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AVDV vs. FDTS
Performance
Return for Risk
Drawdowns
Volatility
Dividends

AVDV vs. FDTS

Last updated Aug 4, 2026
Documentation

AVDV (Avantis International Small Cap Value ETF) and FDTS (First Trust Developed Markets ex-US Small Cap AlphaDEX Fund) are both Foreign Small & Mid Cap Equities funds. AVDV is actively managed, while FDTS is passively managed. Over the past 5 years, AVDV returned 13.73%/yr vs 10.14%/yr for FDTS. Their 0.69 correlation means they have sometimes moved together and sometimes differently. AVDV charges 0.36%/yr vs 0.80%/yr for FDTS.

Performance

AVDV vs. FDTS - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Avantis International Small Cap Value ETF (AVDV) and First Trust Developed Markets ex-US Small Cap AlphaDEX Fund (FDTS). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

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Returns By Period

The year-to-date returns for both stocks are quite close, with AVDV having a 13.72% return and FDTS slightly lower at 13.53%.

AVDV

1D
0.67%
1M
0.88%
6M
5.81%
YTD
13.72%
1Y
35.11%
3Y*
25.09%
5Y*
13.73%
10Y*
—
ALL TIME*
14.93%

FDTS

1D
1.58%
1M
0.07%
6M
2.90%
YTD
13.53%
1Y
32.03%
3Y*
21.86%
5Y*
10.14%
10Y*
9.92%
ALL TIME*
8.19%
*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

Liquidity Comparison

PositionAvg. Volume Value (2W)Avg. Volume Value (1M)Avg. Volume Value (3M)

AVDV

Avantis International Small Cap Value ETF
$75.45M$103.53M$84.89M

FDTS

First Trust Developed Markets ex-US Small Cap AlphaDEX Fund
$92.63K$56.02K$75.36K

AVDV vs. FDTS - Yearly Performance Comparison

2026 (YTD)2025202420232022202120202019
AVDV
Avantis International Small Cap Value ETF		13.72%49.37%8.67%16.85%-11.47%15.80%5.01%11.78%
FDTS
First Trust Developed Markets ex-US Small Cap AlphaDEX Fund		13.53%51.17%2.44%10.96%-15.34%11.79%12.90%11.17%

Correlation

The correlation between AVDV and FDTS is 0.85, meaning they have usually moved in the same direction, including during past declines.

Correlation
Correlation (1Y)
Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most.

0.85

Correlation (3Y)
Balances recent behavior with more history.

0.87

Correlation (5Y)
Shows whether the relationship held over a longer period.

0.78

Correlation (All Time)
Calculated using the full available price history since Sep 26, 2019

0.69

The correlation between AVDV and FDTS shifts across timeframes, from 0.69 (all time) to 0.87 (3 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.

AVDV vs. FDTS - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors
AVDV
FDTS

Industrials

22.7%
22.1%

Basic Materials

20.3%
10.5%

Consumer Cyclical

15.9%
19.2%

Financial Services

13.6%
12.3%

Energy

9.1%
3.8%

Technology

7.6%
14.5%

Consumer Defensive

3.7%
4.9%

Healthcare

2.4%
2.7%

Communication Services

2.2%
3.0%

Utilities

1.5%
2.6%

Real Estate

1.2%
4.5%

Industrials

AVDV
22.7%
FDTS
22.1%

Basic Materials

AVDV
20.3%
FDTS
10.5%

Consumer Cyclical

AVDV
15.9%
FDTS
19.2%

Financial Services

AVDV
13.6%
FDTS
12.3%

Energy

AVDV
9.1%
FDTS
3.8%

Technology

AVDV
7.6%
FDTS
14.5%

Consumer Defensive

AVDV
3.7%
FDTS
4.9%

Healthcare

AVDV
2.4%
FDTS
2.7%

Communication Services

AVDV
2.2%
FDTS
3.0%

Utilities

AVDV
1.5%
FDTS
2.6%

Real Estate

AVDV
1.2%
FDTS
4.5%

Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs

Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.

Avantis International Small Cap Value ETF

First Trust Developed Markets ex-US Small Cap AlphaDEX Fund

Often compared with AVDV:
AVDV vs. VXUSAVDV vs. AVDEAVDV vs. VSSAVDV vs. AVUVAVDV vs. DISVXAVDV vs. AVDVXAVDV vs. AVIV
Often compared with FDTS:
FDTS vs. SCHDFDTS vs. DISVXFDTS vs. XLKFDTS vs. ISCFFDTS vs. VYMIFDTS vs. SMMVFDTS vs. FDL

