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VBR vs. SVAL
Performance
Return for Risk
Drawdowns
Volatility
Dividends

VBR vs. SVAL

Last updated Aug 2, 2026
Documentation

VBR (Vanguard Small-Cap Value ETF) and SVAL (iShares US Small Cap Value Factor ETF) are both Small Cap Value Equities funds - VBR tracks the CRSP US Small Cap Value Index while SVAL tracks the Russell 2000 Focused Value Select Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 5 years, VBR returned 9.74%/yr vs 9.86%/yr for SVAL. Their correlation of 0.93 means they have usually moved in the same direction. VBR charges 0.05%/yr vs 0.20%/yr for SVAL.

Performance

VBR vs. SVAL - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Vanguard Small-Cap Value ETF (VBR) and iShares US Small Cap Value Factor ETF (SVAL). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

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Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, VBR achieves a 16.70% return, which is significantly lower than SVAL's 25.30% return.

VBR

1D
-0.20%
1M
0.58%
6M
10.78%
YTD
16.70%
1Y
27.67%
3Y*
14.39%
5Y*
9.74%
10Y*
10.75%
ALL TIME*
9.66%

SVAL

1D
0.26%
1M
2.62%
6M
17.08%
YTD
25.30%
1Y
43.73%
3Y*
16.07%
5Y*
9.86%
10Y*
—
ALL TIME*
17.62%
*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

Liquidity Comparison

PositionAvg. Volume Value (2W)Avg. Volume Value (1M)Avg. Volume Value (3M)

SVAL

iShares US Small Cap Value Factor ETF
$620.93K$633.76K$608.86K

VBR

Vanguard Small-Cap Value ETF
$56.96M$55.85M$67.93M

VBR vs. SVAL - Yearly Performance Comparison

2026 (YTD)202520242023202220212020
VBR
Vanguard Small-Cap Value ETF		16.70%9.09%12.40%16.00%-9.38%28.08%26.57%
SVAL
iShares US Small Cap Value Factor ETF		25.30%8.23%7.54%12.27%-10.15%33.18%29.82%

Correlation

The correlation between VBR and SVAL is 0.89, meaning they have usually moved in the same direction, including during past declines.

Correlation
Correlation (1Y)
Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most.

0.89

Correlation (3Y)
Balances recent behavior with more history.

0.91

Correlation (5Y)
Shows whether the relationship held over a longer period.

0.93

Correlation (All Time)
Calculated using the full available price history since Oct 29, 2020

0.93

The correlation between VBR and SVAL has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.89 to 0.93 - a consistent structural relationship.

VBR vs. SVAL - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors
VBR
SVAL

Financial Services

17.5%
22.7%

Industrials

17.3%
12.9%

Consumer Cyclical

13.6%
11.8%

Real Estate

11.1%
4.7%

Technology

10.9%
10.4%

Healthcare

8.4%
12.0%

Basic Materials

5.3%
4.7%

Utilities

4.9%
3.4%

Energy

4.3%
10.0%

Consumer Defensive

4.2%
4.3%

Communication Services

2.4%
3.0%

Financial Services

VBR
17.5%
SVAL
22.7%

Industrials

VBR
17.3%
SVAL
12.9%

Consumer Cyclical

VBR
13.6%
SVAL
11.8%

Real Estate

VBR
11.1%
SVAL
4.7%

Technology

VBR
10.9%
SVAL
10.4%

Healthcare

VBR
8.4%
SVAL
12.0%

Basic Materials

VBR
5.3%
SVAL
4.7%

Utilities

VBR
4.9%
SVAL
3.4%

Energy

VBR
4.3%
SVAL
10.0%

Consumer Defensive

VBR
4.2%
SVAL
4.3%

Communication Services

VBR
2.4%
SVAL
3.0%

Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs

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

Vanguard Small-Cap Value ETF

iShares US Small Cap Value Factor ETF

Often compared with VBR:
VBR vs. AVUVVBR vs. VBVBR vs. VOOVBR vs. VBKVBR vs. VTIVBR vs. VIOVVBR vs. VSIAX
Often compared with SVAL:
SVAL vs. AVUVSVAL vs. XSVMSVAL vs. SPYVSVAL vs. IJSSVAL vs. SLYVSVAL vs. IWOSVAL vs. VDC

