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AVUV vs. XEF.TO
Performance
Return for Risk
Drawdowns
Volatility
Dividends

AVUV vs. XEF.TO

Last updated Jun 13, 2026

AVUV (Avantis US Small Cap Value ETF) and XEF.TO (iShares Core MSCI EAFE IMI Index ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - AVUV is a Small Cap Value Equities fund actively managed by Avantis, while XEF.TO is a Foreign Large Cap Equities fund tracking the MSCI EAFE Investable Market Index (CAD). AVUV is actively managed, while XEF.TO is passively managed. Over the past 5 years, AVUV returned 11.57%/yr vs 7.78%/yr for XEF.TO. A 0.53 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. AVUV charges 0.25%/yr vs 0.23%/yr for XEF.TO.

Performance

AVUV vs. XEF.TO - Performance Comparison

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

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Different Trading Currencies

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

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, AVUV achieves a 22.73% return, which is significantly higher than XEF.TO's 9.29% return.

AVUV

1D
0.96%
1M
5.11%
YTD
22.73%
6M
19.51%
1Y
42.12%
3Y*
19.24%
5Y*
11.57%
10Y*
—

XEF.TO

1D
0.38%
1M
1.10%
YTD
9.29%
6M
11.08%
1Y
22.31%
3Y*
16.32%
5Y*
7.78%
10Y*
9.69%
*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

AVUV vs. XEF.TO - Yearly Performance Comparison

2026 (YTD)2025202420232022202120202019
AVUV
Avantis US Small Cap Value ETF		22.73%7.44%9.28%22.82%-4.91%42.20%6.43%8.54%
XEF.TO
iShares Core MSCI EAFE IMI Index ETF		9.29%31.70%3.30%18.02%-14.92%10.41%8.71%7.71%

Correlation

The correlation between AVUV and XEF.TO is 0.53, 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

0.53

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

0.52

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

0.52

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

0.53

The correlation between AVUV and XEF.TO has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.52 to 0.53 - a consistent structural relationship.

AVUV vs. XEF.TO - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors
AVUV
XEF.TO

Financial Services

25.8%
22.9%

Energy

18.2%
4.0%

Consumer Cyclical

18.0%
8.2%

Industrials

13.9%
20.5%

Technology

7.0%
10.2%

Basic Materials

4.9%
6.6%

Consumer Defensive

4.5%
6.4%

Healthcare

4.2%
9.8%

Communication Services

2.8%
4.4%

Real Estate

0.7%
3.1%

Utilities

0.1%
3.8%

Financial Services

AVUV
25.8%
XEF.TO
22.9%

Energy

AVUV
18.2%
XEF.TO
4.0%

Consumer Cyclical

AVUV
18.0%
XEF.TO
8.2%

Industrials

AVUV
13.9%
XEF.TO
20.5%

Technology

AVUV
7.0%
XEF.TO
10.2%

Basic Materials

AVUV
4.9%
XEF.TO
6.6%

Consumer Defensive

AVUV
4.5%
XEF.TO
6.4%

Healthcare

AVUV
4.2%
XEF.TO
9.8%

Communication Services

AVUV
2.8%
XEF.TO
4.4%

Real Estate

AVUV
0.7%
XEF.TO
3.1%

Utilities

AVUV
0.1%
XEF.TO
3.8%

Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs

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

Avantis US Small Cap Value ETF

iShares Core MSCI EAFE IMI Index ETF

Often compared with AVUV:
AVUV vs. VBRAVUV vs. VTIAVUV vs. IWMAVUV vs. IJRAVUV vs. DFSVAVUV vs. VIOVAVUV vs. AVUVX
Often compared with XEF.TO:
XEF.TO vs. XEC.TOXEF.TO vs. VIU.TOXEF.TO vs. ZEA.TOXEF.TO vs. XFH.TOXEF.TO vs. IEFAXEF.TO vs. XIC.TOXEF.TO vs. XEF-U.TO

