DFAR vs VXUS
Dimensional US Real Estate ETF vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, DFAR or VXUS?
VXUS has been ahead.
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. VXUS led over 1Y, 3Y 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 | DFAR | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.19% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $1.7B | $158.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.71% | 2.51% |
| Holdings | 124 | 8,747 |
| YTD Return | +11.00% | +13.64%Best |
| 1Y Return | +9.59% | +20.82%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +9.66% | +19.58%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +9.14% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.3% | 15.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -32.3% | -24.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 4.6 years | $11,294 | $16,746Best |
| Fund Family | Dimensional | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Feb 23, 2022 | Jan 26, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 4.6 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 24, 2022 to Sep 17, 2026 (4.6 years).
DFAR vs VXUS 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 4.6 years both funds cover.
DFAR vs VXUS Performance
Dimensional US Real Estate ETF (DFAR) is an ETF from Dimensional and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year DFAR returned +9.59% while VXUS returned +20.82%. Year to date, DFAR is up 11.00% versus a gain of 13.64% for VXUS.
Over three years, DFAR compounded at +9.66% per year against +19.58% for VXUS.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
DFAR has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.3% compared with 15.3% for VXUS. 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 -32.3% for DFAR and -24.1% for VXUS. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.79. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
DFAR charges 0.19% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $19 vs $5 annually, a gap of $14 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, DFAR currently yields 2.71% against 2.51% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.8% of DFAR's money is in holdings VXUS also owns.
Stated as a floor: for VXUS, our book for it covers 88.8% 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 120 positions we hold weights for in DFAR and 8,082 in VXUS, against full books of 124 and 8,747.
What only one of them owns
Measured across the 120 and 8,082 positions we hold weights for.
VXUS holds 35 positions DFAR does not, 2.3% of the fund.
Largest: MKL 0.76%, SHEL 0.57%, VWO 0.11%, JD 0.09%, ALC 0.08%
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in DFAR | Weight in VXUS | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| EGPEastgroup Properties Inc. Real Estate Investment Trust | 0.82% | 0.00% | 0.82% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of DFAR and VXUS 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, DFAR or VXUS?
DFAR has an expense ratio of 0.19% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $14 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, DFAR or VXUS?
Over the past year DFAR returned +9.59% vs +20.82% for VXUS, so VXUS leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, DFAR or VXUS?
DFAR has been the more volatile fund at 18.3% annualized versus 15.3% for VXUS. Worst drawdown: DFAR -32.3% vs VXUS -24.1%.
Should I hold both DFAR and VXUS?
DFAR and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.79, 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, DFAR or VXUS?
DFAR yields 2.71% while VXUS yields 2.51%, so DFAR currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than DFAR?
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. VXUS led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.