AVSC vs VXUS
Avantis US Small Cap Equity ETF vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, AVSC or VXUS?
Small Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. AVSC led over 1Y and 5Y, VXUS over 3Y and the full window.
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 | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.25% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $3.1B | $158.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.93% | 2.59% |
| Holdings | 1,522 | 8,747 |
| YTD Return | +24.74%Best | +16.15% |
| 1Y Return | +29.35%Best | +27.58% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +18.17% | +20.48%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +10.06%Best | +9.09% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 21.1% | 14.8%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -28.4%Best | -39.9% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $16,149Best | $15,450 |
| Fund Family | Avantis Investors | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jan 11, 2022 | Jan 26, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: May 26, 2016 to Sep 4, 2026 (10.3 years).
AVSC vs VXUS 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 VXUS Performance
Avantis US Small Cap Equity ETF (AVSC) is an ETF from Avantis Investors and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year AVSC returned +29.35% while VXUS returned +27.58%. Year to date, AVSC is up 24.74% versus a gain of 16.15% for VXUS.
Over three years, AVSC compounded at +18.17% per year against +20.48% for VXUS; over five years the annualized figures are +10.06% and +9.09% respectively. Across the full 10-year window we track, VXUS has the edge at +8.39% annualized vs +5.92%.
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 14.8% for VXUS. 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 -39.9% for VXUS. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.63. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
AVSC charges 0.25% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $25 vs $5 annually, a gap of $20 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, AVSC currently yields 0.93% against 2.59% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.8% of AVSC's money is in holdings VXUS also owns.
Stated as a floor: for VXUS, our book for it covers 87.7% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
9 positions in common, counted across the 1,468 positions we hold weights for in AVSC and 8,094 in VXUS, against full books of 1,522 and 8,747.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in AVSC | Weight in VXUS | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| FBKFb Financial Corp | 0.19% | 0.03% | 0.16% |
| SIG:LNSignet Jewelers Limited Common Shares | 0.17% | 0.02% | 0.15% |
| GIL:CAGildan Activewear, Inc. | 0.13% | 0.02% | 0.11% |
| CASHMeta Financial Group Inc | 0.12% | 0.00% | 0.12% |
| BILLBill.Com Holdings, Inc. Common Stock | 0.11% | 0.00% | 0.11% |
| SCLStepan Co | 0.08% | 0.00% | 0.08% |
| FPH:NZFive Point Holdings, Llc Class A Common Shares | 0.02% | 0.03% | 0.01% |
| CLW:AUClearwater Paper Corporation Common Stock | 0.01% | 0.00% | 0.01% |
| EAST:EGEastern Co Sae | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of AVSC and VXUS you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, AVSC or VXUS?
AVSC has an expense ratio of 0.25% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $20 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, AVSC or VXUS?
Over the past year AVSC returned +29.35% vs +27.58% for VXUS, so AVSC leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (10 years), AVSC annualized +5.92% vs +8.39% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, AVSC or VXUS?
AVSC has been the more volatile fund at 21.1% annualized versus 14.8% for VXUS. Worst drawdown: AVSC -28.4% vs VXUS -39.9%.
Should I hold both AVSC and VXUS?
AVSC and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.63, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, AVSC or VXUS?
AVSC yields 0.93% while VXUS yields 2.59%, so VXUS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than AVSC?
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. AVSC led over 1Y and 5Y, VXUS over 3Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.