Return for Risk

AVUV vs. XEF.TO — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.
AVUV
AVUV Risk / Return Rank: 8484
Overall Rank
AVUV Sharpe Ratio Rank: 8383
Sharpe Ratio Rank
AVUV Sortino Ratio Rank: 8484
Sortino Ratio Rank
AVUV Omega Ratio Rank: 7777
Omega Ratio Rank
AVUV Calmar Ratio Rank: 9191
Calmar Ratio Rank
AVUV Martin Ratio Rank: 8585
Martin Ratio Rank
XEF.TO
XEF.TO Risk / Return Rank: 5555
Overall Rank
XEF.TO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 5656
Sharpe Ratio Rank
XEF.TO Sortino Ratio Rank: 5858
Sortino Ratio Rank
XEF.TO Omega Ratio Rank: 5757
Omega Ratio Rank
XEF.TO Calmar Ratio Rank: 4848
Calmar Ratio Rank
XEF.TO Martin Ratio Rank: 5555
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.

AVUV vs. XEF.TO - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Avantis US Small Cap Value ETF (AVUV) and iShares Core MSCI EAFE IMI Index ETF (XEF.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.

AVUVXEF.TODifference
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility
2.28
1.41

+0.88

Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk
3.24
2.07

+1.17

Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability

1.39

1.26

+0.13

Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown

5.06

1.84

+3.22

Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown

15.09

7.14

+7.95

AVUV vs. XEF.TO - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current AVUV Sharpe Ratio is 2.28, which is higher than the XEF.TO Sharpe Ratio of 1.41. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of AVUV and XEF.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

AVUV vs. XEF.TO - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum AVUV drawdown since its inception was -49.42%, which is greater than XEF.TO's maximum drawdown of -34.33%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for AVUV and XEF.TO.

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Drawdown Indicators

AVUVXEF.TODifference

Max Drawdown

Largest peak-to-trough decline

-49.42%

-34.33%

-15.09%

Max Drawdown (1Y)

Largest decline over 1 year

-7.95%

-11.58%

+3.63%

Max Drawdown (3Y)

Largest decline over 3 years

-28.79%

-13.93%

-14.86%

Max Drawdown (5Y)

Largest decline over 5 years

-28.79%

-31.05%

+2.26%

Max Drawdown (10Y)

Largest decline over 10 years

—

-34.33%

—

Current Drawdown

Current decline from peak

0.00%

-0.91%

+0.91%

Average Drawdown

Average peak-to-trough decline

-7.91%

-7.13%

-0.78%

Ulcer Index

Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks

2.67%

2.99%

-0.32%

Volatility

AVUV vs. XEF.TO - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for Avantis US Small Cap Value ETF (AVUV) is 4.53%, while iShares Core MSCI EAFE IMI Index ETF (XEF.TO) has a volatility of 5.32%. This indicates that AVUV experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than XEF.TO based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

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Volatility by Period

AVUVXEF.TODifference

Volatility (1M)

Calculated over the trailing 1-month period

4.53%

5.32%

-0.79%

Volatility (6M)

Calculated over the trailing 6-month period

11.34%

12.60%

-1.26%

Volatility (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

17.63%

15.18%

+2.45%

Volatility (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized

22.75%

15.04%

+7.71%

Volatility (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized

28.26%

16.23%

+12.03%

AVUV vs. XEF.TO - Expense Ratio Comparison

AVUV has a 0.25% expense ratio, which is higher than XEF.TO's 0.23% expense ratio. However, both funds are considered low-cost compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios usually range from 0.3% to 0.9%.

Dividends

AVUV vs. XEF.TO - Dividend Comparison

AVUV's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.61%, less than XEF.TO's 2.18% yield.

PositionTTM20252024202320222021202020192018201720162015
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%
XEF.TO
iShares Core MSCI EAFE IMI Index ETF		2.18%2.43%2.76%2.75%2.93%2.42%1.93%2.71%2.75%2.11%2.45%2.42%

Frequently Asked Questions

AVUV and XEF.TO have a correlation of 0.53, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

On fees, XEF.TO is cheaper at 0.23% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

XEF.TO is cheaper with a 0.23% expense ratio, compared with 0.25% for AVUV.

AVUV is categorized as Small Cap Value Equities, while XEF.TO is Foreign Large Cap Equities. They also come from different issuers: Avantis and iShares. Their fees differ too: 0.25% for AVUV and 0.23% for XEF.TO.

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