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AVDV vs. ZEM.TO
Performance
Return for Risk
Drawdowns
Volatility
Dividends

AVDV vs. ZEM.TO

Last updated Jun 13, 2026

AVDV (Avantis International Small Cap Value ETF) and ZEM.TO (BMO MSCI Emerging Markets Index ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - AVDV is a Foreign Small & Mid Cap Equities fund actively managed by Avantis, while ZEM.TO is a Emerging Markets Equities fund tracking the MSCI Emerging Markets Index. AVDV is actively managed, while ZEM.TO is passively managed. Over the past 5 years, AVDV returned 13.63%/yr vs 6.50%/yr for ZEM.TO. A 0.54 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. AVDV charges 0.36%/yr vs 0.27%/yr for ZEM.TO.

Performance

AVDV vs. ZEM.TO - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Avantis International Small Cap Value ETF (AVDV) and BMO MSCI Emerging Markets Index ETF (ZEM.TO). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

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Different Trading Currencies

AVDV is traded in USD, while ZEM.TO is traded in CAD. To make them comparable, the ZEM.TO values have been converted to USD using the latest available exchange rates.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, AVDV achieves a 14.99% return, which is significantly lower than ZEM.TO's 23.61% return.

AVDV

1D
0.89%
1M
-1.99%
YTD
14.99%
6M
17.18%
1Y
41.91%
3Y*
26.72%
5Y*
13.63%
10Y*
—

ZEM.TO

1D
-0.11%
1M
0.29%
YTD
23.61%
6M
26.59%
1Y
46.12%
3Y*
21.72%
5Y*
6.50%
10Y*
10.34%
*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

AVDV vs. ZEM.TO - Yearly Performance Comparison

2026 (YTD)2025202420232022202120202019
AVDV
Avantis International Small Cap Value ETF		14.99%49.37%8.67%16.85%-11.47%15.80%5.01%11.78%
ZEM.TO
BMO MSCI Emerging Markets Index ETF		23.74%33.76%6.22%10.00%-20.82%-2.59%19.21%10.98%

Correlation

The correlation between AVDV and ZEM.TO is 0.57, which is moderate. They share some common price drivers but move independently often enough to provide real diversification benefit when combined.

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

0.57

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

0.52

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

0.53

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

0.54

The correlation between AVDV and ZEM.TO has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.52 to 0.57 - a consistent structural relationship.

AVDV vs. ZEM.TO - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors
AVDV
ZEM.TO

Basic Materials

22.5%
6.3%

Industrials

21.3%
7.7%

Consumer Cyclical

14.4%
9.7%

Financial Services

13.7%
20.1%

Energy

10.8%
4.1%

Technology

6.4%
36.7%

Consumer Defensive

3.4%
3.1%

Healthcare

2.1%
2.8%

Communication Services

2.0%
6.8%

Utilities

1.7%
2.0%

Real Estate

1.1%
0.8%

Basic Materials

AVDV
22.5%
ZEM.TO
6.3%

Industrials

AVDV
21.3%
ZEM.TO
7.7%

Consumer Cyclical

AVDV
14.4%
ZEM.TO
9.7%

Financial Services

AVDV
13.7%
ZEM.TO
20.1%

Energy

AVDV
10.8%
ZEM.TO
4.1%

Technology

AVDV
6.4%
ZEM.TO
36.7%

Consumer Defensive

AVDV
3.4%
ZEM.TO
3.1%

Healthcare

AVDV
2.1%
ZEM.TO
2.8%

Communication Services

AVDV
2.0%
ZEM.TO
6.8%

Utilities

AVDV
1.7%
ZEM.TO
2.0%

Real Estate

AVDV
1.1%
ZEM.TO
0.8%

Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs

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Avantis International Small Cap Value ETF

BMO MSCI Emerging Markets Index ETF

Often compared with AVDV:
AVDV vs. VXUSAVDV vs. AVDEAVDV vs. VSSAVDV vs. DISVXAVDV vs. AVDVXAVDV vs. ISVLAVDV vs. AVIV
Often compared with ZEM.TO:
ZEM.TO vs. XEC.TOZEM.TO vs. VEE.TOZEM.TO vs. XEF.TOZEM.TO vs. VIU.TOZEM.TO vs. XSEM.TOZEM.TO vs. xec.TOZEM.TO vs. ZCN.TO

