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XEF.TO vs. AVUV
Performance
Return for Risk
Drawdowns
Volatility
Dividends

XEF.TO vs. AVUV

Last updated Jun 13, 2026

XEF.TO (iShares Core MSCI EAFE IMI Index ETF) and AVUV (Avantis US Small Cap Value ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - XEF.TO is a Foreign Large Cap Equities fund tracking the MSCI EAFE Investable Market Index (CAD), while AVUV is a Small Cap Value Equities fund actively managed by Avantis. XEF.TO is passively managed, while AVUV is actively managed. Over the past 5 years, XEF.TO returned 10.94%/yr vs 14.84%/yr for AVUV. A 0.56 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. XEF.TO charges 0.23%/yr vs 0.25%/yr for AVUV.

Performance

XEF.TO vs. AVUV - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a CA$10,000 investment in iShares Core MSCI EAFE IMI Index ETF (XEF.TO) and Avantis US Small Cap Value ETF (AVUV). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

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Different Trading Currencies

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

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, XEF.TO achieves a 11.50% return, which is significantly lower than AVUV's 25.22% return.

XEF.TO

1D
0.56%
1M
3.07%
YTD
11.50%
6M
12.67%
1Y
25.69%
3Y*
18.06%
5Y*
10.94%
10Y*
10.64%

AVUV

1D
1.14%
1M
7.16%
YTD
25.22%
6M
21.21%
1Y
46.05%
3Y*
21.03%
5Y*
14.84%
10Y*
—
*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

XEF.TO vs. AVUV - Yearly Performance Comparison

2026 (YTD)2025202420232022202120202019
XEF.TO
iShares Core MSCI EAFE IMI Index ETF		11.50%25.69%12.04%15.21%-9.53%10.35%6.13%6.24%
AVUV
Avantis US Small Cap Value ETF		25.22%2.53%18.54%19.89%1.12%42.12%3.91%6.94%

Correlation

The correlation between XEF.TO and AVUV 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

0.54

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

0.55

Correlation (All Time)
Calculated using the full available price history since Sep 26, 2019

0.56

The correlation between XEF.TO and AVUV has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.54 to 0.56 - a consistent structural relationship.

XEF.TO vs. AVUV - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors
XEF.TO
AVUV

Financial Services

22.9%
25.8%

Industrials

20.5%
13.9%

Technology

10.2%
7.0%

Healthcare

9.8%
4.2%

Consumer Cyclical

8.2%
18.0%

Basic Materials

6.6%
4.9%

Consumer Defensive

6.4%
4.5%

Communication Services

4.4%
2.8%

Energy

4.0%
18.2%

Utilities

3.8%
0.1%

Real Estate

3.1%
0.7%

Financial Services

XEF.TO
22.9%
AVUV
25.8%

Industrials

XEF.TO
20.5%
AVUV
13.9%

Technology

XEF.TO
10.2%
AVUV
7.0%

Healthcare

XEF.TO
9.8%
AVUV
4.2%

Consumer Cyclical

XEF.TO
8.2%
AVUV
18.0%

Basic Materials

XEF.TO
6.6%
AVUV
4.9%

Consumer Defensive

XEF.TO
6.4%
AVUV
4.5%

Communication Services

XEF.TO
4.4%
AVUV
2.8%

Energy

XEF.TO
4.0%
AVUV
18.2%

Utilities

XEF.TO
3.8%
AVUV
0.1%

Real Estate

XEF.TO
3.1%
AVUV
0.7%

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 IMI Index ETF

Avantis US Small Cap Value ETF

Often compared with XEF.TO:
XEF.TO vs. XEC.TOXEF.TO vs. VIU.TOXEF.TO vs. ZEA.TOXEF.TO vs. XFH.TOXEF.TO vs. IEFAXEF.TO vs. XIC.TOXEF.TO vs. XEF-U.TO
Often compared with AVUV:
AVUV vs. VBRAVUV vs. VTIAVUV vs. IWMAVUV vs. IJRAVUV vs. DFSVAVUV vs. VIOVAVUV vs. AVUVX

