LIVE
VSS
Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US Small-Cap ETF · ETF / International Small-Cap
$157.54
+1.74% this month
VERSUS
⟷
COMPARE
AVDV
Avantis International Small Cap Value ETF · ETF / International Small Cap Value Factor
$106.72
+1.24% this month
Scoreboard verdict
Across expense ratio, momentum, yield, fund size, risk
VSS
2
AVDV
3
Comparison scoreboard
AVDV LEADS 3/5Exp. Ratio
VSS ✓0.06%
AVDV 0.36%
1Y Return
VSS +25.57%
AVDV ✓+42.83%
Div. Yield
VSS ✓3.02%
AVDV 2.71%
AUM
VSS $14.25B
AVDV ✓$19.88B
Beta
VSS 0.87
AVDV ✓0.78
Metrics last refreshed: 6/20/2026
Quick take
VSS vs AVDV Stock Comparison: AI Score, Valuation, Performance and Upside
VSS and AVDV represent different philosophies for international small-cap investing. VSS provides broad total market international small-cap coverage at minimum cost — 4,000+ stocks, 0.07%, including emerging markets. AVDV provides targeted international developed market small-cap value + profitability factor exposure at higher cost (0.36%) for potentially higher expected returns. VSS suits cost-minimization total market investors; AVDV suits factor investors seeking to maximize expected return through precise factor targeting.
VSS vs AVDV — Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US Small-Cap ETF (4,000+ international small caps including emerging markets at 0.07% for total small-cap market coverage) versus Avantis International Small Cap Value ETF (developed market international small caps targeted for value + profitability factors at 0.36% for systematic factor premium capture).
Live analysis · updated 6/20/2026
AVDV holds the edge across 3 of 5 key metrics in this comparison. AVDV has delivered stronger 1-year price return (+42.83% vs +25.57% for VSS).
Normalized 1Y performance
VSS
AVDV
Recent returns
VSS
AVDV
Who should consider this stock?
VSS may suit investors who:
- →want maximum international small-cap diversification at minimum cost — 4,000+ stocks across 40+ countries at 0.07% requires no factor bets
- →value emerging market small-cap inclusion — VSS's Indian, Chinese, and Brazilian small-cap exposure provides access to fast-growing economies inaccessible through large-cap international ETFs
- →prefer passive total market exposure without factor timing risk — VSS captures whatever factor returns emerge from small-cap markets without taking specific bets on value or profitability
- →use a simple three-fund or four-fund portfolio where single-ETF international small-cap coverage is more practical than splitting factor bets
AVDV may suit investors who:
- →follow Fama-French factor investing and want the highest expected return factor combination — small-cap + value + profitability in international developed markets
- →are long-term factor investors (10+ year horizon) with the patience and conviction to stay through periods when small-cap value underperforms growth indices
- →are comfortable paying 0.36% for active factor targeting vs 0.07% for passive breadth — believing factor premium capture justifies the fee premium over 20+ year periods
- →prefer developed market quality over emerging market breadth — AVDV's exclusion of emerging markets reduces political and governance uncertainty
Performance & AI score
| Metric | VSS | AVDV |
|---|---|---|
| ETF score | 76.0 | 78.0 |
| Latest close | $157.54 | $106.72 |
| 1M return | +1.74% | +1.24% |
| 6M return | +13.33% | +18.16% |
| 1Y return | +25.57% | +42.83% |
$10,000 invested — hypothetical growth (dividends reinvested)
How much would $10,000 be worth today if invested at the start of each period, with all dividends reinvested?
| Period | VSS | AVDV |
|---|---|---|
| 1Y ago | $13.07K (+30.7%) started 2025-06-18 | $15K (+50.0%) started 2025-06-18 |
| 5Y ago | $16.17K (+61.7%) started 2021-06-18 | $24.2K (+142.0%) started 2021-06-18 |
| 10Y ago | $30.57K (+205.7%) started 2016-06-20 | $32.96K (+229.6%) started 2019-09-26 |
Hypothetical — past performance does not guarantee future results.
