DFA Emerging Markets Small Cap Portfolio (DEMSX) Alternatives

DFA Emerging Markets Small Cap Portfolio (DEMSX) belongs to the Emerging Markets Diversified category. Below you'll find alternative mutual funds from the same category, ranked by key criteria, plus funds that investors commonly compare with DEMSX. Use the tables to find lower-cost options, better risk-adjusted returns, or funds that fit a different role in your portfolio.

Cheapest Alternatives to DEMSX

DEMSX charges 0.59% annually. Among mutual funds in the Emerging Markets Diversified category, these options have the lowest expense ratios among DEMSX alternatives.

Symbol	Name	Expense Ratio	Inception
FERGX	Fidelity SAI Emerging Markets Index Fund	0.08%	Jan 4, 2016	DEMSX vs FERGX
FPADX	Fidelity Emerging Markets Index Fund	0.08%	Sep 8, 2011	DEMSX vs FPADX
FCEEX	Franklin Emerging Market Core Equity (IU) Fund Adv...	0.17%	Jul 31, 2019	DEMSX vs FCEEX
SSKEX	State Street Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund	0.17%	Dec 17, 2015	DEMSX vs SSKEX
EMPTX	UBS Emerging Markets Equity Opportunity Fund	0.19%	May 30, 2018	DEMSX vs EMPTX

Best Risk-Adjusted Alternatives to DEMSX

Among mutual funds in the Emerging Markets Diversified category, these options rank highest on PortfoliosLab's risk-adjusted score, which accounts for volatility, drawdown, and return consistency over a 1-year period.

Symbol	Name	Risk / Return Rank	Inception
DEMIX	Delaware Emerging Markets Fund	97	Jun 9, 1996	DEMSX vs DEMIX
BEMIX	Brandes Emerging Markets Fund	97	Jan 30, 2011	DEMSX vs BEMIX
LCSMX	Martin Currie SMA-Shares Series EM Fund	97	Jan 9, 2018	DEMSX vs LCSMX
LZEMX	Lazard Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio	97	Jul 14, 1994	DEMSX vs LZEMX
FQEMX	Franklin Templeton SMACS: Series EM	96	Nov 21, 2021	DEMSX vs FQEMX

Top Performing DEMSX Alternatives (YTD)

DEMSX alternatives from the Emerging Markets Diversified category, sorted by year-to-date return.

Symbol	Name	YTD Return	Inception
DEMIX	Delaware Emerging Markets Fund	14.18%	Jun 9, 1996	DEMSX vs DEMIX
FQEMX	Franklin Templeton SMACS: Series EM	12.06%	Nov 21, 2021	DEMSX vs FQEMX
LCSMX	Martin Currie SMA-Shares Series EM Fund	11.23%	Jan 9, 2018	DEMSX vs LCSMX
ESCIX	Ashmore Emerging Markets Small Cap Equity Fund	8.91%	Oct 3, 2011	DEMSX vs ESCIX
GLLSX	abrdn Emerging Markets ex-China Fund	8.83%	Aug 29, 2000	DEMSX vs GLLSX

Lowest Volatility Alternatives to DEMSX

DEMSX alternatives from the Emerging Markets Diversified category, sorted by annualized volatility over the past year.

Symbol	Name	Volatility 1Y	Inception
BADEX	BlackRock Defensive Advantage Emerging Markets Fun...	10.29%	Dec 20, 2020	DEMSX vs BADEX
HLFMX	Harding Loevner Frontier Emerging Markets Fund	12.03%	May 26, 2008	DEMSX vs HLFMX
EAEMX	Parametric Emerging Markets Fund	12.17%	Jun 29, 2006	DEMSX vs EAEMX
EITEX	Parametric Tax-Managed Emerging Markets Fund	12.36%	Jun 29, 1998	DEMSX vs EITEX
EFEIX	Ashmore Emerging Markets Frontier Equity Fund	12.38%	Nov 3, 2013	DEMSX vs EFEIX

Lowest Drawdown Alternatives to DEMSX

DEMSX alternatives from the Emerging Markets Diversified category, sorted by maximum drawdown over the past year.

Symbol	Name	Max Drawdown 1Y	Inception
BADEX	BlackRock Defensive Advantage Emerging Markets Fun...	-8.89%	Dec 20, 2020	DEMSX vs BADEX
COBYX	The Cook & Bynum Fund	-8.95%	Jun 30, 2009	DEMSX vs COBYX
GQGPX	GQG Partners Emerging Markets Equity Fund	-9.12%	Dec 27, 2016	DEMSX vs GQGPX
WAEMX	Wasatch Emerging Markets Small Cap Fund	-9.38%	Sep 30, 2007	DEMSX vs WAEMX
EITEX	Parametric Tax-Managed Emerging Markets Fund	-9.88%	Jun 29, 1998	DEMSX vs EITEX

Other Mutual Funds from Dimensional

Most popular Dimensional mutual funds on PortfoliosLab, across asset classes.

