DFEV vs. AVEM

Last updated Apr 1, 2026

Compare and contrast key facts about Dimensional Emerging Markets Value ETF (DFEV) and Avantis Emerging Markets Equity ETF (AVEM).

DFEV and AVEM are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. DFEV is an actively managed fund by Dimensional. It was launched on Apr 26, 2022. 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

DFEV vs. AVEM - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Dimensional Emerging Markets Value ETF (DFEV) and Avantis Emerging Markets Equity ETF (AVEM). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

DFEV vs. AVEM - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022
DFEV Dimensional Emerging Markets Value ETF	6.14%	32.54%	7.26%	15.52%	-6.71%
AVEM Avantis Emerging Markets Equity ETF	4.70%	34.48%	7.49%	15.30%	-6.16%

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, DFEV achieves a 6.14% return, which is significantly higher than AVEM's 4.70% return.

DFEV

• 1D: 2.88%
• 1M: -8.08%
• YTD: 6.14%
• 6M: 12.96%
• 1Y: 36.04%
• 3Y*: 19.02%
• 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)

DFEV vs. AVEM - Expense Ratio Comparison

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

DFEV

Dimensional Emerging Markets Value ETF

AVEM

Avantis Emerging Markets Equity ETF

Return for Risk

DFEV vs. AVEM — Risk / Return Rank

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

DFEV

DFEV Risk / Return Rank: 91
DFEV Sharpe Ratio Rank: 92
DFEV Sortino Ratio Rank: 91
DFEV Omega Ratio Rank: 92
DFEV Calmar Ratio Rank: 88
DFEV Martin Ratio Rank: 90

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.

DFEV vs. AVEM - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Dimensional Emerging Markets Value ETF (DFEV) 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.

	DFEV	AVEM	Difference
Sharpe ratio Return per unit of total volatility	2.05	1.89	+0.16
Sortino ratio Return per unit of downside risk	2.63	2.48	+0.15
Omega ratio Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.40	1.37	+0.04
Calmar ratio Return relative to maximum drawdown	2.75	2.82	-0.07
Martin ratio Return relative to average drawdown	11.33	11.10	+0.23
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

DFEV vs. AVEM - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current DFEV Sharpe Ratio is 2.05, which is comparable to the AVEM Sharpe Ratio of 1.89. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of DFEV 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

	DFEV	AVEM	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	2.05	1.89	+0.16
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	—	0.39	—
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.83	0.51	+0.32

Correlation

The correlation between DFEV and AVEM is 0.96, 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

DFEV vs. AVEM - Dividend Comparison

DFEV's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.47%, more than AVEM's 2.41% yield.

	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019
DFEV Dimensional Emerging Markets Value ETF	2.47%	2.69%	3.17%	3.47%	3.35%	0.00%	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

DFEV vs. AVEM - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum DFEV drawdown since its inception was -18.49%, smaller than the maximum AVEM drawdown of -36.05%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for DFEV and AVEM.

Drawdown Indicators

	DFEV	AVEM	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-18.49%	-36.05%	+17.56%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-12.98%	-13.13%	+0.15%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	—	-34.00%	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-8.81%	-10.00%	+1.19%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-4.77%	-10.30%	+5.53%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	3.16%	3.34%	-0.18%

Volatility

DFEV vs. AVEM - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for Dimensional Emerging Markets Value ETF (DFEV) is 9.05%, while Avantis Emerging Markets Equity ETF (AVEM) has a volatility of 10.36%. This indicates that DFEV 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

	DFEV	AVEM	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	9.05%	10.36%	-1.31%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	12.83%	14.72%	-1.89%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	17.70%	20.03%	-2.33%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	15.99%	17.87%	-1.88%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	15.99%	20.37%	-4.38%