OUNZ vs. AVDV
OUNZ (VanEck Merk Gold ETF) and AVDV (Avantis International Small Cap Value ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - OUNZ is a Gold fund tracking the LBMA Gold Price PM ($/ozt), while AVDV is a Foreign Small & Mid Cap Equities fund actively managed by Avantis. OUNZ is passively managed, while AVDV is actively managed. Over the past 5 years, OUNZ returned 17.02%/yr vs 14.03%/yr for AVDV. At a 0.33 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. OUNZ charges 0.25%/yr vs 0.36%/yr for AVDV.
Performance
OUNZ vs. AVDV - Performance Comparison
Loading charts...
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, OUNZ achieves a -7.16% return, which is significantly lower than AVDV's 12.46% return.
OUNZ
- 1D
- -0.23%
- 1M
- -5.03%
- 6M
- -12.66%
- YTD
- -7.16%
- 1Y
- 19.37%
- 3Y*
- 26.53%
- 5Y*
- 17.02%
- 10Y*
- 11.37%
- ALL TIME*
- 9.39%
AVDV
- 1D
- 2.02%
- 1M
- -2.38%
- 6M
- 7.52%
- YTD
- 12.46%
- 1Y
- 32.73%
- 3Y*
- 24.42%
- 5Y*
- 14.03%
- 10Y*
- —
- ALL TIME*
- 14.83%
OUNZ vs. AVDV - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
OUNZ VanEck Merk Gold ETF | -7.16% | 63.95% | 26.75% | 12.83% | -0.51% | -4.00% | 24.71% | 0.88% |
AVDV Avantis International Small Cap Value ETF | 12.46% | 49.37% | 8.67% | 16.85% | -11.47% | 15.80% | 5.01% | 11.78% |
Correlation
The correlation between OUNZ and AVDV is 0.56, 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 | 0.56 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.45 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.40 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Sep 26, 2019 | 0.33 |
Over the past year, OUNZ and AVDV have become more correlated (0.56) than their long-term average of 0.33, meaning their price movements have been converging.
Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs
Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.
Return for Risk
OUNZ vs. AVDV — Risk / Return Rank
OUNZ
AVDV
OUNZ vs. AVDV - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for VanEck Merk Gold ETF (OUNZ) 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.
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.
| OUNZ | AVDV | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -1.27 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -1.63 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.15 | 1.35 | -0.20 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 0.74 | 2.49 | -1.75 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 1.73 | 9.21 | -7.48 |
Loading charts...
Drawdowns
OUNZ vs. AVDV - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum OUNZ drawdown since its inception was -26.31%, smaller than the maximum AVDV drawdown of -43.01%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for OUNZ and AVDV.
Loading charts...
Drawdown Indicators
| OUNZ | AVDV | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -26.31% | -43.01% | +16.70% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -26.31% | -13.19% | -13.12% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -26.31% | -14.17% | -12.14% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -26.31% | -28.08% | +1.77% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -26.31% | — | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -25.79% | -4.39% | -21.40% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -7.73% | -6.72% | -1.01% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 11.23% | 3.56% | +7.67% |
Volatility
OUNZ vs. AVDV - Volatility Comparison
VanEck Merk Gold ETF (OUNZ) has a higher volatility of 6.41% compared to Avantis International Small Cap Value ETF (AVDV) at 4.98%. This indicates that OUNZ's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than AVDV based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
Loading charts...
Volatility by Period
| OUNZ | AVDV | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 6.41% | 4.98% | +1.43% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 23.99% | 14.58% | +9.41% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 27.86% | 16.73% | +11.13% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 18.33% | 17.38% | +0.95% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 16.12% | 19.72% | -3.60% |
OUNZ vs. AVDV - Expense Ratio Comparison
OUNZ has a 0.25% expense ratio, which is lower than AVDV's 0.36% expense ratio.
Dividends
OUNZ vs. AVDV - Dividend Comparison
OUNZ has not paid dividends to shareholders, while AVDV's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.81%.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AVDV Avantis International Small Cap Value ETF | 2.81% | 3.05% | 4.31% | 3.29% | 3.17% | 2.39% | 1.67% | 0.36% |
OUNZ VanEck Merk Gold ETF | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Frequently Asked Questions
OUNZ and AVDV have a correlation of 0.56, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
OUNZ has higher volatility (6.41%) compared to AVDV (4.98%). In terms of maximum drawdown, OUNZ dropped -26.31% vs AVDV's -43.01%.
On 5-year performance, OUNZ leads with 17.02% vs 14.03% for AVDV. On fees, OUNZ is cheaper at 0.25% per year. On volatility, AVDV has been the lower-risk option at 4.98%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 5-year period, OUNZ has performed better with a 17.02% return vs 14.03%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
OUNZ is cheaper with a 0.25% expense ratio, compared with 0.36% for AVDV.
AVDV has the higher dividend yield at 2.81%, compared with 0.00% for OUNZ.
OUNZ is categorized as Gold, while AVDV is Foreign Small & Mid Cap Equities. They also come from different issuers: VanEck and Avantis. Their fees differ too: 0.25% for OUNZ and 0.36% for AVDV.
AVDV currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.97 vs 0.70), 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.
Find the right allocation for OUNZ and AVDV
Add both to a portfolio and optimize allocations for your target — whether that's maximizing returns, minimizing drawdowns, or balancing risk across holdings.
Open Portfolio Optimizer