GET DAILY SIGNALSAVUV vs DFSV: Weighing Two Actively Managed Small-Cap Value ETFs
Key Takeaways
- Both AVUV and DFSV are actively managed U.S. small-cap value funds that target cheap, profitable companies, but they pursue that goal with different portfolio construction methods.
- AVUV carries a lower net expense ratio of 0.25%, compared with 0.31% for DFSV, giving it a modest structural cost advantage.
- DFSV is more broadly diversified, holding roughly 1,000 stocks versus roughly 800 for AVUV, and leans heavier into financials and industrials.
- AVUV tilts more toward energy and consumer cyclical names, positioning it differently within small-cap value sector rotation.
- Both funds screen for profitability and largely exclude unprofitable firms, reducing the quality risk common to broad small-cap indexes.
- Tickeron AI Verdict: AVUV — its lower cost, sharper factor tilts, and consistent relative trend give it the edge in this comparison.
Why Small-Cap Value Stands Out Now
Small-cap value has re-emerged as a focal point for investors weighing valuation, interest-rate expectations, and sector rotation. Within this space, AVUV and DFSV are two of the most widely followed actively managed options, and they compete directly for the same allocation. Both funds seek long-term capital appreciation by owning U.S. small-cap companies trading at low valuations with sound profitability. Yet beneath that shared mandate lie meaningful structural differences in holdings count, sector exposure, fees, and weighting methodology. Comparing them helps investors understand how two "value plus profitability" approaches can still produce distinct risk and return profiles in the current market environment. I also checked this using Tickeron’s AI Screener to see how the holdings compare across the category.
Profile of AVUV
Launched in September 2019 and managed by Avantis Investors, a subsidiary of American Century Investments, AVUV is an actively managed ETF that invests at least 80% of its assets in U.S. small-capitalization companies. Rather than tracking a traditional index, it uses a rules-based approach that emphasizes stocks with low valuations and higher profitability, while maintaining broad diversification. The fund typically holds around 780 to 800 names, with a weighted average market capitalization in the small- to mid-cap range. Its top positions are modest in size, with names such as GATX, Matson, SM Energy, Five Below, Viasat, and Macy's each representing well under 1.5% of assets, keeping single-stock risk low. Sector-wise, AVUV is heaviest in financials (roughly 26–28%), followed by consumer cyclical (about 19–20%), energy (about 15–16%), and industrials (about 13–15%). Its net expense ratio is 0.25%, and turnover is relatively low for an active strategy.
Profile of DFSV
DFSV, launched in February 2022 by Dimensional Fund Advisors, is an actively managed ETF that invests at least 80% of net assets in U.S. small-cap companies the advisor determines to be lower relative price stocks. It uses a market-capitalization-weighted approach, meaning larger holdings carry proportionally greater weight, while blending value and profitability screens. The portfolio holds approximately 1,000 to 1,030 stocks, giving it one of the broadest lineups in the category. Top positions are highly diversified, with BorgWarner, HF Sinclair, Invesco, Ovintiv, Knight-Swift Transportation, and Arrow Electronics each below 1% of assets. DFSV is most concentrated in financials (about 28–31%), followed by industrials (about 15–16%), consumer cyclical (about 14%), and energy (about 11–13%), with a notable healthcare allocation near 7%. Its net expense ratio is 0.31%, and the strategy emphasizes low turnover and the exclusion of unprofitable firms.
Market Context and Sector Influences
Both ETFs operate in the small-cap value segment of U.S. equities, a group sensitive to interest-rate expectations, credit conditions, and the breadth of economic growth. Smaller companies typically carry more floating-rate or refinancing exposure, so the direction of Federal Reserve policy has been a central catalyst in recent market cycles. Value and cyclical sectors, including financials, energy, and industrials, have also been influenced by capital flows rotating away from large-cap growth toward cheaper, more domestically oriented businesses. Regulatory developments affecting regional banks, commodity price trends driving energy names, and supply-chain normalization shaping industrial earnings all feed into the relative positioning of these funds. The main risks are economic cyclicality, higher volatility, and the possibility that value underperforms growth over extended stretches.
Performance and Positioning Comparison
Over recent weeks and months, both funds have generally tracked the broader small-cap value theme, with relative differences driven by their sector tilts. AVUV's larger energy and consumer cyclical exposure has made it more responsive to commodity strength and discretionary spending trends, while DFSV's heavier financials and industrials weighting has tied it more closely to bank earnings and manufacturing activity. In terms of volatility, both carry higher risk than large-cap benchmarks, consistent with the small-cap asset class, though their profitability screens help temper some of the quality risk present in unmanaged small-cap indexes. On a relative positioning basis, AVUV's lower cost and sharper tilt toward deeply discounted cyclical names have supported its risk-adjusted profile in recent market cycles, even as DFSV's broader holdings count offers incremental diversification. From what I see, AVUV's factor exposure holds up well when I review comparable funds.
