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AVDV vs. IEFA
Performance
Return for Risk
Drawdowns
Volatility
Dividends

AVDV vs. IEFA

Last updated Jun 9, 2026

AVDV (Avantis International Small Cap Value ETF) and IEFA (iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - AVDV is a Foreign Small & Mid Cap Equities fund actively managed by Avantis, while IEFA is a Foreign Large Cap Equities fund tracking the MSCI EAFE IMI Index (Net). AVDV is actively managed, while IEFA is passively managed. Over the past 5 years, AVDV returned 13.33%/yr vs 7.82%/yr for IEFA. Their correlation of 0.92 suggests significant overlap in exposure. AVDV charges 0.36%/yr vs 0.07%/yr for IEFA.

Performance

AVDV vs. IEFA - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Avantis International Small Cap Value ETF (AVDV) and iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF (IEFA). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

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Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, AVDV achieves a 13.22% return, which is significantly higher than IEFA's 7.49% return.

AVDV

1D
0.26%
1M
-2.93%
YTD
13.22%
6M
16.29%
1Y
40.16%
3Y*
26.61%
5Y*
13.33%
10Y*
—

IEFA

1D
0.63%
1M
-1.17%
YTD
7.49%
6M
10.04%
1Y
19.61%
3Y*
16.13%
5Y*
7.82%
10Y*
9.37%
*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

AVDV vs. IEFA - Yearly Performance Comparison

2026 (YTD)2025202420232022202120202019
AVDV
Avantis International Small Cap Value ETF		13.22%49.37%8.67%16.85%-11.47%15.80%5.01%12.05%
IEFA
iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF		7.49%32.08%3.26%17.95%-15.24%11.63%8.18%8.14%

Correlation

The correlation between AVDV and IEFA is 0.90, indicating a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Combining them offers limited diversification - they tend to fall together during downturns.

Correlation
Correlation (1Y)
Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

0.90

Correlation (3Y)
Calculated over the trailing 3-year period

0.91

Correlation (5Y)
Calculated over the trailing 5-year period

0.93

Correlation (All Time)
Calculated using the full available price history since Sep 27, 2019

0.92

The correlation between AVDV and IEFA has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.90 to 0.93 - a consistent structural relationship.

AVDV vs. IEFA - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors
AVDV
IEFA

Basic Materials

22.5%
7.0%

Industrials

21.3%
20.1%

Consumer Cyclical

14.4%
8.0%

Financial Services

13.7%
22.5%

Energy

10.8%
3.8%

Technology

6.4%
10.8%

Consumer Defensive

3.4%
6.6%

Healthcare

2.1%
9.5%

Communication Services

2.0%
4.4%

Utilities

1.7%
3.6%

Real Estate

1.1%
3.0%

Basic Materials

AVDV
22.5%
IEFA
7.0%

Industrials

AVDV
21.3%
IEFA
20.1%

Consumer Cyclical

AVDV
14.4%
IEFA
8.0%

Financial Services

AVDV
13.7%
IEFA
22.5%

Energy

AVDV
10.8%
IEFA
3.8%

Technology

AVDV
6.4%
IEFA
10.8%

Consumer Defensive

AVDV
3.4%
IEFA
6.6%

Healthcare

AVDV
2.1%
IEFA
9.5%

Communication Services

AVDV
2.0%
IEFA
4.4%

Utilities

AVDV
1.7%
IEFA
3.6%

Real Estate

AVDV
1.1%
IEFA
3.0%

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

iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF

Often compared with AVDV:
AVDV vs. VXUSAVDV vs. AVDEAVDV vs. VSSAVDV vs. DISVXAVDV vs. AVDVXAVDV vs. ISVLAVDV vs. AVIV
Often compared with IEFA:
IEFA vs. VEAIEFA vs. VXUSIEFA vs. EFAIEFA vs. FSPSXIEFA vs. IEMGIEFA vs. XEF.TOIEFA vs. IXUS

Return for Risk

AVDV vs. IEFA — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.
AVDV
AVDV Risk / Return Rank: 7979
Overall Rank
AVDV Sharpe Ratio Rank: 8686
Sharpe Ratio Rank
AVDV Sortino Ratio Rank: 8383
Sortino Ratio Rank
AVDV Omega Ratio Rank: 8484
Omega Ratio Rank
AVDV Calmar Ratio Rank: 6767
Calmar Ratio Rank
AVDV Martin Ratio Rank: 7373
Martin Ratio Rank
IEFA
IEFA Risk / Return Rank: 4040
Overall Rank
IEFA Sharpe Ratio Rank: 4141
Sharpe Ratio Rank
IEFA Sortino Ratio Rank: 4040
Sortino Ratio Rank
IEFA Omega Ratio Rank: 4040
Omega Ratio Rank
IEFA Calmar Ratio Rank: 3838
Calmar Ratio Rank
IEFA Martin Ratio Rank: 4343
Martin Ratio Rank
The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

AVDV vs. IEFA - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Avantis International Small Cap Value ETF (AVDV) and iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF (IEFA). 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.

