DFSV vs VXUS
Dimensional US Small Cap Value ETF vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, DFSV or VXUS?
Small Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. VXUS 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 | DFSV | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.30% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $8.3B | $158.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.35% | 2.51% |
| Holdings | 31 | 8,747 |
| YTD Return | +17.15%Best | +14.94% |
| 1Y Return | +21.84% | +21.99%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +16.72% | +20.89%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +9.48% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 21.3% | 15.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -28.0% | -24.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 4.6 years | $16,561 | $16,912Best |
| Fund Family | Dimensional | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Feb 23, 2022 | Jan 26, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 4.6 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 24, 2022 to Sep 22, 2026 (4.6 years).
DFSV vs VXUS 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 4.6 years both funds cover.
DFSV vs VXUS Performance
Dimensional US Small Cap Value ETF (DFSV) is an ETF from Dimensional and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year DFSV returned +21.84% while VXUS returned +21.99%. Year to date, DFSV is up 17.15% versus a gain of 14.94% for VXUS.
Over three years, DFSV compounded at +16.72% per year against +20.89% for VXUS.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
DFSV has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 21.3% compared with 15.3% for VXUS. 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 -28.0% for DFSV and -24.1% for VXUS. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.68. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
DFSV charges 0.30% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $30 vs $5 annually, a gap of $25 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, DFSV currently yields 1.35% against 2.51% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.7% of DFSV's money is in holdings VXUS also owns.
Stated as a floor: for VXUS, our book for it covers 88.8% 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.
9 positions in common, counted across the 997 positions we hold weights for in DFSV and 8,082 in VXUS, against full books of 31 and 8,747.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in DFSV | Weight in VXUS | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| SIG:LNSignet Jewelers Limited Common Shares | 0.22% | 0.02% | 0.20% |
| CCCSCcc Intelligent Solutions Hold | 0.19% | 0.01% | 0.18% |
| BILLBill.Com Holdings, Inc. Common Stock | 0.12% | 0.00% | 0.12% |
| SCLStepan Co | 0.08% | 0.00% | 0.08% |
| SAN:MABanco Santander, S.A Sponsored Adr - Sponsored (1 Ads : 1 Ordinary) | 0.08% | 0.00% | 0.08% |
| FBKFb Financial Corp | 0.00% | 0.04% | 0.04% |
| FPH:NZFive Point Holdings, Llc Class A Common Shares | 0.01% | 0.03% | 0.02% |
| CLWClearwater Paper Corp | 0.02% | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| EAST:EGEastern Co Sae | 0.01% | 0.00% | 0.01% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of DFSV and VXUS 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, DFSV or VXUS?
DFSV has an expense ratio of 0.30% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $25 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, DFSV or VXUS?
Over the past year DFSV returned +21.84% vs +21.99% for VXUS, so VXUS leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, DFSV or VXUS?
DFSV has been the more volatile fund at 21.3% annualized versus 15.3% for VXUS. Worst drawdown: DFSV -28.0% vs VXUS -24.1%.
Should I hold both DFSV and VXUS?
DFSV and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.68, 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, DFSV or VXUS?
DFSV yields 1.35% while VXUS yields 2.51%, so VXUS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than DFSV?
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. VXUS 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.