Refining ETF Selection with AI Tools
I often turn to Tickeron’s AI Screener when comparing ETFs like these. The tool lets me apply filters for fundamentals, sector exposure, and performance metrics to surface differences quickly and refine allocation ideas without sifting through dozens of reports manually. It has become a regular part of my workflow for keeping these kinds of comparisons precise and up to date.
Disclaimer
The information on this webpage is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as investment advice, a recommendation to purchase or sell any security, or an offer or solicitation related to investments. It does not consider your personal financial situation, goals, or risk profile, and all investing carries inherent risks, including the possibility of losing your entire investment. For more details, please review our full disclaimer.
Contributor
Sergey Savastiouk, Ph.D. has a degree in Applied Mathematics from Moscow University and has extensive experience as an entrepreneur, investor, manager, and mathematician. His professional expertise is in applied mathematics, mathematical modeling, system and pattern analysis, and software and hardware system integration. He has served as the CEO of several hi-tech start-up companies and nonprofit organizations, which has given him proven capabilities in business strategy for high-tech start-up companies, market assessment, company formation, team building, product development, marketing, and sales. He has published numerous articles in journals and magazines on related fields. As a retail investor, he spent 15 years developing his proprietary trading and quantitative algorithms (now Tickeron’s A.I.), which brought him significant returns in trading the stock market. His current work and goal in founding Tickeron is to bring professional, sophisticated stock market analysis capabilities to retail investors via an easy-to-use interface.
AVUV sees its Stochastic Oscillator ascending out of oversold territory
On November 11, 2026, the Stochastic Oscillator for AVUV moved out of oversold territory and this could be a bullish sign for the stock. Traders may want to buy the stock or buy call options. Tickeron's A.I.dvisor looked at 56 instances where the indicator left the oversold zone. In 54 of the 56 cases the stock moved higher in the following days. This puts the odds of a move higher at over 90%.
Technical Analysis (Indicators)
Bullish Trend Analysis
AVUV moved above its 50-day moving average on November 09, 2026 date and that indicates a change from a downward trend to an upward trend.
The 10-day moving average for AVUV crossed bullishly above the 50-day moving average on November 02, 2026. This indicates that the trend has shifted higher and could be considered a buy signal. In 16 of 17 past instances when the 10-day crossed above the 50-day, the stock continued to move higher over the following month. The odds of a continued upward trend are 90%.
Following a +0.72% 3-day Advance, the price is estimated to grow further. Considering data from situations where AVUV advanced for three days, in 245 of 295 cases, the price rose further within the following month. The odds of a continued upward trend are 83%.
The Aroon Indicator entered an Uptrend today. In 263 of 305 cases where AVUV Aroon's Indicator entered an Uptrend, the price rose further within the following month. The odds of a continued Uptrend are 86%.
Bearish Trend Analysis
The 10-day RSI Indicator for AVUV moved out of overbought territory on October 30, 2026. This could be a bearish sign for the stock. Traders may want to consider selling the stock or buying put options. Tickeron's A.I.dvisor looked at 45 similar instances where the indicator moved out of overbought territory. In 39 of the 45 cases, the stock moved lower in the following days. This puts the odds of a move lower at 87%.
The Momentum Indicator moved below the 0 level on November 12, 2026. You may want to consider selling the stock, shorting the stock, or exploring put options on AVUV as a result. In 72 of 82 cases where the Momentum Indicator fell below 0, the stock fell further within the subsequent month. The odds of a continued downward trend are 88%.
The Moving Average Convergence Divergence Histogram (MACD) for AVUV turned negative on November 06, 2026. This could be a sign that the stock is set to turn lower in the coming weeks. Traders may want to sell the stock or buy put options. Tickeron's A.I.dvisor looked at 49 similar instances when the indicator turned negative. In 40 of the 49 cases the stock turned lower in the days that followed. This puts the odds of success at 82%.
Following a 3-day decline, the stock is projected to fall further. Considering past instances where AVUV declined for three days, the price rose further in 50 of 62 cases within the following month. The odds of a continued downward trend are 80%.
AVUV broke above its upper Bollinger Band on October 29, 2026. This could be a sign that the stock is set to drop as the stock moves back below the upper band and toward the middle band. You may want to consider selling the stock or exploring put options.
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