AVDV vs. ZLB.TO

Last updated Jun 13, 2026

AVDV (Avantis International Small Cap Value ETF) and ZLB.TO (BMO Low Volatility Canadian Equity ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - AVDV is a Foreign Small & Mid Cap Equities fund actively managed by Avantis, while ZLB.TO is a Canada Equities fund actively managed by BMO. Both are actively managed. Over the past 5 years, AVDV returned 13.63%/yr vs 8.05%/yr for ZLB.TO. At a 0.46 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. AVDV charges 0.36%/yr vs 0.39%/yr for ZLB.TO.

Performance

AVDV vs. ZLB.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 Low Volatility Canadian Equity ETF (ZLB.TO). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Different Trading Currencies

AVDV is traded in USD, while ZLB.TO is traded in CAD. To make them comparable, the ZLB.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 higher than ZLB.TO's 3.48% return.

AVDV

• 1D: 0.89%
• 1M: -1.95%
• YTD: 14.99%
• 6M: 17.18%
• 1Y: 40.93%
• 3Y*: 26.72%
• 5Y*: 13.63%
• 10Y*: —

ZLB.TO

• 1D: -0.17%
• 1M: 2.35%
• YTD: 3.48%
• 6M: 1.29%
• 1Y: 10.61%
• 3Y*: 13.47%
• 5Y*: 8.05%
• 10Y*: 9.71%

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

AVDV vs. ZLB.TO - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019
AVDV Avantis International Small Cap Value ETF	14.99%	49.37%	8.67%	16.85%	-11.47%	15.80%	5.01%	11.78%
ZLB.TO BMO Low Volatility Canadian Equity ETF	3.48%	26.16%	6.31%	12.07%	-6.29%	22.99%	3.98%	1.52%

Correlation

The correlation between AVDV and ZLB.TO is 0.35, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.35
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.43
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.45
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Sep 26, 2019	0.46

The correlation between AVDV and ZLB.TO shifts across timeframes, from 0.35 (1 year) to 0.46 (all time), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.

AVDV vs. ZLB.TO - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors	AVDV	ZLB.TO
Basic Materials	22.5%	6.2%
Industrials	21.3%	10.0%
Consumer Cyclical	14.4%	8.5%
Financial Services	13.7%	23.9%
Energy	10.8%	-
Technology	6.4%	1.9%
Consumer Defensive	3.4%	18.3%
Healthcare	2.1%	-
Communication Services	2.0%	9.3%
Utilities	1.7%	17.6%
Real Estate	1.1%	4.3%

Return for Risk

AVDV vs. ZLB.TO — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.

AVDV

AVDV Risk / Return Rank: 81
AVDV Sharpe Ratio Rank: 88
AVDV Sortino Ratio Rank: 86
AVDV Omega Ratio Rank: 86
AVDV Calmar Ratio Rank: 71
AVDV Martin Ratio Rank: 76

ZLB.TO

ZLB.TO Risk / Return Rank: 48
ZLB.TO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 47
ZLB.TO Sortino Ratio Rank: 43
ZLB.TO Omega Ratio Rank: 49
ZLB.TO Calmar Ratio Rank: 52
ZLB.TO Martin Ratio Rank: 48

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. ZLB.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 Low Volatility Canadian Equity ETF (ZLB.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.

	AVDV	ZLB.TO	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	2.53	1.06	+1.47
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	3.36	1.47	+1.89
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.46	1.20	+0.26
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	3.12	1.74	+1.38
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	12.44	4.73	+7.72

AVDV vs. ZLB.TO - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current AVDV Sharpe Ratio is 2.53, which is higher than the ZLB.TO Sharpe Ratio of 1.06. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of AVDV and ZLB.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.

Drawdowns

AVDV vs. ZLB.TO - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum AVDV drawdown since its inception was -43.01%, which is greater than ZLB.TO's maximum drawdown of -39.55%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for AVDV and ZLB.TO.

Drawdown Indicators

	AVDV	ZLB.TO	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-43.01%	-39.55%	-3.46%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-13.19%	-6.13%	-7.06%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-14.17%	-12.27%	-1.90%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-28.08%	-20.63%	-7.45%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	—	-39.55%	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-2.24%	-1.30%	-0.94%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-6.76%	-4.08%	-2.68%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	3.30%	2.25%	+1.05%

Volatility

AVDV vs. ZLB.TO - Volatility Comparison

Avantis International Small Cap Value ETF (AVDV) has a higher volatility of 6.26% compared to BMO Low Volatility Canadian Equity ETF (ZLB.TO) at 2.75%. This indicates that AVDV's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than ZLB.TO based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	AVDV	ZLB.TO	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	6.26%	2.75%	+3.51%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	13.88%	8.17%	+5.71%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	16.25%	10.05%	+6.20%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	17.41%	11.65%	+5.76%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	19.77%	13.90%	+5.87%

AVDV vs. ZLB.TO - Expense Ratio Comparison

AVDV has a 0.36% expense ratio, which is lower than ZLB.TO's 0.39% expense ratio.

Dividends

AVDV vs. ZLB.TO - Dividend Comparison

AVDV's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.11%, more than ZLB.TO's 1.88% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
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%
ZLB.TO BMO Low Volatility Canadian Equity ETF	1.88%	1.99%	2.37%	2.67%	2.66%	2.39%	2.83%	2.44%	2.76%	2.55%	2.94%	2.34%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both AVDV and ZLB.TO in my portfolio?

AVDV and ZLB.TO have a correlation of 0.35, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which ETF is better, AVDV or ZLB.TO?

On fees, AVDV is cheaper at 0.36% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF is cheaper, AVDV or ZLB.TO?

AVDV is cheaper with a 0.36% expense ratio, compared with 0.39% for ZLB.TO.

What is the main difference between AVDV and ZLB.TO?

AVDV is categorized as Foreign Small & Mid Cap Equities, while ZLB.TO is Canada Equities. They also come from different issuers: Avantis and BMO. Their fees differ too: 0.36% for AVDV and 0.39% for ZLB.TO.