Fund characteristics
| Metric | VSS | AVDV |
|---|---|---|
| Expense ratio | 0.06% | 0.36% |
| Total assets (AUM) | $14.25B | $19.88B |
| Dividend yield | 3.02% | 2.71% |
| Trailing P/E | 16.58 | 13.59 |
| Beta | 0.87 | 0.78 |
| 52-week change | 25.57% | 42.83% |
Risk & fund metrics
| Metric | VSS | AVDV |
|---|---|---|
| 1Y return | +25.57% | +42.83% |
| 6M return | +13.33% | +18.16% |
| 1M return | +1.74% | +1.24% |
| 1Y Sharpe ratio | 1.26 | 2.01 |
| Beta | 0.87 | 0.78 |
| Dividend yield | 3.02% | 2.71% |
| 5Y CAGR | +6.44% | +14.72% |
Drawdown & downside risk
Lower drawdown and smaller single-period drops generally indicate a smoother ride, though they do not guarantee lower future risk.
1Y risk snapshot
VSS max drawdown11.62%
AVDV max drawdown13.19%
VSS max wkly drop6.22%
AVDV max wkly drop6.23%
5Y risk snapshot
VSS max drawdown33.93%
AVDV max drawdown28.07%
VSS max wkly drop10.12%
AVDV max wkly drop11.44%
10Y risk snapshot
VSS max drawdown43.51%
AVDV max drawdown43.01%
VSS max wkly drop21.89%
AVDV max wkly drop22.42%
Performance metrics by period
| Period | Metric | VSS | AVDV |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Y | Growth | +25.57% | +42.83% |
| CAGR | +25.59% | +42.87% | |
| Sharpe ratio | 1.26 | 2.01 | |
| Max drawdown | 11.62% | 13.19% | |
| Max daily drop | 3.60% | 3.43% | |
| Max wkly drop | 6.22% | 6.23% | |
| 5Y | Growth | +36.61% | +98.70% |
| CAGR | +6.44% | +14.72% | |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.19 | 0.62 | |
| Max drawdown | 33.93% | 28.07% | |
| Max daily drop | 5.82% | 7.56% | |
| Max wkly drop | 10.12% | 11.44% | |
| 10Y | Growth | +120.00% | +163.60% |
| CAGR | +8.21% | +15.50% | |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.28 | 0.60 | |
| Max drawdown | 43.51% | 43.01% | |
| Max daily drop | 12.26% | 11.08% | |
| Max wkly drop | 21.89% | 22.42% |
Fund overview
| Category | VSS | AVDV |
|---|---|---|
| Fund name | Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US Small-Cap Index Fund ETF Shares | Avantis International Small Cap Value ETF |
| Type | ETF | ETF |
| Expense ratio | 0.06% | 0.36% |
| Total assets (AUM) | $14.25B | $19.88B |
| Dividend yield | 3.02% | 2.71% |
VSS strengths
- →4,000+ international small-cap stocks at 0.07%: maximum breadth and minimum cost for international small-cap exposure across both developed and emerging markets
- →Emerging market small-cap inclusion: VSS captures small-cap stocks from India, China, Brazil — fast-growing economies with small-cap businesses not accessible through large-cap international ETFs
- →Vanguard institutional management at minimum cost: Vanguard's tax efficiency and securities lending income optimization for long-term shareholders
AVDV strengths
- →Three-factor intersection (size + value + profitability): AVDV targets the most precise factor combination for higher expected returns — small-cap, cheap, and profitable international companies
- →Developed market quality focus: excluding emerging markets reduces political and governance risk while maintaining international factor premium exposure
- →Avantis factor management expertise: former DFA researchers applying institutional-quality factor investing to retail ETF — proven methodology at ETF accessibility
Risks to watch — VSS
- →No factor targeting: VSS holds all international small caps regardless of valuation or profitability — missing the small-cap value and profitability premiums that AVDV targets
- →Market-cap weighted dilutes potential factor returns: the cheapest, most profitable small caps don't receive more weight in VSS — factor premium capture is accidental rather than systematic
- →More volatility from emerging market small-cap inclusion: small companies in emerging markets have higher political, currency, and business risks than developed market small caps in AVDV
Risks to watch — AVDV
- →0.36% expense ratio significantly above VSS's 0.07%: higher fee drag requires meaningful factor premium to justify additional cost over the long term
- →No emerging market exposure: AVDV's developed market focus misses potential small-cap factor premiums in India, China, and Brazil that VSS captures
- →Factor timing risk: small-cap value factor has experienced extended underperformance — AVDV requires long investment horizon and patience through factor headwinds
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