AVUV vs VBR: which ETF is better?
Avantis U.S. Small Cap Value ETF (AVUV) and Vanguard Morningstar Small-Cap Value ETF (VBR) compared on fees, holdings overlap, dividend yield, returns and risk, using the latest data.
- AVUV and VBR have low overlap: 15% of each fund by weight sits in the same holdings.
- VBR is cheaper at 0.05% a year against 0.25% for AVUV, about $20 less in fees per $10,000 invested each year.
- Over the last 5 years, AVUV returned an average of 9.3% a year against 7.7% for VBR, with dividends reinvested.
- VBR pays more income, yielding 1.83% over the last 12 months against 1.27% for AVUV.
- Overlap by weight
- 15.5%
- Shared holdings
- 247
| AVUV | VBR | |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Avantis U.S. Small Cap Value ETF | Vanguard Morningstar Small-Cap Value ETF |
| Issuer | Avantis | Vanguard |
| Listed on | NYSE Arca · USD | NYSE Arca · USD |
| Expense ratio | 0.25% | 0.05% |
| Assets (AUM) | $31.6B | $35.1B |
| Launched | Sep 24, 2019 | Jan 26, 2004 |
| Holdings | 791 | 818 |
| Dividend yield (12m) | 1.27% · quarterly | 1.83% · quarterly |
| Asset class | Equity | Small/Micro Cap Equity |
| Annualised return | AVUV | VBR |
|---|---|---|
| 1 year | +25.1% | +20.8% |
| 3 years | +17.5% | +17.6% |
| 5 years | +9.3% | +7.7% |
| 10 years | — | +10.9% |
| Volatility | 20.4% | 17.5% |
| Max drawdown | -49.4% | -45.3% |
Volatility is the annualised standard deviation of daily returns over 3 years. Max drawdown is the largest fall from a peak over the last 10 years, or since launch.
| Holding | AVUV | VBR |
|---|---|---|
| VSATVIASAT INC COMMON STOCK USD.0001 | 0.61% | 0.21% |
| JXNJACKSON FINANCIAL INC A COMMON STOCK USD.01 | 0.24% | 0.20% |
| RRYDER SYSTEM INC COMMON STOCK USD.5 | 0.48% | 0.19% |
| AVTAVNET INC COMMON STOCK USD1.0 | 0.25% | 0.19% |
| COLBCOLUMBIA BANKING SYSTEM INC COMMON STOCK | 0.27% | 0.18% |
| SMSM ENERGY CO COMMON STOCK USD.01 | 0.62% | 0.18% |
| KMXCARMAX INC COMMON STOCK USD.5 | 0.44% | 0.18% |
| CHRDCHORD ENERGY CORP COMMON STOCK | 0.42% | 0.17% |
| VSXYVICTORIA S SECRET + CO COMMON STOCK | 0.31% | 0.16% |
| KEXKIRBY CORP COMMON STOCK USD.1 | 0.37% | 0.16% |
Pull each fund's details, full price history and holdings into Google Sheets or Excel, so your comparison updates itself.
=SF("AVUV","etfInfo","expenseRatio&assetsUnderManagement&holdingsCount")=SF_TIMESERIES("AVUV","2019-09-01",TODAY(),"dailyAdj")=SF("VBR","etfInfo","expenseRatio&assetsUnderManagement&holdingsCount")=SF_TIMESERIES("VBR","2019-09-01",TODAY(),"dailyAdj")Prices to Nov 6, 2026; holdings last checked Nov 7, 2026. Returns are in each fund's trading currency (USD). Past performance doesn't predict future returns. For information only, not investment advice.
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AVUV vs VBR: frequently asked questions
How much do AVUV and VBR overlap?
15.5% by weight. They share 247 holdings, and that share of each fund is invested in exactly the same positions. They cover quite different parts of the market.
Is AVUV or VBR cheaper?
VBR is cheaper. AVUV's expense ratio is 0.25% a year and VBR's is 0.05%, so on $10,000 you'd pay about $25 and $5 a year.
Which has performed better, AVUV or VBR?
Over the last 5 years, AVUV has. AVUV returned 9.3% and VBR 7.7% a year on average, including reinvested dividends, as of Nov 6, 2026. Past returns don't predict future ones.
Which pays a higher dividend, AVUV or VBR?
VBR does. Over the last 12 months AVUV yielded 1.27%, paid quarterly, and VBR 1.83%, paid quarterly.
Should I hold both AVUV and VBR?
They overlap by 15%, so holding both does spread your money more widely than either alone. Whether that suits you depends on the mix you want. This is general information, not advice.
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