DFUS vs SDVD
Dimensional US Equity Market ETF vs FT Vest SMID Rising Dividend Achievers Target Income ETF
Which is better, DFUS or SDVD?
DFUS has been ahead.
DFUS has a lower expense ratio. DFUS led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. SDVD is less concentrated, with 10.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 35.2%.
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 | DFUS | SDVD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.09%Best | 0.85% |
| AUM | $21.6B | $872M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.87% | 8.68% |
| Holdings | 2,253 | 348 |
| YTD Return | +13.39%Best | +3.20% |
| 1Y Return | +17.12%Best | +6.25% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +22.25%Best | +13.58% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.82% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 13.0%Best | 22.2% |
| Max Drawdown | -19.4%Best | -29.1% |
| $10,000 over 3.2 years | $17,965Best | $11,057 |
| Top 10 Weight | 35.2% | 10.3%Best |
| Fund Family | Dimensional | First Trust Portfolios (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Sep 25, 2001 | Aug 9, 2023 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 3.2 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Aug 10, 2023 to Oct 14, 2026 (3.2 years).
DFUS vs SDVD 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 3.2 years both funds cover.
DFUS vs SDVD Performance
Dimensional US Equity Market ETF (DFUS) is an ETF from Dimensional and FT Vest SMID Rising Dividend Achievers Target Income ETF (SDVD) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US). Over the past year DFUS returned +17.12% while SDVD returned +6.25%. Year to date, DFUS is up 13.39% versus a gain of 3.20% for SDVD.
Over three years, DFUS compounded at +22.25% per year against +13.58% for SDVD.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SDVD has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 22.2% compared with 13.0% for DFUS. 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 -19.4% for DFUS and -29.1% for SDVD. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.69. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
DFUS charges 0.09% per year while SDVD charges 0.85%. On a $10,000 position that is $9 vs $85 annually, a gap of $76 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, DFUS currently yields 0.87% against 8.68% for SDVD.
Holdings Overlap
2.8% of DFUS's money is in holdings SDVD also owns. 98.2% of SDVD's money is in holdings DFUS also owns.
Most of SDVD is already inside DFUS. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
169 positions in common, counted across the 2,226 positions we hold weights for in DFUS and 172 in SDVD, against full books of 2,253 and 348.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1 positions for SDVD that do not appear in our book for DFUS (0.4% of the fund), and 845 for DFUS that do not appear in SDVD (94.9%).
Some of those will be the same company recorded under a different code in one of the two books, so the real difference in what you would own is no larger than this and may be smaller. We do not name the individual positions here for that reason.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in DFUS | Weight in SDVD | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NHCNational Healthcare Corporation | 0.00% | 1.16% | 1.16% |
| AITApplied Industrial Technologies Inc | 0.02% | 1.03% | 1.01% |
| RGAReinsurance Group of America, Incorporated | 0.02% | 1.03% | 1.01% |
| FBPFirst Bancorp/puerto Rico | 0.01% | 1.03% | 1.02% |
| IBKRInteractive Brokers Group Inc | 0.06% | 0.98% | 0.92% |
| WSMWilliams-sonoma Inc | 0.04% | 1.00% | 0.96% |
| NTAPNetapp Inc | 0.06% | 0.97% | 0.91% |
| IPARInter Parfums Inc | 0.00% | 1.02% | 1.02% |
| OFG:PROfg Bancorp Common Stock | 0.00% | 1.02% | 1.02% |
| WTSWatts Water Technologies Inc | 0.01% | 1.00% | 0.99% |
98.2% of SDVD is already inside DFUS.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, DFUS or SDVD?
DFUS has an expense ratio of 0.09% while SDVD charges 0.85%. DFUS is the cheaper option, by $76 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, DFUS or SDVD?
Over the past year DFUS returned +17.12% vs +6.25% for SDVD, so DFUS leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, DFUS or SDVD?
SDVD has been the more volatile fund at 22.2% annualized versus 13.0% for DFUS. Worst drawdown: DFUS -19.4% vs SDVD -29.1%.
Should I hold both DFUS and SDVD?
DFUS and SDVD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.69, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between DFUS and SDVD?
98.2% of SDVD's money is in holdings DFUS also owns. 98.2% of SDVD's is in holdings DFUS also owns. They hold 169 positions in common, counted across the 2,226 positions we hold weights for in DFUS and 172 in SDVD.
Which pays a higher dividend, DFUS or SDVD?
DFUS yields 0.87% while SDVD yields 8.68%, so SDVD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SDVD better than DFUS?
DFUS has a lower expense ratio. DFUS led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. SDVD is less concentrated, with 10.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 35.2%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.