AESL vs DFAT

AESL vs DFAT

Which is better, AESL or DFAT?

DFAT costs less.

DFAT has a lower expense ratio.

Lower Fees: DFAT

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

MetricAESLDFAT
Expense Ratio0.40%0.28%Best
AUM$2M$30.6B
Dividend Yield0.00%1.40%
Holdings1021,234
YTD Return-2.65%+13.08%Best
1Y Return-+18.14%
3Y Return (annualized)-+16.01%
5Y Return (annualized)-+9.45%
Fund FamilyHarbor FundsDimensional
CategoryEquityEquity
StyleSmall Cap ValueSmall Cap Value
InceptionAug 26, 2026Dec 11, 1998

Not shown on this pair: Volatility (annualized), Max Drawdown, $10,000 over the window, Top 10 Weight.

AESL vs DFAT 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 is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.

Compare AESL against instead:AESL vs SPYAESL vs QQQAESL vs VOOAESL vs VTIDFAT against:DFAT vs VXUS

AESL vs DFAT Performance

Harbor AlphaEdge Small Cap Value ETF (AESL) is an ETF from Harbor Funds and Dimensional US Targeted Value ETF (DFAT) is an ETF from Dimensional. Year to date, AESL is down 2.65% versus a gain of 13.08% for DFAT.

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Fees and Cost Over Time

AESL charges 0.40% per year while DFAT charges 0.28%. On a $10,000 position that is $40 vs $28 annually, a gap of $12 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, AESL currently yields 0.00% against 1.40% for DFAT.

Holdings Overlap

We hold position weights for 126 holdings in AESL and 1,141 in DFAT, totalling 99.3% and 72.0% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.

0 positions in common, counted across the 126 positions we hold weights for in AESL and 1,141 in DFAT, against full books of 102 and 1,234.

You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.

Whichever of AESL and DFAT you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.

AESLDFAT

Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, AESL or DFAT?

AESL has an expense ratio of 0.40% while DFAT charges 0.28%. DFAT is the cheaper option, by $12 a year on a $10,000 investment.

Which pays a higher dividend, AESL or DFAT?

AESL yields 0.00% while DFAT yields 1.40%, so DFAT currently pays the higher dividend yield.

Is DFAT better than AESL?

DFAT has a lower expense ratio. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.