Return for Risk

XEF.TO vs. AVUV — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.
XEF.TO
XEF.TO Risk / Return Rank: 5555
Overall Rank
XEF.TO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 5656
Sharpe Ratio Rank
XEF.TO Sortino Ratio Rank: 5858
Sortino Ratio Rank
XEF.TO Omega Ratio Rank: 5757
Omega Ratio Rank
XEF.TO Calmar Ratio Rank: 4848
Calmar Ratio Rank
XEF.TO Martin Ratio Rank: 5555
Martin Ratio Rank
AVUV
AVUV Risk / Return Rank: 8484
Overall Rank
AVUV Sharpe Ratio Rank: 8383
Sharpe Ratio Rank
AVUV Sortino Ratio Rank: 8484
Sortino Ratio Rank
AVUV Omega Ratio Rank: 7777
Omega Ratio Rank
AVUV Calmar Ratio Rank: 9191
Calmar Ratio Rank
AVUV Martin Ratio Rank: 8585
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.

XEF.TO vs. AVUV - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Core MSCI EAFE IMI Index ETF (XEF.TO) and Avantis US Small Cap Value ETF (AVUV). 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.

XEF.TOAVUVDifference
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility
1.67
2.37

-0.70

Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk
2.41
3.37

-0.96

Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability

1.31

1.40

-0.09

Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown

2.14

5.33

-3.19

Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown

8.51

18.40

-9.89

XEF.TO vs. AVUV - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current XEF.TO Sharpe Ratio is 1.67, which is comparable to the AVUV Sharpe Ratio of 2.37. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of XEF.TO and AVUV, 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

XEF.TO vs. AVUV - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum XEF.TO drawdown since its inception was -28.51%, smaller than the maximum AVUV drawdown of -45.21%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for XEF.TO and AVUV.

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Drawdown Indicators

XEF.TOAVUVDifference

Max Drawdown

Largest peak-to-trough decline

-28.51%

-45.21%

+16.70%

Max Drawdown (1Y)

Largest decline over 1 year

-11.27%

-8.15%

-3.12%

Max Drawdown (3Y)

Largest decline over 3 years

-14.31%

-27.30%

+12.99%

Max Drawdown (5Y)

Largest decline over 5 years

-24.58%

-27.30%

+2.72%

Max Drawdown (10Y)

Largest decline over 10 years

-28.51%

—

—

Current Drawdown

Current decline from peak

0.00%

0.00%

0.00%

Average Drawdown

Average peak-to-trough decline

-4.61%

-6.96%

+2.35%

Ulcer Index

Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks

2.83%

2.36%

+0.47%

Volatility

XEF.TO vs. AVUV - Volatility Comparison

iShares Core MSCI EAFE IMI Index ETF (XEF.TO) has a higher volatility of 5.29% compared to Avantis US Small Cap Value ETF (AVUV) at 4.95%. This indicates that XEF.TO's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than AVUV based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

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Volatility by Period

XEF.TOAVUVDifference

Volatility (1M)

Calculated over the trailing 1-month period

5.29%

4.95%

+0.34%

Volatility (6M)

Calculated over the trailing 6-month period

12.23%

12.19%

+0.04%

Volatility (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

14.43%

18.34%

-3.91%

Volatility (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized

13.69%

23.47%

-9.78%

Volatility (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized

14.87%

28.85%

-13.98%

XEF.TO vs. AVUV - Expense Ratio Comparison

XEF.TO has a 0.23% expense ratio, which is lower than AVUV's 0.25% 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

XEF.TO vs. AVUV - Dividend Comparison

XEF.TO's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.18%, more than AVUV's 1.61% yield.

PositionTTM20252024202320222021202020192018201720162015
AVUV
Avantis US Small Cap Value ETF		1.61%1.58%1.61%1.65%1.74%1.28%1.21%0.38%0.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%
XEF.TO
iShares Core MSCI EAFE IMI Index ETF		2.18%2.43%2.76%2.75%2.93%2.42%1.93%2.71%2.75%2.11%2.45%2.42%

Frequently Asked Questions

XEF.TO and AVUV 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.

On fees, XEF.TO is cheaper at 0.23% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

XEF.TO is cheaper with a 0.23% expense ratio, compared with 0.25% for AVUV.

XEF.TO is categorized as Foreign Large Cap Equities, while AVUV is Small Cap Value Equities. They also come from different issuers: iShares and Avantis. Their fees differ too: 0.23% for XEF.TO and 0.25% for AVUV.

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