DFSE vs VOO
Dimensional Emerging Markets Sustainability Core 1 ETF vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, DFSE or VOO?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. DFSE led over 1Y, VOO over 3Y and the full window. DFSE is less concentrated, with 23.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 36.4%.
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 | DFSE | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.41% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $646M | $997.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.86% | 1.04% |
| Holdings | 1,875 | 509 |
| YTD Return | +15.14%Best | +11.55% |
| 1Y Return | +21.11%Best | +17.54% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +19.05% | +20.71%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.80% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.0% | 13.0%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -19.8% | -18.7%Best |
| $10,000 over 3.9 years | $20,822 | $21,496Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 23.4%Best | 36.4% |
| Fund Family | Dimensional | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Nov 1, 2022 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 3.9 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 2, 2022 to Sep 10, 2026 (3.9 years).
DFSE 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 3.9 years both funds cover.
DFSE vs VOO Performance
Dimensional Emerging Markets Sustainability Core 1 ETF (DFSE) is an ETF from Dimensional and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year DFSE returned +21.11% while VOO returned +17.54%. Year to date, DFSE is up 15.14% versus a gain of 11.55% for VOO.
Over three years, DFSE compounded at +19.05% per year against +20.71% for VOO. Across the full 4-year window we track, VOO has the edge at +21.68% annualized vs +20.69%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
DFSE has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.0% compared with 13.0% for VOO. 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 -19.8% for DFSE and -18.7% 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 0.73. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
DFSE charges 0.41% per year while VOO charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $41 vs $3 annually, a gap of $38 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, DFSE currently yields 1.86% against 1.04% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
0.2% of DFSE's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 0.6% of VOO's money is in holdings DFSE also owns.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
9 positions in common, counted across the 3,640 positions we hold weights for in DFSE and 505 in VOO, against full books of 1,875 and 509.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 489 positions for VOO that do not appear in our book for DFSE (98.9% of the fund), and 43 for DFSE that do not appear in VOO (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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in DFSE | Weight in VOO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| UNPUnion Pacific Corp | 0.01% | 0.25% | 0.24% |
| HAL:MBHindustan Aeronautics Ltd | 0.07% | 0.04% | 0.03% |
| BDXBecton Dickinson And Co. | 0.03% | 0.06% | 0.03% |
| EAElectronic Arts, Inc. | 0.01% | 0.07% | 0.06% |
| QQnity Electronics | 0.03% | 0.05% | 0.02% |
| LHLabcorp Holdings Inc | 0.01% | 0.04% | 0.03% |
| LULU:CALululemon Athletica Inc. | 0.01% | 0.02% | 0.01% |
| DDDupont De Nemours Inc. | 0.00% | 0.03% | 0.03% |
| TXTTextron Inc. | 0.00% | 0.02% | 0.02% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of DFSE 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, DFSE or VOO?
DFSE has an expense ratio of 0.41% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $38 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, DFSE or VOO?
Over the past year DFSE returned +21.11% vs +17.54% for VOO, so DFSE leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (4 years), DFSE annualized +20.69% vs +21.68% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, DFSE or VOO?
DFSE has been the more volatile fund at 15.0% annualized versus 13.0% for VOO. Worst drawdown: DFSE -19.8% vs VOO -18.7%.
Should I hold both DFSE and VOO?
DFSE and VOO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.73, 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, DFSE or VOO?
DFSE yields 1.86% while VOO yields 1.04%, so DFSE currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than DFSE?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. DFSE led over 1Y, VOO over 3Y and the full window. DFSE is less concentrated, with 23.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 36.4%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.