DFAX vs VTI
Dimensional World ex US Core Equity 2 ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, DFAX or VTI?
Each has led over a different period.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. DFAX led over 1Y, VTI over 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 | DFAX | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.28% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $12.4B | $690.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.24% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 10,538 | 3,524 |
| YTD Return | +13.19% | +14.43%Best |
| 1Y Return | +21.35%Best | +18.05% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +21.71% | +22.93%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +10.69% | +12.74%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.2%Best | 15.8% |
| Max Drawdown | -28.1% | -25.4%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $16,617 | $18,213Best |
| Fund Family | Dimensional | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 6, 2008 | May 24, 2001 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 13, 2021 to Oct 12, 2026 (5.1 years).
DFAX 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 5.1 years both funds cover.
DFAX vs VTI Performance
Dimensional World ex US Core Equity 2 ETF (DFAX) is an ETF from Dimensional and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year DFAX returned +21.35% while VTI returned +18.05%. Year to date, DFAX is up 13.19% versus a gain of 14.43% for VTI.
Over three years, DFAX compounded at +21.71% per year against +22.93% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +10.69% and +12.74% respectively.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VTI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.8% compared with 15.2% for DFAX. 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 -28.1% for DFAX 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 0.78. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
DFAX charges 0.28% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $28 vs $3 annually, a gap of $25 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, DFAX currently yields 2.24% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.4% of VTI's money is in holdings DFAX also owns.
Stated as a floor: for DFAX, our book for it covers 89.4% 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.
The two holdings books were reported 46 days apart, DFAX as of Sep 15, 2026 and VTI as of Jul 31, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
16 positions in common, counted across the 10,259 positions we hold weights for in DFAX and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 10,538 and 3,524.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in DFAX | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| UNPUnion Pacific Corp | 0.00% | 0.24% | 0.24% |
| SUNBSunbelt Rentals | 0.07% | 0.04% | 0.03% |
| WCN:CAWaste Connections Inc Common Stock Cad 0 | 0.04% | 0.06% | 0.02% |
| RBA:CARb Global, Inc | 0.03% | 0.03% | 0.00% |
| CDECoeur Mining Inc | 0.04% | 0.02% | 0.02% |
| IPInternational Paper Co. | 0.02% | 0.03% | 0.01% |
| OVVOvintiv Inc. | 0.01% | 0.02% | 0.01% |
| RAILFreightcar America Inc | 0.01% | 0.00% | 0.01% |
| SRG:AUSeritage Growth Properties Class A Common Stock | 0.01% | 0.00% | 0.01% |
| CAST:ILCastro | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of DFAX 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, DFAX or VTI?
DFAX has an expense ratio of 0.28% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $25 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, DFAX or VTI?
Over the past year DFAX returned +21.35% vs +18.05% for VTI, so DFAX leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, DFAX or VTI?
VTI has been the more volatile fund at 15.8% annualized versus 15.2% for DFAX. Worst drawdown: DFAX -28.1% vs VTI -25.4%.
Should I hold both DFAX and VTI?
DFAX and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.78, 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, DFAX or VTI?
DFAX yields 2.24% while VTI yields 1.03%, so DFAX currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than DFAX?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. DFAX led over 1Y, VTI over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.