DFAS vs VTI
Dimensional US Small Cap ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, DFAS or VTI?
Small Cap Blend against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window.
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 | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.27% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $34.2B | $689.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.04% | 1.06% |
| Holdings | 2,060 | 3,524 |
| YTD Return | +10.62% | +13.02%Best |
| 1Y Return | +14.08% | +16.63%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +15.46% | +21.97%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +7.05% | +11.99%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.9% | 15.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -26.1% | -25.4%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $14,058 | $17,616Best |
| Fund Family | Dimensional | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Dec 15, 1998 | May 24, 2001 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 14, 2021 to Oct 14, 2026 (5.3 years).
DFAS vs VTI 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 5.3 years both funds cover.
DFAS vs VTI Performance
Dimensional US Small Cap ETF (DFAS) is an ETF from Dimensional and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year DFAS returned +14.08% while VTI returned +16.63%. Year to date, DFAS is up 10.62% versus a gain of 13.02% for VTI.
Over three years, DFAS compounded at +15.46% per year against +21.97% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +7.05% and +11.99% respectively.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
DFAS has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.9% compared with 15.6% for VTI. 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 -25.4% for VTI. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.86. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
DFAS charges 0.27% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $27 vs $3 annually, a gap of $24 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, DFAS currently yields 1.04% against 1.06% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.1% of VTI'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.
3 positions in common, counted across the 1,552 positions we hold weights for in DFAS and 3,441 in VTI, against full books of 2,060 and 3,524.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of DFAS and VTI 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 VTI?
DFAS has an expense ratio of 0.27% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $24 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, DFAS or VTI?
Over the past year DFAS returned +14.08% vs +16.63% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, DFAS or VTI?
DFAS has been the more volatile fund at 18.9% annualized versus 15.6% for VTI. Worst drawdown: DFAS -26.1% vs VTI -25.4%.
Should I hold both DFAS and VTI?
DFAS and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.86, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, DFAS or VTI?
DFAS yields 1.04% while VTI yields 1.06%, so VTI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than DFAS?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.