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IEFA vs. AVDV
Performance
Return for Risk
Drawdowns
Volatility
Dividends

IEFA vs. AVDV

Last updated Jun 9, 2026

IEFA (iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF) and AVDV (Avantis International Small Cap Value ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - IEFA is a Foreign Large Cap Equities fund tracking the MSCI EAFE IMI Index (Net), while AVDV is a Foreign Small & Mid Cap Equities fund actively managed by Avantis. IEFA is passively managed, while AVDV is actively managed. Over the past 5 years, IEFA returned 7.82%/yr vs 13.33%/yr for AVDV. Their correlation of 0.92 suggests significant overlap in exposure. IEFA charges 0.07%/yr vs 0.36%/yr for AVDV.

Performance

IEFA vs. AVDV - Performance Comparison

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

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Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, IEFA achieves a 7.49% return, which is significantly lower than AVDV's 13.22% return.

IEFA

1D
0.63%
1M
-1.17%
YTD
7.49%
6M
10.04%
1Y
19.61%
3Y*
16.13%
5Y*
7.82%
10Y*
9.37%

AVDV

1D
0.26%
1M
-2.93%
YTD
13.22%
6M
16.29%
1Y
40.16%
3Y*
26.61%
5Y*
13.33%
10Y*
—
*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

IEFA vs. AVDV - Yearly Performance Comparison

2026 (YTD)2025202420232022202120202019
IEFA
iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF		7.49%32.08%3.26%17.95%-15.24%11.63%8.18%8.14%
AVDV
Avantis International Small Cap Value ETF		13.22%49.37%8.67%16.85%-11.47%15.80%5.01%12.05%

Correlation

The correlation between IEFA and AVDV is 0.90, indicating a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Combining them offers limited diversification - they tend to fall together during downturns.

Correlation
Correlation (1Y)
Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

0.90

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

0.91

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

0.93

Correlation (All Time)
Calculated using the full available price history since Sep 27, 2019

0.92

The correlation between IEFA and AVDV has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.90 to 0.93 - a consistent structural relationship.

IEFA vs. AVDV - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors
IEFA
AVDV

Financial Services

22.5%
13.7%

Industrials

20.1%
21.3%

Technology

10.8%
6.4%

Healthcare

9.5%
2.1%

Consumer Cyclical

8.0%
14.4%

Basic Materials

7.0%
22.5%

Consumer Defensive

6.6%
3.4%

Communication Services

4.4%
2.0%

Energy

3.8%
10.8%

Utilities

3.6%
1.7%

Real Estate

3.0%
1.1%

Financial Services

IEFA
22.5%
AVDV
13.7%

Industrials

IEFA
20.1%
AVDV
21.3%

Technology

IEFA
10.8%
AVDV
6.4%

Healthcare

IEFA
9.5%
AVDV
2.1%

Consumer Cyclical

IEFA
8.0%
AVDV
14.4%

Basic Materials

IEFA
7.0%
AVDV
22.5%

Consumer Defensive

IEFA
6.6%
AVDV
3.4%

Communication Services

IEFA
4.4%
AVDV
2.0%

Energy

IEFA
3.8%
AVDV
10.8%

Utilities

IEFA
3.6%
AVDV
1.7%

Real Estate

IEFA
3.0%
AVDV
1.1%

Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs

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

iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF

Avantis International Small Cap Value ETF

Often compared with IEFA:
IEFA vs. VEAIEFA vs. VXUSIEFA vs. EFAIEFA vs. FSPSXIEFA vs. IEMGIEFA vs. XEF.TOIEFA vs. IXUS
Often compared with AVDV:
AVDV vs. VXUSAVDV vs. AVDEAVDV vs. VSSAVDV vs. DISVXAVDV vs. AVDVXAVDV vs. ISVLAVDV vs. AVIV

Return for Risk

IEFA vs. AVDV — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.
IEFA
IEFA Risk / Return Rank: 4040
Overall Rank
IEFA Sharpe Ratio Rank: 4141
Sharpe Ratio Rank
IEFA Sortino Ratio Rank: 4040
Sortino Ratio Rank
IEFA Omega Ratio Rank: 4040
Omega Ratio Rank
IEFA Calmar Ratio Rank: 3838
Calmar Ratio Rank
IEFA Martin Ratio Rank: 4343
Martin Ratio Rank
AVDV
AVDV Risk / Return Rank: 7979
Overall Rank
AVDV Sharpe Ratio Rank: 8686
Sharpe Ratio Rank
AVDV Sortino Ratio Rank: 8383
Sortino Ratio Rank
AVDV Omega Ratio Rank: 8484
Omega Ratio Rank
AVDV Calmar Ratio Rank: 6767
Calmar Ratio Rank
AVDV Martin Ratio Rank: 7373
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.

