DAADX vs. AVEM

Last updated Apr 1, 2026

Compare and contrast key facts about DFA Emerging Markets ex China Core Equity Portfolio (DAADX) and Avantis Emerging Markets Equity ETF (AVEM).

DAADX is managed by Dimensional. It was launched on Nov 14, 2021. AVEM is a passively managed fund by American Century that tracks the performance of the MSCI Emerging Markets Index. It was launched on Sep 17, 2019.

Performance

DAADX vs. AVEM - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in DFA Emerging Markets ex China Core Equity Portfolio (DAADX) and Avantis Emerging Markets Equity ETF (AVEM). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

DAADX vs. AVEM - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021
DAADX DFA Emerging Markets ex China Core Equity Portfolio	3.12%	27.59%	3.44%	24.58%	-15.81%	0.20%
AVEM Avantis Emerging Markets Equity ETF	4.70%	34.48%	7.49%	15.30%	-18.15%	-2.04%

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, DAADX achieves a 3.12% return, which is significantly lower than AVEM's 4.70% return.

DAADX

• 1D: -1.26%
• 1M: -12.78%
• YTD: 3.12%
• 6M: 10.78%
• 1Y: 34.55%
• 3Y*: 17.39%
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

AVEM

• 1D: 3.60%
• 1M: -9.09%
• YTD: 4.70%
• 6M: 9.02%
• 1Y: 37.57%
• 3Y*: 18.51%
• 5Y*: 6.97%
• 10Y*: —

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

DAADX vs. AVEM - Expense Ratio Comparison

DAADX has a 0.43% expense ratio, which is higher than AVEM's 0.33% expense ratio.

DAADX

DFA Emerging Markets ex China Core Equity Portfolio

AVEM

Avantis Emerging Markets Equity ETF

Return for Risk

DAADX vs. AVEM — Risk / Return Rank

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

DAADX

DAADX Risk / Return Rank: 90
DAADX Sharpe Ratio Rank: 94
DAADX Sortino Ratio Rank: 92
DAADX Omega Ratio Rank: 90
DAADX Calmar Ratio Rank: 88
DAADX Martin Ratio Rank: 88

AVEM

AVEM Risk / Return Rank: 90
AVEM Sharpe Ratio Rank: 90
AVEM Sortino Ratio Rank: 90
AVEM Omega Ratio Rank: 90
AVEM Calmar Ratio Rank: 90
AVEM Martin Ratio Rank: 90

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.

DAADX vs. AVEM - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for DFA Emerging Markets ex China Core Equity Portfolio (DAADX) and Avantis Emerging Markets Equity ETF (AVEM). 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.

	DAADX	AVEM	Difference
Sharpe ratio Return per unit of total volatility	2.15	1.89	+0.27
Sortino ratio Return per unit of downside risk	2.71	2.48	+0.22
Omega ratio Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.41	1.37	+0.04
Calmar ratio Return relative to maximum drawdown	2.34	2.82	-0.48
Martin ratio Return relative to average drawdown	9.52	11.10	-1.58
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

DAADX vs. AVEM - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current DAADX Sharpe Ratio is 2.15, which is comparable to the AVEM Sharpe Ratio of 1.89. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of DAADX and AVEM, offering insights into how both investments have performed under varying market conditions. These values are calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	DAADX	AVEM	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	2.15	1.89	+0.27
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	—	0.39	—
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.62	0.51	+0.11

Correlation

The correlation between DAADX and AVEM is 0.85, which is considered to be high. That indicates a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Having highly-correlated positions in a portfolio may signal a lack of diversification, potentially leading to increased risk during market downturns.

Dividends

DAADX vs. AVEM - Dividend Comparison

DAADX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.43%, which matches AVEM's 2.41% yield.

	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019
DAADX DFA Emerging Markets ex China Core Equity Portfolio	2.43%	2.28%	2.64%	2.82%	3.02%	0.30%	0.00%	0.00%
AVEM Avantis Emerging Markets Equity ETF	2.41%	2.45%	3.17%	3.06%	2.77%	2.61%	1.60%	0.35%

Drawdowns

DAADX vs. AVEM - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum DAADX drawdown since its inception was -24.98%, smaller than the maximum AVEM drawdown of -36.05%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for DAADX and AVEM.

Drawdown Indicators

	DAADX	AVEM	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-24.98%	-36.05%	+11.07%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-13.14%	-13.13%	-0.01%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	—	-34.00%	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-13.14%	-10.00%	-3.14%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-6.94%	-10.30%	+3.36%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	3.23%	3.34%	-0.11%

Volatility

DAADX vs. AVEM - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for DFA Emerging Markets ex China Core Equity Portfolio (DAADX) is 8.67%, while Avantis Emerging Markets Equity ETF (AVEM) has a volatility of 10.36%. This indicates that DAADX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than AVEM based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	DAADX	AVEM	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	8.67%	10.36%	-1.69%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	12.25%	14.72%	-2.47%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	15.92%	20.03%	-4.11%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	13.88%	17.87%	-3.99%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	13.88%	20.37%	-6.49%