DFSD vs VTI
Dimensional Short-Duration Fixed Income ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, DFSD or VTI?
Short Term Bond against Large Cap Blend.
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 | DFSD | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.16% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $7.3B | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 4.46% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 1,592 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | +0.24% | +12.28%Best |
| 1Y Return | +1.41% | +16.78%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +4.89% | +20.89%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +11.94% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 2.7%Best | 16.0% |
| Max Drawdown | -8.4%Best | -25.4% |
| $10,000 over 4.8 years | $11,153 | $16,467Best |
| Fund Family | Dimensional | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | Short Term Bond | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Nov 15, 2021 | May 24, 2001 |
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 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.
DFSD vs VTI Performance
Dimensional Short-Duration Fixed Income ETF (DFSD) is an ETF from Dimensional and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year DFSD returned +1.41% while VTI returned +16.78%. Year to date, DFSD is up 0.24% versus a gain of 12.28% for VTI.
Over three years, DFSD compounded at +4.89% 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 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 -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 0.59. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
DFSD charges 0.16% per year while VTI 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 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.1% of VTI'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.
2 positions in common, counted across the 1,146 positions we hold weights for in DFSD and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 1,592 and 3,543.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of DFSD 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, DFSD or VTI?
DFSD has an expense ratio of 0.16% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $13 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, DFSD or VTI?
Over the past year DFSD returned +1.41% 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, DFSD or VTI?
VTI has been the more volatile fund at 16.0% annualized versus 2.7% for DFSD. Worst drawdown: DFSD -8.4% vs VTI -25.4%.
Should I hold both DFSD and VTI?
DFSD and VTI 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 VTI?
DFSD yields 4.46% while VTI yields 1.03%, so DFSD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than DFSD?
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.