IEFA vs. AVDV - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF (IEFA) and Avantis International Small Cap Value ETF (AVDV). 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.

IEFAAVDVDifference
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility
1.30
2.54

-1.24

Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk
1.88
3.35

-1.47

Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability

1.24

1.46

-0.22

Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown

1.71

3.06

-1.35

Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown

6.52

12.34

-5.83

Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

IEFA vs. AVDV - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current IEFA Sharpe Ratio is 1.30, which is lower than the AVDV Sharpe Ratio of 2.54. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of IEFA and AVDV, 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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Sharpe Ratios by Period

IEFAAVDVDifference

Sharpe Ratio (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

1.30

2.54

-1.24

Sharpe Ratio (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period

0.47

0.77

-0.30

Sharpe Ratio (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period

0.54

—

—

Sharpe Ratio (All Time)

Calculated using the full available price history

0.50

0.78

-0.27

Drawdowns

IEFA vs. AVDV - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum IEFA drawdown since its inception was -34.78%, smaller than the maximum AVDV drawdown of -43.01%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for IEFA and AVDV.

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Drawdown Indicators

IEFAAVDVDifference

Max Drawdown

Largest peak-to-trough decline

-34.78%

-43.01%

+8.23%

Max Drawdown (1Y)

Largest decline over 1 year

-11.50%

-13.19%

+1.69%

Max Drawdown (3Y)

Largest decline over 3 years

-13.76%

-14.17%

+0.41%

Max Drawdown (5Y)

Largest decline over 5 years

-30.41%

-28.08%

-2.33%

Max Drawdown (10Y)

Largest decline over 10 years

-34.78%

—

—

Current Drawdown

Current decline from peak

-2.44%

-3.74%

+1.30%

Average Drawdown

Average peak-to-trough decline

-6.69%

-6.77%

+0.08%

Ulcer Index

Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks

3.02%

3.26%

-0.24%

Volatility

IEFA vs. AVDV - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF (IEFA) is 4.54%, while Avantis International Small Cap Value ETF (AVDV) has a volatility of 5.49%. This indicates that IEFA experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than AVDV based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

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Volatility by Period

IEFAAVDVDifference

Volatility (1M)

Calculated over the trailing 1-month period

4.54%

5.49%

-0.95%

Volatility (6M)

Calculated over the trailing 6-month period

12.74%

13.49%

-0.75%

Volatility (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

15.22%

15.92%

-0.70%

Volatility (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized

16.55%

17.35%

-0.80%

Volatility (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized

17.32%

19.75%

-2.43%

IEFA vs. AVDV - Expense Ratio Comparison

IEFA has a 0.07% expense ratio, which is lower than AVDV's 0.36% expense ratio.

Dividends

IEFA vs. AVDV - Dividend Comparison

IEFA's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.30%, more than AVDV's 2.81% yield.

PositionTTM20252024202320222021202020192018201720162015
AVDV
Avantis International Small Cap Value ETF		2.81%3.05%4.31%3.29%3.17%2.39%1.67%0.36%0.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%
IEFA
iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF		3.30%3.55%3.47%3.20%2.70%3.32%1.90%3.18%3.46%2.57%2.96%2.63%

Frequently Asked Questions

IEFA and AVDV have a correlation of 0.90, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

AVDV has higher volatility (5.49%) compared to IEFA (4.54%). In terms of maximum drawdown, IEFA dropped -34.78% vs AVDV's -43.01%.

On 5-year performance, AVDV leads with 13.33% vs 7.82% for IEFA. On fees, IEFA is cheaper at 0.07% per year. On volatility, IEFA has been the lower-risk option at 4.54%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Over the 5-year period, AVDV has performed better with a 13.33% return vs 7.82%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

IEFA is cheaper with a 0.07% expense ratio, compared with 0.36% for AVDV.

IEFA has the higher dividend yield at 3.30%, compared with 2.81% for AVDV.

IEFA is categorized as Foreign Large Cap Equities, while AVDV is Foreign Small & Mid Cap Equities. They also come from different issuers: iShares and Avantis. Their fees differ too: 0.07% for IEFA and 0.36% for AVDV.

AVDV currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.54 vs 1.30), 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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