AVSC vs VTI
Avantis US Small Cap Equity ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, AVSC or VTI?
Small Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. AVSC led over 1Y, VTI over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. AVSC is less concentrated, with 3.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 33.3%.
MarketXLS is not an investment adviser. This comparison is generated automatically from market data and is for information only. A Best mark means the better reading on that one measure, not a recommendation to buy.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | AVSC | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.25% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $3.1B | $690.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.92% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 1,551 | 3,524 |
| YTD Return | +19.07%Best | +12.51% |
| 1Y Return | +22.80%Best | +15.23% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +18.32% | +22.50%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +8.81% | +12.31%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 21.1% | 15.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -28.4%Best | -35.0% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $15,253 | $17,869Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 3.3%Best | 33.3% |
| Fund Family | Avantis Investors | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jan 11, 2022 | May 24, 2001 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: May 26, 2016 to Oct 1, 2026 (10.3 years).
AVSC vs VTI growth
Month-end closes. Both lines start at 0% in the first month shown, so the gap between them is the difference in growth across that window. The full view covers the 10.3 years both funds cover.
AVSC vs VTI Performance
Avantis US Small Cap Equity ETF (AVSC) is an ETF from Avantis Investors and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year AVSC returned +22.80% while VTI returned +15.23%. Year to date, AVSC is up 19.07% versus a gain of 12.51% for VTI.
Over three years, AVSC compounded at +18.32% per year against +22.50% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +8.81% and +12.31% respectively. Across the full 10-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +13.76% annualized vs +5.40%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
AVSC has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 21.1% compared with 15.6% for VTI. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -28.4% for AVSC and -35.0% for VTI. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.73. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
AVSC charges 0.25% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $25 vs $3 annually, a gap of $22 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, AVSC currently yields 0.92% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
90.1% of AVSC's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 1.9% of VTI's money is in holdings AVSC also owns.
Most of AVSC is already inside VTI. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
The two holdings books were reported 46 days apart, AVSC as of Sep 15, 2026 and VTI as of Jul 31, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
1,277 positions in common, counted across the 1,374 positions we hold weights for in AVSC and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 1,551 and 3,524.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 969 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for AVSC (95.6% of the fund), and 48 for AVSC that do not appear in VTI (3.0%).
Some of those will be the same company recorded under a different code in one of the two books, so the real difference in what you would own is no larger than this and may be smaller. We do not name the individual positions here for that reason.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in AVSC | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| INSWInternational Seaways, Inc. | 0.37% | 0.01% | 0.36% |
| OIIOceaneering Intl Inc. | 0.35% | 0.01% | 0.34% |
| MTRNMaterion Corp | 0.34% | 0.01% | 0.33% |
| DKDelek Us Holdings Inc | 0.33% | 0.01% | 0.32% |
| ANFAbercrombie & Fitch Co. Class A | 0.33% | 0.01% | 0.32% |
| PARRPar Pacific Holdings Inc | 0.33% | 0.01% | 0.32% |
| PTENPatterson-Uti Energy Inc | 0.30% | 0.01% | 0.29% |
| BFHBread Financial Holdings, Inc. | 0.30% | 0.01% | 0.29% |
| CAKECheesecake Factory Inc/the | 0.30% | 0.01% | 0.29% |
| HAEHaemonetics Corp | 0.29% | 0.01% | 0.28% |
90.1% of AVSC is already inside VTI.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, AVSC or VTI?
AVSC has an expense ratio of 0.25% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $22 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, AVSC or VTI?
Over the past year AVSC returned +22.80% vs +15.23% for VTI, so AVSC leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (10 years), AVSC annualized +5.40% vs +13.76% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, AVSC or VTI?
AVSC has been the more volatile fund at 21.1% annualized versus 15.6% for VTI. Worst drawdown: AVSC -28.4% vs VTI -35.0%.
Should I hold both AVSC and VTI?
AVSC and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.73, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between AVSC and VTI?
90.1% of AVSC's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 1.9% of VTI's is in holdings AVSC also owns. They hold 1,277 positions in common, counted across the 1,374 positions we hold weights for in AVSC and 3,463 in VTI.
Which pays a higher dividend, AVSC or VTI?
AVSC yields 0.92% while VTI yields 1.03%, so VTI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than AVSC?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. AVSC led over 1Y, VTI over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. AVSC is less concentrated, with 3.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 33.3%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.