DFAE vs VTI
Dimensional Emerging Core Equity Market ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, DFAE or VTI?
Each has led over a different period.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. DFAE led over 1Y and 3Y, VTI over 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 | DFAE | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.29% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $10.1B | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.84% | 1.07% |
| Holdings | 6,482 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | +22.34%Best | +12.95% |
| 1Y Return | +35.29%Best | +19.17% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +22.82%Best | +20.86% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +9.90% | +11.72%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.1% | 15.2%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -32.2% | -25.4%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $16,032 | $17,404Best |
| Fund Family | Dimensional | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Dec 1, 2020 | May 24, 2001 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 2, 2020 to Sep 8, 2026 (5.8 years).
DFAE 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 5.8 years both funds cover.
DFAE vs VTI Performance
Dimensional Emerging Core Equity Market ETF (DFAE) is an ETF from Dimensional and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year DFAE returned +35.29% while VTI returned +19.17%. Year to date, DFAE is up 22.34% versus a gain of 12.95% for VTI.
Over three years, DFAE compounded at +22.82% per year against +20.86% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +9.90% and +11.72% respectively. Across the full 6-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +14.23% annualized vs +10.63%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
DFAE has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.1% compared with 15.2% 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 -32.2% for DFAE 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 0.66. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
DFAE charges 0.29% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $29 vs $3 annually, a gap of $26 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, DFAE currently yields 1.84% against 1.07% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 6,067 holdings in DFAE and 2,788 in VTI, totalling 93.2% and 92.3% of the two funds. Neither is a share of a fund we can divide by, so no overlap percentage is shown here. Within what we can see, 4 positions appear in both.
4 positions in common, counted across the 6,067 positions we hold weights for in DFAE and 2,788 in VTI, against full books of 6,482 and 3,543.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of DFAE 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, DFAE or VTI?
DFAE has an expense ratio of 0.29% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $26 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, DFAE or VTI?
Over the past year DFAE returned +35.29% vs +19.17% for VTI, so DFAE leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (6 years), DFAE annualized +10.63% vs +14.23% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, DFAE or VTI?
DFAE has been the more volatile fund at 16.1% annualized versus 15.2% for VTI. Worst drawdown: DFAE -32.2% vs VTI -25.4%.
Should I hold both DFAE and VTI?
DFAE and VTI 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, DFAE or VTI?
DFAE yields 1.84% while VTI yields 1.07%, so DFAE currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than DFAE?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. DFAE led over 1Y and 3Y, VTI over 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.