AVUV vs SPY
Avantis US Small Cap Value ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, AVUV or SPY?
Small Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. AVUV led over 1Y, SPY over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. AVUV is less concentrated, with 8.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.8%.
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 | AVUV | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.25% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $31.0B | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.25% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 789 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +18.91%Best | +13.82% |
| 1Y Return | +22.95%Best | +16.96% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +18.45% | +22.97%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.83% | +13.73%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 25.5% | 16.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -49.6% | -34.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,286 | $19,027Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 8.3%Best | 37.8% |
| Fund Family | Avantis Investors | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Sep 24, 2019 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 26, 2019 to Sep 21, 2026 (7 years).
AVUV vs SPY 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 7 years both funds cover.
AVUV vs SPY Performance
Avantis US Small Cap Value ETF (AVUV) is an ETF from Avantis Investors and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year AVUV returned +22.95% while SPY returned +16.96%. Year to date, AVUV is up 18.91% versus a gain of 13.82% for SPY.
Over three years, AVUV compounded at +18.45% per year against +22.97% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +12.83% and +13.73% respectively. Across the full 7-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +15.91% annualized vs +14.99%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
AVUV has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 25.5% compared with 16.6% for SPY. 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 -49.6% for AVUV and -34.1% for SPY. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.79. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
AVUV charges 0.25% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $25 vs $9 annually, a gap of $16 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, AVUV currently yields 1.25% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
0.2% of AVUV's money is in holdings SPY also owns.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
2 positions in common, counted across the 727 positions we hold weights for in AVUV and 504 in SPY, against full books of 789 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 495 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for AVUV (99.3% of the fund), and 624 for AVUV that do not appear in SPY (92.5%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of AVUV and SPY 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, AVUV or SPY?
AVUV has an expense ratio of 0.25% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $16 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, AVUV or SPY?
Over the past year AVUV returned +22.95% vs +16.96% for SPY, so AVUV leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (7 years), AVUV annualized +14.99% vs +15.91% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, AVUV or SPY?
AVUV has been the more volatile fund at 25.5% annualized versus 16.6% for SPY. Worst drawdown: AVUV -49.6% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both AVUV and SPY?
AVUV and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.79, 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, AVUV or SPY?
AVUV yields 1.25% while SPY yields 0.98%, so AVUV currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than AVUV?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. AVUV led over 1Y, SPY over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. AVUV is less concentrated, with 8.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.