AVUV vs. DGS
AVUV (Avantis US Small Cap Value ETF) and DGS (WisdomTree Emerging Markets SmallCap Dividend Fund) are both exchange-traded funds - AVUV is a Small Cap Value Equities fund actively managed by Avantis, while DGS is a Emerging Markets Diversified fund tracking the WisdomTree Emerging Markets SmallCap Dividend Index. AVUV is actively managed, while DGS is passively managed. Over the past 5 years, AVUV returned 11.57%/yr vs 8.06%/yr for DGS. A 0.58 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. AVUV charges 0.25%/yr vs 0.58%/yr for DGS.
Performance
AVUV vs. DGS - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, AVUV achieves a 22.73% return, which is significantly higher than DGS's 14.94% return.
AVUV
- 1D
- 0.96%
- 1M
- 5.96%
- YTD
- 22.73%
- 6M
- 19.51%
- 1Y
- 40.08%
- 3Y*
- 19.24%
- 5Y*
- 11.57%
- 10Y*
- —
DGS
- 1D
- 0.65%
- 1M
- 1.57%
- YTD
- 14.94%
- 6M
- 17.07%
- 1Y
- 23.81%
- 3Y*
- 15.36%
- 5Y*
- 8.06%
- 10Y*
- 10.14%
AVUV vs. DGS - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AVUV Avantis US Small Cap Value ETF | 22.73% | 7.44% | 9.28% | 22.82% | -4.91% | 42.20% | 6.43% | 8.54% |
DGS WisdomTree Emerging Markets SmallCap Dividend Fund | 14.94% | 21.18% | 1.13% | 19.08% | -12.35% | 15.33% | 4.06% | 8.02% |
Correlation
The correlation between AVUV and DGS is 0.58, 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 | 0.58 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.55 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.59 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Sep 26, 2019 | 0.58 |
The correlation between AVUV and DGS has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.55 to 0.59 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
AVUV vs. DGS — Risk / Return Rank
AVUV
DGS
AVUV vs. DGS - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Avantis US Small Cap Value ETF (AVUV) and WisdomTree Emerging Markets SmallCap Dividend Fund (DGS). 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.
| AVUV | DGS | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.84 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +1.22 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.39 | 1.27 | +0.13 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 5.06 | 2.38 | +2.69 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 15.09 | 7.84 | +7.25 |
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Drawdowns
AVUV vs. DGS - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum AVUV drawdown since its inception was -49.42%, smaller than the maximum DGS drawdown of -61.83%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for AVUV and DGS.
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Drawdown Indicators
| AVUV | DGS | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -49.42% | -61.83% | +12.41% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -7.95% | -10.06% | +2.11% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -28.79% | -19.31% | -9.48% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -28.79% | -24.86% | -3.93% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | — | -44.08% | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | 0.00% | -1.05% | +1.05% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -7.91% | -12.57% | +4.66% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.67% | 3.05% | -0.38% |
Volatility
AVUV vs. DGS - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Avantis US Small Cap Value ETF (AVUV) is 4.53%, while WisdomTree Emerging Markets SmallCap Dividend Fund (DGS) has a volatility of 7.30%. This indicates that AVUV experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than DGS based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| AVUV | DGS | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 4.53% | 7.30% | -2.77% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 11.34% | 14.27% | -2.93% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 17.63% | 16.60% | +1.03% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 22.75% | 15.08% | +7.67% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 28.26% | 17.39% | +10.87% |
AVUV vs. DGS - Expense Ratio Comparison
AVUV has a 0.25% expense ratio, which is lower than DGS's 0.58% expense ratio.
Dividends
AVUV vs. DGS - Dividend Comparison
AVUV's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.61%, less than DGS's 3.20% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AVUV Avantis US Small Cap Value ETF | 1.61% | 1.58% | 1.61% | 1.65% | 1.74% | 1.28% | 1.21% | 0.38% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
DGS WisdomTree Emerging Markets SmallCap Dividend Fund | 3.20% | 3.45% | 3.36% | 4.55% | 5.34% | 3.98% | 3.69% | 3.95% | 4.24% | 2.81% | 3.42% | 3.28% |
Frequently Asked Questions
AVUV and DGS have a correlation of 0.58, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
DGS has higher volatility (7.30%) compared to AVUV (4.53%). In terms of maximum drawdown, AVUV dropped -49.42% vs DGS's -61.83%.
On 5-year performance, AVUV leads with 11.57% vs 8.06% for DGS. On fees, AVUV is cheaper at 0.25% per year. On volatility, AVUV has been the lower-risk option at 4.53%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 5-year period, AVUV has performed better with a 11.57% return vs 8.06%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
AVUV is cheaper with a 0.25% expense ratio, compared with 0.58% for DGS.
DGS has the higher dividend yield at 3.20%, compared with 1.61% for AVUV.
AVUV is categorized as Small Cap Value Equities, while DGS is Emerging Markets Diversified. They also come from different issuers: Avantis and WisdomTree. Their fees differ too: 0.25% for AVUV and 0.58% for DGS.
AVUV currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.28 vs 1.44), 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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