DFAS vs SEIS
Dimensional US Small Cap ETF vs SEI Select Small Cap ETF
Which is better, DFAS or SEIS?
Nearly the same fund. DFAS costs less.
DFAS has a lower expense ratio. DFAS led over 1Y, SEIS over the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.97.
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 | DFAS | SEIS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.27%Best | 0.55% |
| AUM | $34.2B | $607M |
| Dividend Yield | 1.04% | 0.35% |
| Holdings | 2,060 | 767 |
| YTD Return | +10.62%Best | +10.36% |
| 1Y Return | +14.08%Best | +11.88% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +15.46% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +7.05% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.5%Best | 18.4% |
| Max Drawdown | -26.1% | -25.7%Best |
| $10,000 over 2 years | $12,339 | $12,417Best |
| Fund Family | Dimensional | SEI EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Blend | Small Cap Blend |
| Inception | Dec 15, 1998 | Oct 8, 2024 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 10, 2024 to Oct 14, 2026 (2 years).
DFAS vs SEIS 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 2 years both funds cover.
DFAS vs SEIS Performance
Dimensional US Small Cap ETF (DFAS) is an ETF from Dimensional and SEI Select Small Cap ETF (SEIS) is an ETF from SEI EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS. Over the past year DFAS returned +14.08% while SEIS returned +11.88%. Year to date, DFAS is up 10.62% versus a gain of 10.36% for SEIS.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SEIS has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.4% compared with 16.5% for DFAS. 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 -26.1% for DFAS and -25.7% for SEIS. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.97. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
DFAS charges 0.27% per year while SEIS charges 0.55%. On a $10,000 position that is $27 vs $55 annually, a gap of $28 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, DFAS currently yields 1.04% against 0.35% for SEIS.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.1% of SEIS's money is in holdings DFAS also owns.
Stated as a floor: for DFAS, our book for it covers 93.8% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
1 positions in common, counted across the 1,552 positions we hold weights for in DFAS and 369 in SEIS, against full books of 2,060 and 767.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in DFAS | Weight in SEIS | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| LNCLincoln National Corp. | 0.07% | 0.14% | 0.07% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of DFAS and SEIS 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, DFAS or SEIS?
DFAS has an expense ratio of 0.27% while SEIS charges 0.55%. DFAS is the cheaper option, by $28 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, DFAS or SEIS?
Over the past year DFAS returned +14.08% vs +11.88% for SEIS, so DFAS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), DFAS annualized +11.08% vs +11.43% for SEIS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, DFAS or SEIS?
SEIS has been the more volatile fund at 18.4% annualized versus 16.5% for DFAS. Worst drawdown: DFAS -26.1% vs SEIS -25.7%.
Should I hold both DFAS and SEIS?
DFAS and SEIS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.97, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, DFAS or SEIS?
DFAS yields 1.04% while SEIS yields 0.35%, so DFAS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SEIS better than DFAS?
DFAS has a lower expense ratio. DFAS led over 1Y, SEIS over the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.97. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.