AVUV vs VXUS
Avantis US Small Cap Value ETF vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, AVUV or VXUS?
Small Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. AVUV led over 1Y, 5Y and the full window, VXUS over 3Y.
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 | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.25% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $30.6B | $164.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.25% | 2.51% |
| Holdings | 796 | 8,844 |
| YTD Return | +18.08%Best | +11.26% |
| 1Y Return | +25.29%Best | +18.37% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +18.12% | +20.02%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +11.07%Best | +8.98% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 25.4% | 16.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -49.6% | -35.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $16,904Best | $15,372 |
| Fund Family | Avantis Investors | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Sep 24, 2019 | Jan 26, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 26, 2019 to Oct 13, 2026 (7 years).
AVUV vs VXUS 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 7 years both funds cover.
AVUV vs VXUS Performance
Avantis US Small Cap Value ETF (AVUV) is an ETF from Avantis Investors and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year AVUV returned +25.29% while VXUS returned +18.37%. Year to date, AVUV is up 18.08% versus a gain of 11.26% for VXUS.
Over three years, AVUV compounded at +18.12% per year against +20.02% for VXUS; over five years the annualized figures are +11.07% and +8.98% respectively. Across the full 7-year window we track, AVUV has the edge at +14.74% annualized vs +9.81%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
AVUV has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 25.4% compared with 16.1% for VXUS. 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 -49.6% for AVUV and -35.1% for VXUS. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.77. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
AVUV charges 0.25% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $25 vs $5 annually, a gap of $20 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, AVUV currently yields 1.25% against 2.51% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.9% of AVUV's money is in holdings VXUS also owns.
Stated as a floor: for VXUS, our book for it covers 89.3% 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.
The two holdings books were reported 46 days apart, AVUV as of Sep 15, 2026 and VXUS as of Jul 31, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
4 positions in common, counted across the 742 positions we hold weights for in AVUV and 8,082 in VXUS, against full books of 796 and 8,844.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of AVUV and VXUS 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 VXUS?
AVUV has an expense ratio of 0.25% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $20 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, AVUV or VXUS?
Over the past year AVUV returned +25.29% vs +18.37% for VXUS, so AVUV leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (7 years), AVUV annualized +14.74% vs +9.81% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, AVUV or VXUS?
AVUV has been the more volatile fund at 25.4% annualized versus 16.1% for VXUS. Worst drawdown: AVUV -49.6% vs VXUS -35.1%.
Should I hold both AVUV and VXUS?
AVUV and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.77, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, AVUV or VXUS?
AVUV yields 1.25% while VXUS yields 2.51%, so VXUS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than AVUV?
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. AVUV led over 1Y, 5Y and the full window, VXUS over 3Y. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.