AVUV vs IJS Stock Comparison: AI Score, Valuation, Performance and Upside
AVUV and IJS both provide exposure to small-capitalization US value stocks, but AVUV uses an actively managed, factor-based approach incorporating profitability screens, while IJS passively tracks a traditional market-cap-weighted small-cap value index at a lower expense ratio.
AVUV offers a more sophisticated, factor-based approach to capturing the small-cap value premium at a higher cost, while IJS offers straightforward, lower-cost passive exposure to traditional small-cap value stocks. The decision depends on whether you believe the factor-based methodology justifies its higher expense ratio.
AVUV holds the edge across 3 of 5 key metrics in this comparison. AVUV has delivered stronger 1-year price return (+28.51% vs +22.53% for IJS).
- Want a systematic, factor-based approach to small-cap value investing incorporating profitability screens
- Value academic research-driven methodology over simple market-cap weighting
- Are comfortable paying a higher expense ratio for a more actively managed factor strategy
- Believe refined factor exposure can better capture the small-cap value premium over time
- Want straightforward, passive exposure to small-cap value stocks
- Value a lower expense ratio and transparent, rules-based index methodology
- Prefer a long-established fund with a track record across multiple market cycles
- Are comfortable with traditional value metrics rather than more sophisticated factor screens
| Metric | AVUV | IJS |
|---|---|---|
| ETF scorei | 26.5 | 25.1 |
| Latest closei | $123.43 | $132.79 |
| 1M returni | +4.81% | +3.66% |
| 3M returni | -1.15% | -1.92% |
| 6M returni | +3.61% | +3.49% |
| 1Y returni | +28.51% | +22.53% |
The ETF score weights long-term returns and risk-adjusted performance most heavily, but still rewards low expense ratios, larger fund size, and broader diversification — so it can favor low-cost, broad, mega-cap funds over smaller thematic or actively-managed funds even when the latter have delivered stronger returns.
How much would $10,000 be worth today if invested at the start of each period, with all dividends reinvested?
| Period | AVUV | IJS |
|---|---|---|
| 1Y ago | $13.02K (+30.2%) started 2025-10-30 | $12.44K (+24.4%) started 2025-10-30 |
| 5Y ago | $18.17K (+81.7%) started 2021-11-01 | $14.71K (+47.1%) started 2021-11-01 |
| 10Y ago | $30.98K (+209.8%) started 2019-09-26 | $30.7K (+207.0%) started 2016-10-31 |
Hypothetical — past performance does not guarantee future results.
| Metric | AVUV | IJS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense ratioi | 0.25% | 0.18% |
| Total assets (AUM)i | $30.38B | $7.6B |
| Dividend yieldi | 1.29% | 1.45% |
| Trailing P/Ei | 12.24 | 16.06 |
| Betai | 1.05 | 1.05 |
| 52-week change | 28.51% | 22.53% |
| Metric | AVUV | IJS |
|---|---|---|
| 1Y returni | +28.51% | +22.53% |
| 6M returni | +3.61% | +3.49% |
| 3M returni | -1.15% | -1.92% |
| 1M returni | +4.81% | +3.66% |
| 1Y Sharpe ratio | 1.47 | 1.09 |
| Betai | 1.05 | 1.05 |
| Dividend yieldi | 1.29% | 1.45% |
| 5Y CAGR | +10.71% | +6.22% |
Over the past year, AVUV and IJS have moved strongly in the same direction (correlation of 0.95), based on daily returns.
Lower drawdown and smaller single-period drops generally indicate a smoother ride, though they do not guarantee lower future risk.
| Period | Metric | AVUV | IJS |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Y | Growthi | +28.51% | +22.53% |
| CAGRi | +28.53% | +22.55% | |
| Volatilityi | 14.78% | 15.81% | |
| Sharpe ratioi | 1.47 | 1.09 | |
| Sortino ratioi | 2.34 | 1.66 | |
| Max drawdowni | 8.22% | 9.28% | |
| Current drawdowni | 3.81% | 5.21% | |
| Avg drawdowni | 2.07% | 2.59% | |
| Ulcer Indexi | 3.05% | 3.68% | |
| Max daily dropi | 2.51% | 2.57% | |
| Max wkly dropi | 4.21% | 4.90% | |
| 5Y | Growthi | +66.21% | +35.18% |
| CAGRi | +10.71% | +6.22% | |
| Volatilityi | 22.05% | 21.45% | |
| Sharpe ratioi | 0.37 | 0.18 | |
| Sortino ratioi | 0.54 | 0.26 | |
| Max drawdowni | 28.79% | 28.65% | |
| Current drawdowni | 3.81% | 5.21% | |
| Avg drawdowni | 6.48% | 8.94% | |
| Ulcer Indexi | 8.36% | 10.83% | |
| Max daily dropi | 8.16% | 7.45% | |
| Max wkly dropi | 14.10% | 14.42% | |
| 10Y | Growthi | +175.12% | +158.75% |
| CAGRi | +15.33% | +9.98% | |
| Volatilityi | 27.59% | 23.51% | |
| Sharpe ratioi | 0.49 | 0.33 | |
| Sortino ratioi | 0.70 | 0.48 | |
| Max drawdowni | 49.42% | 47.68% | |
| Current drawdowni | 3.81% | 5.21% | |
| Avg drawdowni | 7.64% | 9.12% | |
| Ulcer Indexi | 11.20% | 12.19% | |
| Max daily dropi | 12.69% | 11.71% | |
| Max wkly dropi | 25.92% | 25.36% |
| Category | AVUV | IJS |
|---|---|---|
| Fund name | Avantis US Small Cap Value ETF | iShares S&P Small-Cap 600 Value ETF |
| Type | ETF | ETF |
| Expense ratioi | 0.25% | 0.18% |
| Total assets (AUM)i | $30.38B | $7.6B |
| Dividend yieldi | 1.29% | 1.45% |
- Systematic factor-based approach incorporating profitability screens aims to improve on traditional value metrics used by simpler index-based strategies
- Active management within a rules-based framework allows for more nuanced security selection than a strict market-cap-weighted index
- Academic research-driven methodology aims to more effectively capture the small-cap value factor premium documented in financial literature
- Passive, rules-based index methodology provides transparent, predictable exposure to small-cap value stocks
- Lower expense ratio relative to actively managed factor-based alternatives reduces the ongoing cost drag on returns
- Long track record as an established small-cap value index fund provides historical performance data across multiple market cycles
- Higher expense ratio relative to passive small-cap value index funds reflects its more actively managed approach
- Factor-based strategies can underperform simpler index approaches during periods when the underlying factor premiums do not materialize
- Small-cap value stocks as a category can experience higher volatility and drawdowns than large-cap or growth-oriented equities
- Traditional market-cap-weighted value index methodology may be less effective at capturing the value factor premium than more sophisticated factor-based approaches
- Does not incorporate profitability or quality screens that some newer factor-based small-cap value strategies use to refine stock selection
- Small-cap value stocks as a category can experience higher volatility and drawdowns than large-cap or growth-oriented equities
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