DFAS vs RUSC
Dimensional US Small Cap ETF vs Russell Investments US Small Cap Equity ETF
Which is better, DFAS or RUSC?
Nearly the same fund. DFAS costs less.
DFAS has a lower expense ratio. RUSC led over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.97. DFAS is less concentrated, with 2.7% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 4.8%.
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 | RUSC |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.26%Best | 0.64% |
| AUM | $33.7B | $82M |
| Dividend Yield | 1.01% | 0.32% |
| Holdings | 3,996 | 1,001 |
| YTD Return | +15.49% | +19.28%Best |
| 1Y Return | +19.24% | +22.57%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +17.75% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +6.45% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 12.2%Best | 14.4% |
| Max Drawdown | -9.4%Best | -9.8% |
| $10,000 over 1.5 years | $13,177 | $14,127Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 2.7%Best | 4.8% |
| Fund Family | Dimensional | Russell Investments |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Blend | Small Cap Blend |
| Inception | Dec 15, 1998 | May 13, 2025 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.5 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: May 14, 2025 to Nov 11, 2026 (1.5 years).
DFAS vs RUSC 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 1.5 years both funds cover.
DFAS vs RUSC Performance
Dimensional US Small Cap ETF (DFAS) is an ETF from Dimensional and Russell Investments US Small Cap Equity ETF (RUSC) is an ETF from Russell Investments. Over the past year DFAS returned +19.24% while RUSC returned +22.57%. Year to date, DFAS is up 15.49% versus a gain of 19.28% for RUSC.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
RUSC has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.4% compared with 12.2% for DFAS. 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 -9.4% for DFAS and -9.8% for RUSC. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.97. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
DFAS charges 0.26% per year while RUSC charges 0.64%. On a $10,000 position that is $26 vs $64 annually, a gap of $38 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, DFAS currently yields 1.01% against 0.32% for RUSC.
Holdings Overlap
19.2% of DFAS's money is in holdings RUSC also owns. 69.3% of RUSC's money is in holdings DFAS also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
337 positions in common, counted across the 2,093 positions we hold weights for in DFAS and 498 in RUSC, against full books of 3,996 and 1,001.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 63 positions for RUSC that do not appear in our book for DFAS (11.2% of the fund), and 1,230 for DFAS that do not appear in RUSC (78.7%).
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 DFAS | Weight in RUSC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| LGNDLigand Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | 0.09% | 0.64% | 0.55% |
| CXTCrane Nxt Co | 0.07% | 0.65% | 0.58% |
| CDNACaredx Inc | 0.08% | 0.58% | 0.50% |
| KRYSKrystal Biotech Inc | 0.21% | 0.39% | 0.18% |
| JXNJackson Financial Inc USD | 0.20% | 0.38% | 0.18% |
| WTTRSelect Energy Services Inc | 0.05% | 0.52% | 0.47% |
| OSCROscar Health, Inc. | 0.17% | 0.39% | 0.22% |
| ZETAZeta Global Holdings Corp-A | 0.16% | 0.35% | 0.19% |
| VACMarriott Vacations Worldwide Corp | 0.10% | 0.39% | 0.29% |
| DBXDropbox Inc. Class A | 0.14% | 0.35% | 0.21% |
69.3% of RUSC is already inside DFAS.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, DFAS or RUSC?
DFAS has an expense ratio of 0.26% while RUSC charges 0.64%. DFAS is the cheaper option, by $38 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, DFAS or RUSC?
Over the past year DFAS returned +19.24% vs +22.57% for RUSC, so RUSC leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), DFAS annualized +20.19% vs +25.90% for RUSC. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, DFAS or RUSC?
RUSC has been the more volatile fund at 14.4% annualized versus 12.2% for DFAS. Worst drawdown: DFAS -9.4% vs RUSC -9.8%.
Should I hold both DFAS and RUSC?
DFAS and RUSC have a monthly-return correlation of 0.97, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between DFAS and RUSC?
69.3% of RUSC's money is in holdings DFAS also owns. 69.3% of RUSC's is in holdings DFAS also owns. They hold 337 positions in common, counted across the 2,093 positions we hold weights for in DFAS and 498 in RUSC.
Which pays a higher dividend, DFAS or RUSC?
DFAS yields 1.01% while RUSC yields 0.32%, so DFAS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is RUSC better than DFAS?
DFAS has a lower expense ratio. RUSC led over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.97. DFAS is less concentrated, with 2.7% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 4.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.