DFA Short-Duration Real Return Portfolio (DFAIX) Alternatives

DFA Short-Duration Real Return Portfolio (DFAIX) belongs to the Short-Term Bond category. Below you'll find alternative mutual funds from the same category, ranked by key criteria, plus funds that investors commonly compare with DFAIX. 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 DFAIX

DFAIX charges 0.22% annually. Among mutual funds in the Short-Term Bond category, these options have the lowest expense ratios among DFAIX alternatives.

Symbol	Name	Expense Ratio	Inception
VISTX	Vanguard Institutional Short-Term Bond Fund	0.02%	Jun 19, 2015	DFAIX vs VISTX
VIITX	Vanguard Institutional Intermediate-Term Bond Fund	0.02%	Jun 19, 2015	DFAIX vs VIITX
SWSBX	Schwab Short-Term Bond Index Fund	0.06%	Feb 23, 2017	DFAIX vs SWSBX
TNSHX	TIAA-CREF Short-Term Bond Index Fund	0.09%	Aug 7, 2015	DFAIX vs TNSHX
VBISX	Vanguard Short-Term Bond Index Fund	0.15%	Mar 1, 1994	DFAIX vs VBISX

Best Risk-Adjusted Alternatives to DFAIX

Among mutual funds in the Short-Term Bond 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
DHEIX	Diamond Hill Short Duration Securitized Bond Fund ...	99	Jul 5, 2016	DFAIX vs DHEIX
DHEAX	Diamond Hill Short Duration Securitized Bond Fund	99	Jul 5, 2016	DFAIX vs DHEAX
TSDLX	T. Rowe Price Short Duration Income Fund	99	Dec 7, 2020	DFAIX vs TSDLX
DBLSX	DoubleLine Low Duration Bond Fund	99	Sep 30, 2011	DFAIX vs DBLSX
HOBEX	Holbrook Income Fund	99	Jul 6, 2016	DFAIX vs HOBEX

Top Performing DFAIX Alternatives (YTD)

DFAIX alternatives from the Short-Term Bond category, sorted by year-to-date return.

Symbol	Name	YTD Return	Inception
GPARX	GuidePath Absolute Return Allocation Fund	4.77%	Apr 29, 2011	DFAIX vs GPARX
DLDFX	Destinations Low Duration Fixed Income Fund	1.24%	Mar 20, 2017	DFAIX vs DLDFX
DFCFX	DFA Two-Year Fixed Income Portfolio	0.89%	Jun 6, 1996	DFAIX vs DFCFX
DHEIX	Diamond Hill Short Duration Securitized Bond Fund ...	0.82%	Jul 5, 2016	DFAIX vs DHEIX
DHEAX	Diamond Hill Short Duration Securitized Bond Fund	0.75%	Jul 5, 2016	DFAIX vs DHEAX

Lowest Volatility Alternatives to DFAIX

DFAIX alternatives from the Short-Term Bond category, sorted by annualized volatility over the past year.

Symbol	Name	Volatility 1Y	Inception
DFEQX	DFA Short-Term Extended Quality Portfolio	0.91%	Mar 4, 2009	DFAIX vs DFEQX
GPICX	GuidepathConservative Income Fund	1.14%	Apr 30, 2018	DFAIX vs GPICX
DHEIX	Diamond Hill Short Duration Securitized Bond Fund ...	1.15%	Jul 5, 2016	DFAIX vs DHEIX
DHEAX	Diamond Hill Short Duration Securitized Bond Fund	1.19%	Jul 5, 2016	DFAIX vs DHEAX
DFCFX	DFA Two-Year Fixed Income Portfolio	1.21%	Jun 6, 1996	DFAIX vs DFCFX

Lowest Drawdown Alternatives to DFAIX

DFAIX alternatives from the Short-Term Bond category, sorted by maximum drawdown over the past year.

Symbol	Name	Max Drawdown 1Y	Inception
DHEAX	Diamond Hill Short Duration Securitized Bond Fund	-0.50%	Jul 5, 2016	DFAIX vs DHEAX
DHEIX	Diamond Hill Short Duration Securitized Bond Fund ...	-0.50%	Jul 5, 2016	DFAIX vs DHEIX
GPICX	GuidepathConservative Income Fund	-0.52%	Apr 30, 2018	DFAIX vs GPICX
STBFX	Sextant Short Term Bond Fund	-0.60%	Sep 28, 1995	DFAIX vs STBFX
HOBEX	Holbrook Income Fund	-0.71%	Jul 6, 2016	DFAIX vs HOBEX

