VA.TO vs. AVDV

Last updated Jul 25, 2026

VA.TO (Vanguard FTSE Developed Asia Pacific All Cap Index ETF) and AVDV (Avantis International Small Cap Value ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - VA.TO is a Asia Pacific Equities fund tracking the FTSE Developed Asia Pacific All Cap Index, while AVDV is a Foreign Small & Mid Cap Equities fund actively managed by Avantis. VA.TO is passively managed, while AVDV is actively managed. Over the past 5 years, VA.TO returned 11.43%/yr vs 16.54%/yr for AVDV. A 0.61 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. VA.TO charges 0.22%/yr vs 0.36%/yr for AVDV.

Performance

VA.TO vs. AVDV - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a CA$10,000 investment in Vanguard FTSE Developed Asia Pacific All Cap Index ETF (VA.TO) and Avantis International Small Cap Value ETF (AVDV). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Different Trading Currencies

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

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, VA.TO achieves a 23.70% return, which is significantly higher than AVDV's 15.66% return.

VA.TO

• 1D: -0.84%
• 1M: -5.85%
• 6M: 15.34%
• YTD: 23.70%
• 1Y: 37.94%
• 3Y*: 21.27%
• 5Y*: 11.43%
• 10Y*: 10.05%
• ALL TIME*: 9.85%

AVDV

• 1D: 0.64%
• 1M: -0.81%
• 6M: 5.99%
• YTD: 15.66%
• 1Y: 34.39%
• 3Y*: 26.97%
• 5Y*: 16.54%
• 10Y*: —
• ALL TIME*: 15.83%

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

Liquidity Comparison

Position	Avg. Volume Value (2W)	Avg. Volume Value (1M)	Avg. Volume Value (3M)
AVDV Avantis International Small Cap Value ETF	CA$103.16M	CA$146.40M	CA$118.49M
VA.TO Vanguard FTSE Developed Asia Pacific All Cap Index ETF	CA$792.11K	CA$994.16K	CA$965.91K

VA.TO vs. AVDV - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019
VA.TO Vanguard FTSE Developed Asia Pacific All Cap Index ETF	23.70%	26.08%	10.31%	12.16%	-9.26%	0.89%	13.72%	4.36%
AVDV Avantis International Small Cap Value ETF	15.66%	42.55%	17.87%	14.07%	-5.86%	15.74%	2.51%	10.13%

Correlation

The correlation between VA.TO and AVDV is 0.69, 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	0.69
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.63
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.60
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Sep 26, 2019	0.61

The correlation between VA.TO and AVDV has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.60 to 0.69 - a consistent structural relationship.

VA.TO vs. AVDV - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors	VA.TO	AVDV
Technology	28.1%	7.6%
Industrials	18.6%	22.7%
Financial Services	17.9%	13.6%
Consumer Cyclical	9.4%	15.9%
Basic Materials	7.1%	20.3%
Communication Services	4.9%	2.2%
Healthcare	4.4%	2.4%
Real Estate	3.8%	1.2%
Consumer Defensive	3.2%	3.7%
Utilities	1.4%	1.5%
Energy	1.3%	9.1%

Return for Risk

VA.TO vs. AVDV — Risk / Return Rank

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

VA.TO

VA.TO Risk / Return Rank: 75
VA.TO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 73
VA.TO Sortino Ratio Rank: 68
VA.TO Omega Ratio Rank: 75
VA.TO Calmar Ratio Rank: 82
VA.TO Martin Ratio Rank: 77

AVDV

AVDV Risk / Return Rank: 73
AVDV Sharpe Ratio Rank: 78
AVDV Sortino Ratio Rank: 76
AVDV Omega Ratio Rank: 76
AVDV Calmar Ratio Rank: 65
AVDV Martin Ratio Rank: 68

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.

VA.TO vs. AVDV - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard FTSE Developed Asia Pacific All Cap Index ETF (VA.TO) 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.

	VA.TO	AVDV	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	1.67	2.04	-0.37
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	2.22	2.75	-0.53
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.32	1.35	-0.04
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	3.15	2.70	+0.45
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	9.86	10.50	-0.64

VA.TO vs. AVDV - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current VA.TO Sharpe Ratio is 1.67, which is comparable to the AVDV Sharpe Ratio of 2.04. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of VA.TO 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.

Drawdowns

VA.TO vs. AVDV - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum VA.TO drawdown since its inception was -25.81%, smaller than the maximum AVDV drawdown of -37.43%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VA.TO and AVDV.

Drawdown Indicators

	VA.TO	AVDV	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-25.81%	-37.43%	+11.62%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-12.09%	-12.81%	+0.72%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-13.99%	-14.53%	+0.54%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-24.73%	-22.53%	-2.20%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-25.81%	—	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-10.02%	-3.56%	-6.46%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-5.53%	-4.98%	-0.55%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	3.86%	3.28%	+0.58%

Volatility

VA.TO vs. AVDV - Volatility Comparison

Vanguard FTSE Developed Asia Pacific All Cap Index ETF (VA.TO) has a higher volatility of 7.69% compared to Avantis International Small Cap Value ETF (AVDV) at 4.77%. This indicates that VA.TO'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.

Volatility by Period

	VA.TO	AVDV	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	7.69%	4.77%	+2.92%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	20.72%	14.83%	+5.89%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	22.77%	16.95%	+5.82%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	15.84%	18.20%	-2.36%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	15.60%	20.40%	-4.80%

VA.TO vs. AVDV - Expense Ratio Comparison

VA.TO has a 0.22% expense ratio, which is lower than AVDV's 0.36% expense ratio.

Dividends

VA.TO vs. AVDV - Dividend Comparison

VA.TO's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.78%, less than AVDV's 2.81% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
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%
VA.TO Vanguard FTSE Developed Asia Pacific All Cap Index ETF	1.78%	2.17%	2.31%	2.57%	3.10%	2.35%	2.14%	2.55%	2.89%	1.71%	1.63%	1.93%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both VA.TO and AVDV in my portfolio?

VA.TO and AVDV have a correlation of 0.69, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which ETF is better, VA.TO or AVDV?

On fees, VA.TO is cheaper at 0.22% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF is cheaper, VA.TO or AVDV?

VA.TO is cheaper with a 0.22% expense ratio, compared with 0.36% for AVDV.

What is the main difference between VA.TO and AVDV?

VA.TO is categorized as Asia Pacific Equities, while AVDV is Foreign Small & Mid Cap Equities. They also come from different issuers: Vanguard and Avantis. Their fees differ too: 0.22% for VA.TO and 0.36% for AVDV.