DFIC vs VTI
Dimensional International Core Equity 2 ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, DFIC or VTI?
VTI has been ahead.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI 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 | DFIC | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.22% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $15.1B | $690.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.30% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 4,134 | 3,524 |
| YTD Return | +8.50% | +14.35%Best |
| 1Y Return | +16.95% | +17.97%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +20.13% | +22.47%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.62% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.9%Tie | 15.9%Tie |
| Max Drawdown | -24.4% | -22.4%Best |
| $10,000 over 4.6 years | $16,725 | $17,978Best |
| Fund Family | Dimensional | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 23, 2022 | May 24, 2001 |
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: Mar 24, 2022 to Oct 13, 2026 (4.6 years).
DFIC 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 4.6 years both funds cover.
DFIC vs VTI Performance
Dimensional International Core Equity 2 ETF (DFIC) is an ETF from Dimensional and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year DFIC returned +16.95% while VTI returned +17.97%. Year to date, DFIC is up 8.50% versus a gain of 14.35% for VTI.
Over three years, DFIC compounded at +20.13% per year against +22.47% for VTI.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
DFIC and VTI have been equally volatile, both at 15.9% annualized.
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -24.4% for DFIC and -22.4% 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 0.77. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
DFIC charges 0.22% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $22 vs $3 annually, a gap of $19 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, DFIC currently yields 2.30% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.2% of VTI's money is in holdings DFIC also owns.
Stated as a floor: for DFIC, our book for it covers 94.6% 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, DFIC 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.
11 positions in common, counted across the 4,007 positions we hold weights for in DFIC and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 4,134 and 3,524.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in DFIC | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| SUNBSunbelt Rentals | 0.13% | 0.04% | 0.09% |
| WCN:CAWaste Connections Inc Common Stock Cad 0 | 0.08% | 0.06% | 0.02% |
| CDECoeur Mining Inc | 0.08% | 0.02% | 0.06% |
| RBA:CARb Global, Inc | 0.05% | 0.03% | 0.02% |
| IPInternational Paper Co. | 0.02% | 0.03% | 0.01% |
| OVVOvintiv Inc. | 0.01% | 0.02% | 0.01% |
| SRG:AUSeritage Growth Properties Class A Common Stock | 0.02% | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| RAILFreightcar America Inc | 0.01% | 0.00% | 0.01% |
| BCGBinah Capital Group, Inc. | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| VMD:CAViemed Healthcare Inc | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of DFIC 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, DFIC or VTI?
DFIC has an expense ratio of 0.22% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $19 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, DFIC or VTI?
Over the past year DFIC returned +16.95% vs +17.97% 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, DFIC or VTI?
DFIC and VTI have been equally volatile, both at 15.9% annualized. Worst drawdown: DFIC -24.4% vs VTI -22.4%.
Should I hold both DFIC and VTI?
DFIC and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.77, 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, DFIC or VTI?
DFIC yields 2.30% while VTI yields 1.03%, so DFIC currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than DFIC?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI 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.