DFCF vs VTI
Dimensional Core Fixed Income ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, DFCF or VTI?
Long Term Bond against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. DFCF is less concentrated, with 32.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 33.3%.
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 | DFCF | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.17% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $11.5B | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 4.38% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 1,754 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | -1.08% | +12.28%Best |
| 1Y Return | -0.42% | +16.78%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +4.66% | +20.89%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +11.94% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 6.8%Best | 16.0% |
| Max Drawdown | -19.6%Best | -25.4% |
| $10,000 over 4.8 years | $9,904 | $16,467Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 32.3%Best | 33.3% |
| Fund Family | Dimensional | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | Long Term Bond | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Nov 15, 2021 | May 24, 2001 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 4.8 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 16, 2021 to Sep 17, 2026 (4.8 years).
DFCF 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 4.8 years both funds cover.
DFCF vs VTI Performance
Dimensional Core Fixed Income ETF (DFCF) is an ETF from Dimensional and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year DFCF returned -0.42% while VTI returned +16.78%. Year to date, DFCF is down 1.08% versus a gain of 12.28% for VTI.
Over three years, DFCF compounded at +4.66% per year against +20.89% for VTI.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VTI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.0% compared with 6.8% for DFCF. 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 -19.6% for DFCF 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 0.67. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
DFCF charges 0.17% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $17 vs $3 annually, a gap of $14 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, DFCF currently yields 4.38% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 1,577 holdings in DFCF and 3,463 in VTI, totalling 97.6% and 98.1% of the two funds. That is not enough of VTI to divide by, so no overlap percentage is shown here. Within what we can see, 1 positions appear in both.
1 positions in common, counted across the 1,577 positions we hold weights for in DFCF and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 1,754 and 3,543.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1,134 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for DFCF (97.4% of the fund), and 1,128 for DFCF that do not appear in VTI (97.5%).
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 DFCF | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| LYBLyb Int Finance Iii 3.375 10/01/2040 | 0.02% | 0.02% | 0.00% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of DFCF 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, DFCF or VTI?
DFCF has an expense ratio of 0.17% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $14 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, DFCF or VTI?
Over the past year DFCF returned -0.42% vs +16.78% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, DFCF or VTI?
VTI has been the more volatile fund at 16.0% annualized versus 6.8% for DFCF. Worst drawdown: DFCF -19.6% vs VTI -25.4%.
Should I hold both DFCF and VTI?
DFCF and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.67, 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, DFCF or VTI?
DFCF yields 4.38% while VTI yields 1.03%, so DFCF currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than DFCF?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. DFCF is less concentrated, with 32.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 33.3%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.