Return for Risk

AVDV vs. ZEM.TO — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.
AVDV
AVDV Risk / Return Rank: 8181
Overall Rank
AVDV Sharpe Ratio Rank: 8888
Sharpe Ratio Rank
AVDV Sortino Ratio Rank: 8686
Sortino Ratio Rank
AVDV Omega Ratio Rank: 8686
Omega Ratio Rank
AVDV Calmar Ratio Rank: 7171
Calmar Ratio Rank
AVDV Martin Ratio Rank: 7676
Martin Ratio Rank
ZEM.TO
ZEM.TO Risk / Return Rank: 8383
Overall Rank
ZEM.TO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 8080
Sharpe Ratio Rank
ZEM.TO Sortino Ratio Rank: 7878
Sortino Ratio Rank
ZEM.TO Omega Ratio Rank: 8484
Omega Ratio Rank
ZEM.TO Calmar Ratio Rank: 8686
Calmar Ratio Rank
ZEM.TO Martin Ratio Rank: 8484
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. ZEM.TO - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Avantis International Small Cap Value ETF (AVDV) and BMO MSCI Emerging Markets Index ETF (ZEM.TO). 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.

AVDVZEM.TODifference
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility
2.53
2.04

+0.49

Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk
3.36
2.78

+0.58

Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability

1.46

1.40

+0.06

Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown

3.12

3.59

-0.47

Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown

12.44

13.54

-1.09

AVDV vs. ZEM.TO - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current AVDV Sharpe Ratio is 2.53, which is comparable to the ZEM.TO Sharpe Ratio of 2.04. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of AVDV and ZEM.TO, 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. ZEM.TO - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum AVDV drawdown since its inception was -43.01%, which is greater than ZEM.TO's maximum drawdown of -39.35%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for AVDV and ZEM.TO.

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Drawdown Indicators

AVDVZEM.TODifference

Max Drawdown

Largest peak-to-trough decline

-43.01%

-39.35%

-3.66%

Max Drawdown (1Y)

Largest decline over 1 year

-13.19%

-12.91%

-0.28%

Max Drawdown (3Y)

Largest decline over 3 years

-14.17%

-17.29%

+3.12%

Max Drawdown (5Y)

Largest decline over 5 years

-28.08%

-37.35%

+9.27%

Max Drawdown (10Y)

Largest decline over 10 years

—

-39.35%

—

Current Drawdown

Current decline from peak

-2.24%

-3.86%

+1.62%

Average Drawdown

Average peak-to-trough decline

-6.76%

-14.82%

+8.06%

Ulcer Index

Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks

3.30%

3.42%

-0.12%

Volatility

AVDV vs. ZEM.TO - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for Avantis International Small Cap Value ETF (AVDV) is 6.26%, while BMO MSCI Emerging Markets Index ETF (ZEM.TO) has a volatility of 10.22%. This indicates that AVDV experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than ZEM.TO based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

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Volatility by Period

AVDVZEM.TODifference

Volatility (1M)

Calculated over the trailing 1-month period

6.26%

10.22%

-3.96%

Volatility (6M)

Calculated over the trailing 6-month period

13.88%

20.50%

-6.62%

Volatility (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

16.25%

22.71%

-6.46%

Volatility (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized

17.41%

18.29%

-0.88%

Volatility (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized

19.77%

19.38%

+0.39%

AVDV vs. ZEM.TO - Expense Ratio Comparison

AVDV has a 0.36% expense ratio, which is higher than ZEM.TO's 0.27% expense ratio.

Dividends

AVDV vs. ZEM.TO - Dividend Comparison

AVDV's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.11%, more than ZEM.TO's 1.77% yield.

PositionTTM20252024202320222021202020192018201720162015
AVDV
Avantis International Small Cap Value ETF		4.11%3.05%4.31%3.29%3.17%2.39%1.67%0.36%0.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%
ZEM.TO
BMO MSCI Emerging Markets Index ETF		1.77%2.23%2.56%2.87%2.89%2.50%1.69%2.42%2.20%1.76%1.85%2.45%

Frequently Asked Questions

AVDV and ZEM.TO have a correlation of 0.57, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

On fees, ZEM.TO is cheaper at 0.27% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

ZEM.TO is cheaper with a 0.27% expense ratio, compared with 0.36% for AVDV.

AVDV is categorized as Foreign Small & Mid Cap Equities, while ZEM.TO is Emerging Markets Equities. They also come from different issuers: Avantis and BMO. Their fees differ too: 0.36% for AVDV and 0.27% for ZEM.TO.

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