Alpha Architect Global Factor Equity ETF (AAVM) Performance
AAVM total return
Distributions reinvested · as of Oct 23, 2026- YTD
- +14.0% since Dec 31, 2025
- 1 year
- +19.6% total return
- 5 years
- +6.4% a year
- Since first price
- +4.9% a year since 2017
AAVM trailing returns vs SPY, QQQ, AGG
| Period | AAVM total return | Price only | S&P 500 (SPY) | Nasdaq-100 (QQQ) | U.S. bonds (AGG) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 month | −0.1% | −0.1% | −1.0% | −5.0% | +0.9% |
| 3 months | +1.0% | +1.0% | +3.2% | +1.9% | −0.4% |
| 6 months | +0.3% | +0.3% | +7.8% | +8.4% | −1.5% |
| YTD | +14.0% | +14.0% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 1 year | +19.6% | +17.2% | +14.4% | +15.9% | −1.1% |
| 3 years | +71.0%+19.6%/yr | +57.0% | +87.4%+23.3%/yr | +101.4%+26.3%/yr | +16.6%+5.2%/yr |
| 5 years | +36.1%+6.4%/yr | +21.4% | +79.3%+12.4%/yr | +94.0%+14.2%/yr | −0.8%−0.2%/yr |
| Since inceptionMay 4, 2017 | +56.7%+4.9%/yr | +35.0% | — | — | — |
Total return from adjusted closes (distributions reinvested, before tax). Periods of 3 years or more are also shown annualized. Price only excludes distributions.
Growth of $10,000: AAVM vs SPY
From May 4, 2017: AAVM grew to $15,669, SPY to $36,893.
Year-end values with distributions reinvested, no taxes or trading costs. Start: first common trading day of both funds.
AAVM returns by calendar year
5 of 8 full years positive. Best 2025 (+18.5%), worst 2018 (−15.6%). 2026 is year to date.
AAVM annual returns table
| Year | AAVM | Largest drop | SPY | QQQ | AGG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | +14.0% | −10.9% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 2025 | +18.5% | −18.0% | +17.7% | +20.8% | +7.2% |
| 2024 | +12.1% | −11.6% | +24.9% | +25.6% | +1.3% |
| 2023 | −0.7% | −13.7% | +26.2% | +54.9% | +5.7% |
| 2022 | −7.0% | −14.1% | −18.2% | −32.6% | −13.0% |
| 2021 | +3.5% | −12.9% | +28.7% | +27.4% | −1.8% |
| 2020 | +4.7% | −22.5% | +18.3% | +48.6% | +7.5% |
| 2019 | +4.6% | −9.3% | +31.2% | +39.0% | +8.5% |
| 2018 | −15.6% | −24.6% | −4.6% | −0.1% | +0.1% |
Largest drop = deepest fall from a high within that calendar year.
Calendar-year return vs largest drop within the year
Most years include a sizable fall at some point even when the year ends higher.
AAVM largest drawdowns
Now 3.7% below the high| Peak | Decline | Bottom | Recovered | Fall | Underwater |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 26, 2018 | −34.7% | Mar 18, 2020 | Aug 13, 2025 | 2.1 years | 7.5 years |
| Feb 27, 2026 | −10.9% | Mar 30, 2026 | Apr 17, 2026 | 31 days | 49 days |
Declines from a closing high (distributions reinvested) of 10% or more. Underwater = time from the peak until the old high was regained.
AAVM risk statistics
| Statistic | 3 years | 5 years | Since 2017 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annualized return | +17.4% | +7.0% | +4.8% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.2% | 13.6% | 12.9% |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.90 | 0.31 | 0.24 |
| Sortino ratio | 1.49 | 0.46 | 0.34 |
| Best month | +7.8% | +7.8% | +7.8% |
| Worst month | −7.6% | −7.6% | −9.7% |
| Best 12 months | +38.9% | +38.9% | +38.9% |
| Worst 12 months | −2.2% | −16.3% | −19.5% |
| Positive months | 67% | 57% | 58% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 0.85 | 0.54 | — |
| Correlation with S&P 500 | 0.75 | 0.63 | — |
From monthly total returns. Sharpe and Sortino use 1–3 month T-bills (BIL) as the risk-free rate, so they need history from 2007 on.
AAVM rolling returns
| Holding period | Periods | Worst | Median | Best | Positive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-year | 102 | −19.5% | +3.4% | +38.9% | 54% |
| 3-year (a year) | 78 | −4.8% | +1.2% | +20.8% | 62% |
| 5-year (a year) | 54 | −5.0% | +3.1% | +7.2% | 67% |
Every holding period starting at a month-end since 2017. Returns for 3 years and longer are annualized.
AAVM performance overview
Alpha Architect Global Factor Equity ETF (AAVM) returned +19.6% over the past year and +6.4% a year over five years, with distributions reinvested. Since its first recorded price in 2017 it has returned +4.9% a year, turning $10,000 into about $15,669. Over the same year S&P 500 (SPY) returned +14.4%.
The deepest decline was −34.7%, from Jan 26, 2018 to Mar 18, 2020, and it took 5.4 years to get back to the old high. AAVM finished 5 of its 8 full calendar years with a gain; the best year was 2025 (+18.5%) and the worst 2018 (−15.6%). Volatility has been 12.9% a year.
Related: AAVM chart, AAVM dividends. See the AAVM overview for the latest quote and fund facts.
AAVM performance FAQ
What is the AAVM return over the past year?
AAVM returned +19.6% over the 12 months to October 23, 2026, including reinvested distributions. On price alone it rose 17.2%.
What is the average annual return of AAVM?
AAVM has returned +6.4% a year over 5 years, +4.9% a year since May 4, 2017 (total return, distributions reinvested).
How much would $10,000 invested in AAVM be worth?
$10,000 invested in AAVM at its first recorded close on May 4, 2017 would be worth about $15,669 on October 23, 2026 with distributions reinvested.
What was the worst year for AAVM?
The worst calendar year was 2018, with a total return of −15.6%. The best was 2025 at +18.5%.
What is the biggest drawdown of AAVM?
The largest peak-to-trough decline was −34.7% between January 26, 2018 and March 18, 2020. It recovered to the old high on August 13, 2025, 5.4 years after the bottom.
How volatile is AAVM?
Over the past 3 years AAVM had an annualized volatility of 14.2% and a Sharpe ratio of 0.90 (excess return over 1–3 month T-bills per unit of risk).