Symbol	Name	Category	Risk / Return Rank	YTD Return	Inception
DFSVX	DFA U.S. Small Cap Value Portfolio I	Small Cap Value Equities	62	6.83%	Mar 2, 1993	DEMSX vs DFSVX
DFIVX	DFA International Value Portfolio	Foreign Large Cap Equities	94	5.83%	Feb 14, 1994	DEMSX vs DFIVX
DGEIX	DFA Global Equity Portfolio Institutional Class	Global Equities	77	-0.29%	Dec 24, 2003	DEMSX vs DGEIX
DFUSX	DFA U.S. Large Company Portfolio	Large Cap Blend Equities	55	-4.33%	Sep 23, 1999	DEMSX vs DFUSX
DISVX	DFA International Small Cap Value Portfolio	Foreign Small & Mid Cap Equities	95	3.04%	Dec 28, 1994	DEMSX vs DISVX
DFFVX	DFA U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio	Small Cap Value Equities	61	5.44%	Feb 23, 2000	DEMSX vs DFFVX
DFSTX	DFA U.S. Small Cap Portfolio	Small Cap Blend Equities	48	2.63%	Mar 19, 1992	DEMSX vs DFSTX
DFIEX	DFA International Core Equity Portfolio I	Foreign Large Cap Equities, Large Cap Blend Equities	90	2.80%	Sep 15, 2005	DEMSX vs DFIEX
DFEOX	DFA US Core Equity 1 Portfolio I	Large Cap Blend Equities	59	-1.72%	Sep 15, 2005	DEMSX vs DFEOX
DFQTX	DFA US Core Equity 2 Portfolio I	Large Cap Blend Equities	60	-1.39%	—	DEMSX vs DFQTX

Often Compared With DEMSX

What investors most often compare with DEMSX, based on PortfoliosLab usage data.

Symbol	Name	Category	Risk / Return Rank	YTD Return	Inception
DFESX	DFA Investment Dimensions Group Inc - Emerging Mar...	Emerging Markets Diversified	87	2.39%	Aug 30, 2006	DEMSX vs DFESX
DFEVX	DFA Emerging Markets Value Portfolio	Emerging Markets Diversified	90	3.66%	Mar 31, 1998	DEMSX vs DFEVX
AVEE	Avantis Emerging Markets Small Cap Equity ETF	Emerging Markets Diversified	72	2.78%	Nov 7, 2023	DEMSX vs AVEE
DGS	WisdomTree Emerging Markets SmallCap Dividend Fund	Emerging Markets Diversified, Dividend	84	5.57%	Oct 30, 2007	DEMSX vs DGS
DEMGX	DFA Emerging Markets Targeted Value Portfolio	Emerging Markets Diversified	82	2.16%	Nov 13, 2018	DEMSX vs DEMGX
HSCZ	iShares Currency Hedged MSCI EAFE Small Cap ETF	Foreign Small & Mid Cap Equities	91	3.75%	Jun 29, 2015	DEMSX vs HSCZ
VWO	Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF	Emerging Markets Equities	70	0.84%	Mar 4, 2005	DEMSX vs VWO
VOO	Vanguard S&P 500 ETF	S&P 500	60	-3.66%	Sep 7, 2010	DEMSX vs VOO
VINIX	Vanguard Institutional Index Fund Institutional Sh...	Large Cap Blend Equities	59	-4.35%	Jul 31, 1990	DEMSX vs VINIX
VTI	Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF	Large Cap Blend Equities	59	-3.29%	Jun 27, 2016	DEMSX vs VTI
PSHZF	Pershing Square Holdings Ltd		54	-15.87%	—	DEMSX vs PSHZF
RNLSY	Renault SA		15	-15.43%	—	DEMSX vs RNLSY
DRIOX	Driehaus International Small Cap Growth Fund	Foreign Small & Mid Cap Equities	68	-2.45%	Sep 16, 2007	DEMSX vs DRIOX
VTMGX	Vanguard Developed Markets Index Fund Admiral Shar...	Large Cap Growth Equities, Foreign Large Cap Equities	87	2.46%	Aug 17, 1999	DEMSX vs VTMGX
DFSCX	DFA U.S. Micro Cap Portfolio	Small Cap Blend Equities	65	4.23%	Dec 23, 1981	DEMSX vs DFSCX
AVES	Avantis Emerging Markets Value ETF	Emerging Markets Equities, Actively Managed	83	3.23%	Sep 28, 2021	DEMSX vs AVES
ACWX	iShares MSCI ACWI ex U.S. ETF	Foreign Large Cap Equities	83	3.37%	Mar 26, 2008	DEMSX vs ACWX
AVDV	Avantis International Small Cap Value ETF	Foreign Small & Mid Cap Equities	96	8.40%	Sep 24, 2019	DEMSX vs AVDV
AVEM	Avantis Emerging Markets Equity ETF	Foreign Large Cap Equities	88	5.61%	Sep 17, 2019	DEMSX vs AVEM
DRESX	Driehaus Emerging Markets Small Cap Growth Fund	Emerging Markets Diversified	95	6.35%	Aug 21, 2011	DEMSX vs DRESX

Compare DEMSX with Any Fund or Stock

Compare DEMSX with any ETF, mutual fund, or stock using PortfoliosLab's comparison tool.

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DFA Emerging Markets Small Cap Portfolio

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