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).
AVDV holds the edge across 3 of 5 key metrics in this comparison. AVDV has delivered stronger 1-year price return (+31.07% vs +13.40% for VSS).
- 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
- 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
| Metric | VSS | AVDV |
|---|---|---|
| ETF scorei | 66.0 | 97.0 |
| Latest closei | $157.66 | $111.54 |
| 1M returni | +0.11% | +2.13% |
| 6M returni | +8.47% | +15.23% |
| 1Y returni | +13.40% | +31.07% |
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 | VSS | AVDV |
|---|---|---|
| 1Y ago | $11.74K (+17.4%) started 2025-09-17 | $13.57K (+35.7%) started 2025-09-17 |
| 5Y ago | $15.58K (+55.8%) started 2021-09-17 | $24.29K (+142.9%) started 2021-09-17 |
| 10Y ago | $29.65K (+196.5%) started 2016-09-19 | $34.81K (+248.1%) started 2019-09-26 |
Hypothetical — past performance does not guarantee future results.
| Metric | VSS | AVDV |
|---|---|---|
| Expense ratioi | 0.06% | 0.36% |
| Total assets (AUM)i | $14.47B | $20.5B |
| Dividend yieldi | 3.10% | 2.61% |
| Trailing P/Ei | 15.39 | 12.20 |
| Betai | 0.89 | 0.82 |
| 52-week change | 13.40% | 31.07% |
| Metric | VSS | AVDV |
|---|---|---|
| 1Y returni | +13.40% | +31.07% |
| 6M returni | +8.47% | +15.23% |
| 1M returni | +0.11% | +2.13% |
| 1Y Sharpe ratio | 0.57 | 1.42 |
| Betai | 0.89 | 0.82 |
| Dividend yieldi | 3.10% | 2.61% |
| 5Y CAGR | +5.76% | +14.94% |
Over the past year, VSS and AVDV have moved strongly in the same direction (correlation of 0.94), 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 | VSS | AVDV |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Y | Growthi | +13.40% | +31.07% |
| CAGRi | +13.41% | +31.09% | |
| Volatilityi | 16.54% | 16.93% | |
| Sharpe ratioi | 0.57 | 1.42 | |
| Sortino ratioi | 0.81 | 2.11 | |
| Max drawdowni | 11.62% | 13.19% | |
| Current drawdowni | 2.56% | 1.48% | |
| Avg drawdowni | 2.61% | 2.33% | |
| Ulcer Indexi | 3.73% | 3.65% | |
| Max daily dropi | 3.60% | 3.43% | |
| Max wkly dropi | 6.22% | 6.23% | |
| 5Y | Growthi | +32.28% | +100.57% |
| CAGRi | +5.76% | +14.94% | |
| Volatilityi | 16.72% | 17.43% | |
| Sharpe ratioi | 0.15 | 0.63 | |
| Sortino ratioi | 0.21 | 0.91 | |
| Max drawdowni | 33.33% | 27.86% | |
| Current drawdowni | 2.56% | 1.48% | |
| Avg drawdowni | 10.46% | 5.72% | |
| Ulcer Indexi | 13.34% | 8.23% | |
| Max daily dropi | 5.82% | 7.56% | |
| Max wkly dropi | 10.12% | 11.44% | |
| 10Y | Growthi | +114.79% | +176.81% |
| CAGRi | +7.95% | +15.71% | |
| Volatilityi | 17.14% | 19.60% | |
| Sharpe ratioi | 0.27 | 0.62 | |
| Sortino ratioi | 0.37 | 0.85 | |
| Max drawdowni | 43.51% | 43.01% | |
| Current drawdowni | 2.56% | 1.48% | |
| Avg drawdowni | 9.84% | 6.60% | |
| Ulcer Indexi | 13.02% | 10.02% | |
| Max daily dropi | 12.26% | 11.08% | |
| Max wkly dropi | 21.89% | 22.42% |
| 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 ratioi | 0.06% | 0.36% |
| Total assets (AUM)i | $14.47B | $20.5B |
| Dividend yieldi | 3.10% | 2.61% |
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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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