DFIP vs SPY
Dimensional Inflation-Protected Securities ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, DFIP or SPY?
Inflation Protection against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 82.2%.
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 | DFIP | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.11% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $1.1B | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 5.82% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 21 | 505 |
| YTD Return | -0.76% | +12.22%Best |
| 1Y Return | -1.46% | +16.97%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +3.84% | +21.16%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +13.00% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 6.8%Best | 15.7% |
| Max Drawdown | -15.0%Best | -24.5% |
| $10,000 over 4.8 years | $9,890 | $17,265Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 82.2% | 37.8%Best |
| Fund Family | Dimensional | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | Inflation Protection | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Nov 15, 2021 | Jan 22, 1993 |
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).
DFIP vs SPY 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.
DFIP vs SPY Performance
Dimensional Inflation-Protected Securities ETF (DFIP) is an ETF from Dimensional and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year DFIP returned -1.46% while SPY returned +16.97%. Year to date, DFIP is down 0.76% versus a gain of 12.22% for SPY.
Over three years, DFIP compounded at +3.84% per year against +21.16% for SPY.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.7% compared with 6.8% for DFIP. 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 -15.0% for DFIP and -24.5% for SPY. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.69. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
DFIP charges 0.11% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $11 vs $9 annually, a gap of $2 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, DFIP currently yields 5.82% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 19 holdings in DFIP and 504 in SPY, totalling 99.5% and 99.9% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 19 positions we hold weights for in DFIP and 504 in SPY, against full books of 21 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Measured across the 19 and 504 positions we hold weights for.
SPY holds 497 positions DFIP does not, 99.3% of the fund.
Largest: NVDA 8.01%, AAPL 7.26%, MSFT 5.66%, AMZN 3.79%, GOOGL 2.99%
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of DFIP and SPY 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, DFIP or SPY?
DFIP has an expense ratio of 0.11% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $2 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, DFIP or SPY?
Over the past year DFIP returned -1.46% vs +16.97% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, DFIP or SPY?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 15.7% annualized versus 6.8% for DFIP. Worst drawdown: DFIP -15.0% vs SPY -24.5%.
Should I hold both DFIP and SPY?
DFIP and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.69, 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, DFIP or SPY?
DFIP yields 5.82% while SPY yields 0.98%, so DFIP currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than DFIP?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 82.2%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.