DFCF vs SPY
Dimensional Core Fixed Income ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, DFCF or SPY?
Long Term Bond against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY 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 | DFCF | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.17% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $11.5B | $823.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 4.56% | 0.99% |
| Holdings | 3,657 | 1,515 |
| YTD Return | -2.35% | +13.53%Best |
| 1Y Return | -2.14% | +17.47%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +4.86% | +22.36%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -0.46% | +13.21%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 6.9%Best | 15.6% |
| Max Drawdown | -19.6%Best | -24.5% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $9,772 | $18,596Best |
| Fund Family | Dimensional | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | Long Term Bond | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Nov 15, 2021 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 16, 2021 to Oct 14, 2026 (4.9 years).
DFCF vs SPY 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 4.9 years both funds cover.
DFCF vs SPY Performance
Dimensional Core Fixed Income ETF (DFCF) is an ETF from Dimensional and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year DFCF returned -2.14% while SPY returned +17.47%. Year to date, DFCF is down 2.35% versus a gain of 13.53% for SPY.
Over three years, DFCF compounded at +4.86% per year against +22.36% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are -0.46% and +13.21% respectively.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.6% compared with 6.9% for DFCF. 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 -19.6% for DFCF and -24.5% for SPY. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.66. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
DFCF charges 0.17% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $17 vs $9 annually, a gap of $8 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, DFCF currently yields 4.56% against 0.99% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.1% of SPY's money is in holdings DFCF also owns.
Stated as a floor: for DFCF, our book for it covers 94.8% 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 1,580 positions we hold weights for in DFCF and 504 in SPY, against full books of 3,657 and 1,515.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in DFCF | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| PRUPrudential Financial Inc. | 0.03% | 0.06% | 0.03% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of DFCF and SPY 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, DFCF or SPY?
DFCF has an expense ratio of 0.17% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $8 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, DFCF or SPY?
Over the past year DFCF returned -2.14% vs +17.47% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, DFCF or SPY?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 15.6% annualized versus 6.9% for DFCF. Worst drawdown: DFCF -19.6% vs SPY -24.5%.
Should I hold both DFCF and SPY?
DFCF and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.66, 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, DFCF or SPY?
DFCF yields 4.56% while SPY yields 0.99%, so DFCF currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than DFCF?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY 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.