DFIS vs IVV
Dimensional International Small Cap ETF vs iShares Core S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, DFIS or IVV?
Mid Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
IVV has a lower expense ratio. DFIS led over 1Y, IVV over 3Y and the full window. DFIS is less concentrated, with 3.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.9%.
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 | DFIS | IVV |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.39% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $6.0B | $886.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.99% | 1.10% |
| Holdings | 3,500 | 508 |
| YTD Return | +13.64%Best | +13.39% |
| 1Y Return | +23.38%Best | +20.08% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +20.35% | +21.29%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.88% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.3% | 15.8%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -27.2% | -22.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 4.4 years | $16,291 | $18,047Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 3.9%Best | 37.9% |
| Fund Family | Dimensional | iShares by BlackRock (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 23, 2022 | May 15, 2000 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 4.4 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Mar 24, 2022 to Sep 4, 2026 (4.4 years).
DFIS vs IVV 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 4.4 years both funds cover.
DFIS vs IVV Performance
Dimensional International Small Cap ETF (DFIS) is an ETF from Dimensional and iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US). Over the past year DFIS returned +23.38% while IVV returned +20.08%. Year to date, DFIS is up 13.64% versus a gain of 13.39% for IVV.
Over three years, DFIS compounded at +20.35% per year against +21.29% for IVV. Across the full 4-year window we track, IVV has the edge at +14.36% annualized vs +11.73%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
DFIS has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.3% compared with 15.8% for IVV. 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 -27.2% for DFIS and -22.1% for IVV. 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
DFIS charges 0.39% per year while IVV charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $39 vs $3 annually, a gap of $36 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, DFIS currently yields 1.99% against 1.10% for IVV.
Holdings Overlap
0.5% of DFIS's money is in holdings IVV also owns. 0.1% of IVV's money is in holdings DFIS also owns.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
3 positions in common, counted across the 3,415 positions we hold weights for in DFIS and 505 in IVV, against full books of 3,500 and 508.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 494 positions for IVV that do not appear in our book for DFIS (99.3% of the fund), and 33 for DFIS that do not appear in IVV (2.3%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of DFIS and IVV 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, DFIS or IVV?
DFIS has an expense ratio of 0.39% while IVV charges 0.03%. IVV is the cheaper option, by $36 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, DFIS or IVV?
Over the past year DFIS returned +23.38% vs +20.08% for IVV, so DFIS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (4 years), DFIS annualized +11.73% vs +14.36% for IVV. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, DFIS or IVV?
DFIS has been the more volatile fund at 17.3% annualized versus 15.8% for IVV. Worst drawdown: DFIS -27.2% vs IVV -22.1%.
Should I hold both DFIS and IVV?
DFIS and IVV 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, DFIS or IVV?
DFIS yields 1.99% while IVV yields 1.10%, so DFIS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is IVV better than DFIS?
IVV has a lower expense ratio. DFIS led over 1Y, IVV over 3Y and the full window. DFIS is less concentrated, with 3.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.9%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.