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	57	4.70%	Mar 2, 1993	DFAIX vs DFSVX
DFIVX	DFA International Value Portfolio	Foreign Large Cap Equities	92	2.99%	Feb 14, 1994	DFAIX vs DFIVX
DGEIX	DFA Global Equity Portfolio Institutional Class	Global Equities	68	-2.92%	Dec 24, 2003	DFAIX vs DGEIX
DFUSX	DFA U.S. Large Company Portfolio	Large Cap Blend Equities	43	-7.05%	Sep 23, 1999	DFAIX vs DFUSX
DISVX	DFA International Small Cap Value Portfolio	Foreign Small & Mid Cap Equities	92	0.00%	Dec 28, 1994	DFAIX vs DISVX
DFFVX	DFA U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio	Small Cap Value Equities	54	3.27%	Feb 23, 2000	DFAIX vs DFFVX
DFSTX	DFA U.S. Small Cap Portfolio	Small Cap Blend Equities	40	-0.13%	Mar 19, 1992	DFAIX vs DFSTX
DFIEX	DFA International Core Equity Portfolio I	Foreign Large Cap Equities, Large Cap Blend Equities	85	-0.21%	Sep 15, 2005	DFAIX vs DFIEX
DFEOX	DFA US Core Equity 1 Portfolio I	Large Cap Blend Equities	49	-4.34%	Sep 15, 2005	DFAIX vs DFEOX
DFQTX	DFA US Core Equity 2 Portfolio I	Large Cap Blend Equities	50	-4.02%	—	DFAIX vs DFQTX

Often Compared With DFAIX

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

Symbol	Name	Category	Risk / Return Rank	YTD Return	Inception
SLQD	iShares 0-5 Year Investment Grade Corporate Bond E...	Corporate Bonds	97	0.29%	Oct 15, 2013	DFAIX vs SLQD
HAWX	iShares Currency Hedged MSCI ACWI ex U.S. ETF	Foreign Large Cap Equities	85	3.57%	Jun 29, 2015	DFAIX vs HAWX
SCHO	Schwab Short-Term U.S. Treasury ETF	Government Bonds, Short-Term Bond	97	0.24%	Aug 5, 2010	DFAIX vs SCHO
SDMZX	PGIM Short Duration Multi-Sector Bond Fund	Short-Term Bond	96	-0.26%	Dec 23, 2013	DFAIX vs SDMZX
VCSH	Vanguard Short-Term Corporate Bond ETF	Corporate Bonds	95	0.13%	Nov 19, 2009	DFAIX vs VCSH
IEF	iShares 7-10 Year Treasury Bond ETF	Government Bonds	43	-0.14%	Jul 26, 2002	DFAIX vs IEF
VTAPX	Vanguard Short-Term Inflation-Protected Securities...	Inflation-Protected Bonds	96	0.97%	Oct 16, 2012	DFAIX vs VTAPX
RSDIX	RBC Short Duration Fixed Income Fund	Short-Term Bond	14	-2.48%	Dec 30, 2013	DFAIX vs RSDIX
STBCX	Invesco Short Term Bond Fund	Short-Term Bond	92	-0.47%	Aug 30, 2002	DFAIX vs STBCX
FILDX	Frost Low Duration Bond Fund	Short-Term Bond	93	-0.19%	Apr 25, 2008	DFAIX vs FILDX
APSTX	Cavanal Hill Limited Duration Fund	Short-Term Bond	80	-0.03%	Oct 19, 1994	DFAIX vs APSTX
LSCIX	Lord Abbett Short Duration Core Bond Fund	Short-Term Bond	94	-0.22%	Apr 19, 2017	DFAIX vs LSCIX
MCAD.TO	Evolve Premium Cash Management ETF	Short-Term Bond	100	0.56%	May 26, 2023	DFAIX vs MCAD.TO
THLIX	Thrivent Limited Maturity Bond Fund	Short-Term Bond	96	-0.27%	Oct 29, 1999	DFAIX vs THLIX
EVV	Eaton Vance Limited Duration Income Fund	Short-Term Bond	11	-2.49%	May 30, 2003	DFAIX vs EVV
GLDYX	GuideStone Funds Low-Duration Bond Fund	Short-Term Bond	97	0.01%	Aug 27, 2001	DFAIX vs GLDYX
DTCPX	DFA Targeted Credit Portfolio	Short-Term Bond	92	-0.28%	May 20, 2015	DFAIX vs DTCPX
FMFIX	RBB Free Market Fixed Income Fund	Short-Term Bond	95	0.20%	Dec 31, 2007	DFAIX vs FMFIX
FOSIX	Tributary Short-Intermediate Bond Fund	Short-Term Bond	93	-0.28%	Dec 14, 1992	DFAIX vs FOSIX
MSTDX	MassMutual Short Duration Bond Fund	Short-Term Bond	97	-0.18%	Sep 30, 1994	DFAIX vs MSTDX

Compare DFAIX with Any Fund or Stock

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

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DFA Short-Duration Real Return Portfolio

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