Return for Risk

VBR vs. SVAL — Risk / Return Rank

Compare historical risk-adjusted metric ranks over the past 12 months.
VBR
VBR Risk / Return Rank: 7979
Overall Rank
VBR Sharpe Ratio Rank: 7777
Sharpe Ratio Rank
VBR Sortino Ratio Rank: 8080
Sortino Ratio Rank
VBR Omega Ratio Rank: 7575
Omega Ratio Rank
VBR Calmar Ratio Rank: 8181
Calmar Ratio Rank
VBR Martin Ratio Rank: 8282
Martin Ratio Rank
SVAL
SVAL Risk / Return Rank: 9292
Overall Rank
SVAL Sharpe Ratio Rank: 9292
Sharpe Ratio Rank
SVAL Sortino Ratio Rank: 9393
Sortino Ratio Rank
SVAL Omega Ratio Rank: 9191
Omega Ratio Rank
SVAL Calmar Ratio Rank: 9393
Calmar Ratio Rank
SVAL Martin Ratio Rank: 9292
Martin Ratio Rank
The rank (0–100) uses a weighted average of the Sharpe, Sortino, Omega, Calmar, and Martin percentile ranks for the trailing 12 months. Higher means stronger historical risk-adjusted performance within the peer group.

VBR vs. SVAL - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Small-Cap Value ETF (VBR) and iShares US Small Cap Value Factor ETF (SVAL). 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.

VBRSVALDifference
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility
1.75
2.41

-0.67

Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk
2.58
3.51

-0.93

Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability

1.31

1.42

-0.11

Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown

2.93

4.59

-1.66

Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown

10.70

15.49

-4.79

VBR vs. SVAL - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current VBR Sharpe Ratio is 1.75, which is comparable to the SVAL Sharpe Ratio of 2.41. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of VBR and SVAL, 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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Drawdowns

VBR vs. SVAL - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum VBR drawdown since its inception was -61.98%, which is greater than SVAL's maximum drawdown of -27.44%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VBR and SVAL.

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Drawdown Indicators

VBRSVALDifference

Max Drawdown

Largest peak-to-trough decline

-61.98%

-27.44%

-34.54%

Max Drawdown (1Y)

Largest decline over 1 year

-8.85%

-8.94%

+0.09%

Max Drawdown (3Y)

Largest decline over 3 years

-24.19%

-27.44%

+3.25%

Max Drawdown (5Y)

Largest decline over 5 years

-24.19%

-27.44%

+3.25%

Max Drawdown (10Y)

Largest decline over 10 years

-45.28%

—

—

Current Drawdown

Current decline from peak

-1.40%

-0.79%

-0.61%

Average Drawdown

Average peak-to-trough decline

-8.21%

-8.29%

+0.08%

Ulcer Index

Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks

2.42%

2.64%

-0.22%

Volatility

VBR vs. SVAL - Volatility Comparison

Vanguard Small-Cap Value ETF (VBR) has a higher volatility of 3.36% compared to iShares US Small Cap Value Factor ETF (SVAL) at 3.19%. This indicates that VBR's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than SVAL based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

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Volatility by Period

VBRSVALDifference

Volatility (1M)

Calculated over the trailing 1-month period

3.36%

3.19%

+0.17%

Volatility (6M)

Calculated over the trailing 6-month period

10.22%

10.99%

-0.77%

Volatility (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

14.90%

17.03%

-2.13%

Volatility (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized

19.56%

22.01%

-2.45%

Volatility (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized

21.66%

23.04%

-1.38%

VBR vs. SVAL - Expense Ratio Comparison

VBR has a 0.05% expense ratio, which is lower than SVAL's 0.20% expense ratio. Despite the difference, both funds are considered low-cost compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios usually range from 0.3% to 0.9%.

Dividends

VBR vs. SVAL - Dividend Comparison

VBR's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.77%, less than SVAL's 2.04% yield.

PositionTTM20252024202320222021202020192018201720162015
SVAL
iShares US Small Cap Value Factor ETF		2.04%2.33%1.82%2.25%2.09%2.33%0.28%0.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%
VBR
Vanguard Small-Cap Value ETF		1.77%1.95%1.98%2.12%2.03%1.75%1.68%2.06%2.35%1.79%1.77%1.99%

Frequently Asked Questions

VBR and SVAL have a correlation of 0.89, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

VBR has higher volatility (3.36%) compared to SVAL (3.19%). In terms of maximum drawdown, VBR dropped -61.98% vs SVAL's -27.44%.

On 5-year performance, SVAL leads with 9.86% vs 9.74% for VBR. On fees, VBR is cheaper at 0.05% per year. On volatility, SVAL has been the lower-risk option at 3.19%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Over the 5-year period, SVAL has performed better with a 9.86% return vs 9.74%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

VBR is cheaper with a 0.05% expense ratio, compared with 0.20% for SVAL.

SVAL has the higher dividend yield at 2.04%, compared with 1.77% for VBR.

VBR tracks CRSP US Small Cap Value Index, while SVAL tracks Russell 2000 Focused Value Select Index. They also come from different issuers: Vanguard and iShares. Their fees differ too: 0.05% for VBR and 0.20% for SVAL.

SVAL currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.41 vs 1.75), 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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