an ETF from Dimensional. Over the past year AVUV returned +21.79% while DFAT returned +18.14%. Year to date, AVUV is up 16.69% versus a gain of 13.08% for DFAT.
Over three years, AVUV compounded at +17.63% per year against +16.01% for DFAT; over five years the annualized figures are +10.56% and +9.45% respectively.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
AVUV has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 20.9% compared with 19.8% for DFAT. 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 -28.8% for AVUV and -26.1% for DFAT. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.99. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
AVUV charges 0.25% per year while DFAT charges 0.28%. On a $10,000 position that is $25 vs $28 annually, a gap of $3 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, AVUV currently yields 1.28% against 1.40% for DFAT.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.6% of AVUV's money is in holdings DFAT also owns.
Stated as a floor: for DFAT, our book for it covers 72.0% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
1 positions in common, counted across the 742 positions we hold weights for in AVUV and 1,141 in DFAT, against full books of 796 and 1,234.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in AVUV | Weight in DFAT | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NOVNov Inc | 0.56% | 0.02% | 0.54% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of AVUV and DFAT 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, AVUV or DFAT?
AVUV has an expense ratio of 0.25% while DFAT charges 0.28%. AVUV is the cheaper option, by $3 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, AVUV or DFAT?
Over the past year AVUV returned +21.79% vs +18.14% for DFAT, so AVUV leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, AVUV or DFAT?
AVUV has been the more volatile fund at 20.9% annualized versus 19.8% for DFAT. Worst drawdown: AVUV -28.8% vs DFAT -26.1%.
Should I hold both AVUV and DFAT?
AVUV and DFAT have a monthly-return correlation of 0.99, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, AVUV or DFAT?
AVUV yields 1.28% while DFAT yields 1.40%, so DFAT currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is DFAT better than AVUV?
AVUV has a lower expense ratio. AVUV led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.99. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.