DFSD vs VOO
Dimensional Short-Duration Fixed Income ETF vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, DFSD or VOO?
Short Term Bond against Large Cap Blend.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO 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 | DFSD | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.16% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $7.3B | $997.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 4.46% | 1.04% |
| Holdings | 1,592 | 509 |
| YTD Return | +0.24% | +12.25%Best |
| 1Y Return | +1.41% | +17.03%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +4.89% | +21.25%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +13.08% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 2.7%Best | 15.7% |
| Max Drawdown | -8.4%Best | -24.5% |
| $10,000 over 4.8 years | $11,153 | $17,317Best |
| Fund Family | Dimensional | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | Short Term Bond | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Nov 15, 2021 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
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).
DFSD vs VOO 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.
DFSD vs VOO Performance
Dimensional Short-Duration Fixed Income ETF (DFSD) is an ETF from Dimensional and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year DFSD returned +1.41% while VOO returned +17.03%. Year to date, DFSD is up 0.24% versus a gain of 12.25% for VOO.
Over three years, DFSD compounded at +4.89% per year against +21.25% for VOO.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VOO has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.7% compared with 2.7% for DFSD. 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 -8.4% for DFSD and -24.5% for VOO. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.59. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
DFSD charges 0.16% per year while VOO charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $16 vs $3 annually, a gap of $13 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, DFSD currently yields 4.46% against 1.04% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.1% of VOO's money is in holdings DFSD also owns.
Stated as a floor: for DFSD, our book for it covers 72.3% 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.
1 positions in common, counted across the 1,146 positions we hold weights for in DFSD and 494 in VOO, against full books of 1,592 and 509.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in DFSD | Weight in VOO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| TMUST-Mobile Usa Inc Esrw Usd Npv Ref Sm#585558 | 0.02% | 0.12% | 0.10% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of DFSD and VOO 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, DFSD or VOO?
DFSD has an expense ratio of 0.16% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $13 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, DFSD or VOO?
Over the past year DFSD returned +1.41% vs +17.03% for VOO, so VOO leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, DFSD or VOO?
VOO has been the more volatile fund at 15.7% annualized versus 2.7% for DFSD. Worst drawdown: DFSD -8.4% vs VOO -24.5%.
Should I hold both DFSD and VOO?
DFSD and VOO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.59, 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, DFSD or VOO?
DFSD yields 4.46% while VOO yields 1.04%, so DFSD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than DFSD?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO 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.