Return for Risk

AVDV vs. FDTS — Risk / Return Rank

Compare historical risk-adjusted metric ranks over the past 12 months.
AVDV
AVDV Risk / Return Rank: 8181
Overall Rank
AVDV Sharpe Ratio Rank: 8787
Sharpe Ratio Rank
AVDV Sortino Ratio Rank: 8585
Sortino Ratio Rank
AVDV Omega Ratio Rank: 8585
Omega Ratio Rank
AVDV Calmar Ratio Rank: 7575
Calmar Ratio Rank
AVDV Martin Ratio Rank: 7676
Martin Ratio Rank
FDTS
FDTS Risk / Return Rank: 6565
Overall Rank
FDTS Sharpe Ratio Rank: 6969
Sharpe Ratio Rank
FDTS Sortino Ratio Rank: 6868
Sortino Ratio Rank
FDTS Omega Ratio Rank: 6969
Omega Ratio Rank
FDTS Calmar Ratio Rank: 6868
Calmar Ratio Rank
FDTS Martin Ratio Rank: 5353
Martin Ratio Rank
The rank (0–100) uses a weighted average of the Sharpe, Sortino, Omega, Calmar, and Martin percentile ranks for the trailing 12 months. Higher means stronger historical risk-adjusted performance within the peer group.

AVDV vs. FDTS - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Avantis International Small Cap Value ETF (AVDV) and First Trust Developed Markets ex-US Small Cap AlphaDEX Fund (FDTS). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.

Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.

AVDVFDTSDifference
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility
2.10
1.66

+0.44

Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk
2.84
2.31

+0.53

Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability

1.37

1.30

+0.07

Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown

2.67

2.45

+0.22

Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown

9.69

6.49

+3.20

AVDV vs. FDTS - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current AVDV Sharpe Ratio is 2.10, which is comparable to the FDTS Sharpe Ratio of 1.66. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of AVDV and FDTS, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

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Drawdowns

AVDV vs. FDTS - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum AVDV drawdown since its inception was -43.01%, smaller than the maximum FDTS drawdown of -51.26%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for AVDV and FDTS.

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Drawdown Indicators

AVDVFDTSDifference

Max Drawdown

Largest peak-to-trough decline

-43.01%

-51.26%

+8.25%

Max Drawdown (1Y)

Largest decline over 1 year

-13.19%

-13.11%

-0.08%

Max Drawdown (3Y)

Largest decline over 3 years

-14.17%

-13.19%

-0.98%

Max Drawdown (5Y)

Largest decline over 5 years

-28.08%

-33.11%

+5.03%

Max Drawdown (10Y)

Largest decline over 10 years

—

-51.26%

—

Current Drawdown

Current decline from peak

-3.32%

-8.98%

+5.66%

Average Drawdown

Average peak-to-trough decline

-6.71%

-10.63%

+3.92%

Ulcer Index

Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks

3.63%

4.95%

-1.32%

Volatility

AVDV vs. FDTS - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for Avantis International Small Cap Value ETF (AVDV) is 5.48%, while First Trust Developed Markets ex-US Small Cap AlphaDEX Fund (FDTS) has a volatility of 6.77%. This indicates that AVDV experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than FDTS based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

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Volatility by Period

AVDVFDTSDifference

Volatility (1M)

Calculated over the trailing 1-month period

5.48%

6.77%

-1.29%

Volatility (6M)

Calculated over the trailing 6-month period

14.47%

16.85%

-2.38%

Volatility (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

16.84%

19.41%

-2.57%

Volatility (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized

17.44%

29.55%

-12.11%

Volatility (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized

19.71%

24.89%

-5.18%

AVDV vs. FDTS - Expense Ratio Comparison

AVDV has a 0.36% expense ratio, which is lower than FDTS's 0.80% expense ratio.

Dividends

AVDV vs. FDTS - Dividend Comparison

AVDV's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.78%, less than FDTS's 2.87% yield.

PositionTTM20252024202320222021202020192018201720162015
AVDV
Avantis International Small Cap Value ETF		2.78%3.05%4.31%3.29%3.17%2.39%1.67%0.36%0.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%
FDTS
First Trust Developed Markets ex-US Small Cap AlphaDEX Fund		2.87%2.94%3.94%2.90%3.71%3.01%2.02%2.30%1.96%2.08%1.78%1.73%

Frequently Asked Questions

AVDV and FDTS have a correlation of 0.85, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

FDTS has higher volatility (6.77%) compared to AVDV (5.48%). In terms of maximum drawdown, AVDV dropped -43.01% vs FDTS's -51.26%.

On 5-year performance, AVDV leads with 13.73% vs 10.14% for FDTS. On fees, AVDV is cheaper at 0.36% per year. On volatility, AVDV has been the lower-risk option at 5.48%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Over the 5-year period, AVDV has performed better with a 13.73% return vs 10.14%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

AVDV is cheaper with a 0.36% expense ratio, compared with 0.80% for FDTS.

FDTS has the higher dividend yield at 2.87%, compared with 2.78% for AVDV.

They also come from different issuers: Avantis and First Trust. Their fees differ too: 0.36% for AVDV and 0.80% for FDTS.

AVDV currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.10 vs 1.66), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.

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