AVDVIEFADifference
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility
2.54
1.30

+1.24

Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk
3.35
1.88

+1.47

Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability

1.46

1.24

+0.22

Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown

3.06

1.71

+1.35

Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown

12.34

6.52

+5.83

Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

AVDV vs. IEFA - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current AVDV Sharpe Ratio is 2.54, which is higher than the IEFA Sharpe Ratio of 1.30. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of AVDV and IEFA, 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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Sharpe Ratios by Period

AVDVIEFADifference

Sharpe Ratio (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

2.54

1.30

+1.24

Sharpe Ratio (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period

0.77

0.47

+0.30

Sharpe Ratio (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period

—

0.54

—

Sharpe Ratio (All Time)

Calculated using the full available price history

0.78

0.50

+0.27

Drawdowns

AVDV vs. IEFA - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum AVDV drawdown since its inception was -43.01%, which is greater than IEFA's maximum drawdown of -34.78%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for AVDV and IEFA.

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Drawdown Indicators

AVDVIEFADifference

Max Drawdown

Largest peak-to-trough decline

-43.01%

-34.78%

-8.23%

Max Drawdown (1Y)

Largest decline over 1 year

-13.19%

-11.50%

-1.69%

Max Drawdown (3Y)

Largest decline over 3 years

-14.17%

-13.76%

-0.41%

Max Drawdown (5Y)

Largest decline over 5 years

-28.08%

-30.41%

+2.33%

Max Drawdown (10Y)

Largest decline over 10 years

—

-34.78%

—

Current Drawdown

Current decline from peak

-3.74%

-2.44%

-1.30%

Average Drawdown

Average peak-to-trough decline

-6.77%

-6.69%

-0.08%

Ulcer Index

Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks

3.26%

3.02%

+0.24%

Volatility

AVDV vs. IEFA - Volatility Comparison

Avantis International Small Cap Value ETF (AVDV) has a higher volatility of 5.49% compared to iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF (IEFA) at 4.54%. This indicates that AVDV's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than IEFA based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

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Volatility by Period

AVDVIEFADifference

Volatility (1M)

Calculated over the trailing 1-month period

5.49%

4.54%

+0.95%

Volatility (6M)

Calculated over the trailing 6-month period

13.49%

12.74%

+0.75%

Volatility (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

15.92%

15.22%

+0.70%

Volatility (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized

17.35%

16.55%

+0.80%

Volatility (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized

19.75%

17.32%

+2.43%

AVDV vs. IEFA - Expense Ratio Comparison

AVDV has a 0.36% expense ratio, which is higher than IEFA's 0.07% expense ratio.

Dividends

AVDV vs. IEFA - Dividend Comparison

AVDV's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.81%, less than IEFA's 3.30% yield.

PositionTTM20252024202320222021202020192018201720162015
AVDV
Avantis International Small Cap Value ETF		2.81%3.05%4.31%3.29%3.17%2.39%1.67%0.36%0.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%
IEFA
iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF		3.30%3.55%3.47%3.20%2.70%3.32%1.90%3.18%3.46%2.57%2.96%2.63%

Frequently Asked Questions

AVDV and IEFA have a correlation of 0.90, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

AVDV has higher volatility (5.49%) compared to IEFA (4.54%). In terms of maximum drawdown, AVDV dropped -43.01% vs IEFA's -34.78%.

On 5-year performance, AVDV leads with 13.33% vs 7.82% for IEFA. On fees, IEFA is cheaper at 0.07% per year. On volatility, IEFA has been the lower-risk option at 4.54%. 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 13.33% return vs 7.82%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

IEFA is cheaper with a 0.07% expense ratio, compared with 0.36% for AVDV.

IEFA has the higher dividend yield at 3.30%, compared with 2.81% for AVDV.

AVDV is categorized as Foreign Small & Mid Cap Equities, while IEFA is Foreign Large Cap Equities. They also come from different issuers: Avantis and iShares. Their fees differ too: 0.36% for AVDV and 0.07% for IEFA.

AVDV currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.54 vs 1.30), 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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