AVUV vs VBR Stock Comparison: AI Score, Valuation, Performance and Upside
AVUV and VBR sit in related but distinct corners of the ETF landscape — AVUV centers on actively managed small-cap value with a profitability overlay, while VBR focuses on low-cost, passive small-cap value exposure. Investors choosing between them should weigh how each fund's strategy lines up with their own goals rather than assuming they're interchangeable.
Choosing between AVUV and VBR comes down to which specific exposure — actively managed small-cap value with a profitability overlay or low-cost, passive small-cap value exposure — better matches the role you want this holding to play in a diversified portfolio.
VBR holds the edge across 3 of 5 key metrics in this comparison. AVUV has delivered stronger 1-year price return (+28.51% vs +20.75% for VBR).
- want actively managed small-cap value with a profitability overlay
- prefer Avantis's approach and fund lineup
- value combines value and profitability screens for a more refined value approach
- are comfortable with higher expense ratio than passive small-cap or value index funds
- want low-cost, passive small-cap value exposure
- prefer Vanguard's approach and fund lineup
- value very low expense ratio versus actively managed alternatives
- are comfortable with no profitability overlay to filter out weaker value companies
| Metric | AVUV | VBR |
|---|---|---|
| ETF scorei | 26.5 | 27.3 |
| Latest closei | $123.43 | $243.44 |
| 1M returni | +4.81% | +5.37% |
| 3M returni | -1.15% | -0.05% |
| 6M returni | +3.61% | +5.97% |
| 1Y returni | +28.51% | +20.75% |
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 | VBR |
|---|---|---|
| 1Y ago | $13.02K (+30.2%) started 2025-10-30 | $12.32K (+23.2%) started 2025-10-30 |
| 5Y ago | $18.17K (+81.7%) started 2021-11-01 | $16.75K (+67.5%) started 2021-11-01 |
| 10Y ago | $30.98K (+209.8%) started 2019-09-26 | $34.95K (+249.5%) started 2016-10-31 |
Hypothetical — past performance does not guarantee future results.
| Metric | AVUV | VBR |
|---|---|---|
| Expense ratioi | 0.25% | 0.05% |
| Total assets (AUM)i | $30.38B | $64.12B |
| Dividend yieldi | 1.29% | 1.91% |
| Trailing P/Ei | 12.24 | 16.31 |
| Betai | 1.05 | 0.99 |
| 52-week change | 28.51% | 20.75% |
| Metric | AVUV | VBR |
|---|---|---|
| 1Y returni | +28.51% | +20.75% |
| 6M returni | +3.61% | +5.97% |
| 3M returni | -1.15% | -0.05% |
| 1M returni | +4.81% | +5.37% |
| 1Y Sharpe ratio | 1.47 | 1.11 |
| Betai | 1.05 | 0.99 |
| Dividend yieldi | 1.29% | 1.91% |
| 5Y CAGR | +10.71% | +8.42% |
Over the past year, AVUV and VBR have moved strongly in the same direction (correlation of 0.92), 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 | VBR |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Y | Growthi | +28.51% | +20.75% |
| CAGRi | +28.53% | +20.77% | |
| Volatilityi | 14.78% | 13.84% | |
| Sharpe ratioi | 1.47 | 1.11 | |
| Sortino ratioi | 2.34 | 1.71 | |
| Max drawdowni | 8.22% | 8.85% | |
| Current drawdowni | 3.81% | 2.84% | |
| Avg drawdowni | 2.07% | 2.10% | |
| Ulcer Indexi | 3.05% | 3.11% | |
| Max daily dropi | 2.51% | 2.04% | |
| Max wkly dropi | 4.21% | 4.21% | |
| 5Y | Growthi | +66.21% | +49.75% |
| CAGRi | +10.71% | +8.42% | |
| Volatilityi | 22.05% | 19.37% | |
| Sharpe ratioi | 0.37 | 0.28 | |
| Sortino ratioi | 0.54 | 0.41 | |
| Max drawdowni | 28.79% | 24.19% | |
| Current drawdowni | 3.81% | 2.84% | |
| Avg drawdowni | 6.48% | 6.33% | |
| Ulcer Indexi | 8.36% | 8.15% | |
| Max daily dropi | 8.16% | 6.67% | |
| Max wkly dropi | 14.10% | 12.86% | |
| 10Y | Growthi | +175.12% | +178.37% |
| CAGRi | +15.33% | +10.78% | |
| Volatilityi | 27.59% | 21.63% | |
| Sharpe ratioi | 0.49 | 0.38 | |
| Sortino ratioi | 0.70 | 0.52 | |
| Max drawdowni | 49.42% | 45.28% | |
| Current drawdowni | 3.81% | 2.84% | |
| Avg drawdowni | 7.64% | 6.44% | |
| Ulcer Indexi | 11.20% | 9.31% | |
| Max daily dropi | 12.69% | 13.35% | |
| Max wkly dropi | 25.92% | 23.86% |
| Category | AVUV | VBR |
|---|---|---|
| Fund name | Avantis US Small Cap Value ETF | Vanguard Morningstar Small-Cap Value ETF |
| Type | ETF | ETF |
| Expense ratioi | 0.25% | 0.05% |
| Total assets (AUM)i | $30.38B | $64.12B |
| Dividend yieldi | 1.29% | 1.91% |
- Combines value and profitability screens for a more refined value approach
- Strong historical track record versus passive small-cap value indexes
- Active management can avoid the worst value traps a pure index would hold
- Very low expense ratio versus actively managed alternatives
- Broad diversification across hundreds of small-cap value names
- Vanguard's tax-efficient indexing structure
- Higher expense ratio than passive small-cap or value index funds
- Active management adds manager and process risk
- Small-cap value can lag for extended periods during growth-led markets
- No profitability overlay to filter out weaker value companies
- Small-cap value can underperform for extended periods
- Higher volatility than large-cap value funds
Compare more than two at a time
This page is a fixed writeup on AVUV and VBR. Our comparison engine is the interactive version: load up to five tickers, switch timeframes, and get the correlation, drawdown, and overlap analysis that a static page can't show.
Add three more names beside AVUV and VBR, mixing stocks and ETFs in the same table — useful when the real question is which of a whole peer group to own.
AI score, forward P/E, analyst target upside, operating margin, and revenue growth are scored head-to-head, with a running tally of which ticker leads on how many metrics.
Volatility, Sharpe and Sortino ratios, maximum, current, and average drawdown, Ulcer Index, and worst single-day and single-week drops across every timeframe.
Pairwise daily-return correlation for every combination, so you can see whether two holdings actually diversify each other or just move together.
A scatter plot of forward P/E against return on equity, plus drawdown and 30-day rolling volatility charts, to separate what is cheap from what is merely beaten down.
For ETFs, a top-holdings comparison that exposes hidden overlap between funds. Every comparison exports to CSV for your own spreadsheet work.
Two comparisons a week are free without an account. A 14-day trial removes the limit and adds AI price forecasts, stock rankings, saved watchlists, and the intrinsic value calculator — no credit card required.
Want deeper AI forecasts?
This comparison page is public and free forever. Subscribers can unlock saved watchlists, full AI rankings, detailed forecasts, and interactive analysis tools.