Dimensional U.S. Small Cap ETF (DFAS) belongs to the Small Cap Blend Equities category. Below you'll find alternative ETFs from the same category, ranked by key criteria, plus funds that investors commonly compare with DFAS. Use the tables to find lower-cost options, better risk-adjusted returns, or a closer substitute for your current allocation.
Cheapest Alternatives to DFAS
DFAS charges 0.26% annually. There are 19 ETFs in the Small Cap Blend Equities category with lower expense ratios, going as low as 0.03%.
| Symbol | Name | Expense Ratio | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vanguard Small-Cap ETF | 0.03% | 188.20B | Jan 2004 | DFAS vs VB | |
| State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 600 Small Cap ETF | 0.03% | 17.00B | Jul 2013 | DFAS vs SPSM | |
| iShares Morningstar Small-Cap ETF | 0.04% | 282.21M | Jun 2004 | DFAS vs ISCB | |
| Schwab U.S. Small-Cap ETF | 0.04% | 22.23B | Nov 2009 | DFAS vs SCHA | |
| iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF | 0.06% | 109.63B | May 2000 | DFAS vs IJR |
Best Risk-Adjusted Alternatives to DFAS
DFAS has a PortfoliosLab risk / return rank of 75. There are 38 ETFs in the Small Cap Blend Equities category with higher risk-adjusted ranks, going as high as 96.
| Symbol | Name | Risk / Return Rank | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ProShares Russell 2000 Dynamic Daily Buffer ETF | 96 | — | Jun 2025 | DFAS vs RB | |
| First Trust Small Cap Core AlphaDEX Fund | 94 | 1.37B | May 2007 | DFAS vs FYX | |
| Hartford Multifactor Small Cap ETF | 92 | 61.48M | Mar 2015 | DFAS vs ROSC | |
| Victoryshares Small Cap Free Cash Flow ETF | 92 | 684.65M | Dec 2023 | DFAS vs SFLO | |
| Avantis US Small Cap Equity ETF | 91 | 3.05B | Jan 2022 | DFAS vs AVSC |
Top Performing DFAS Alternatives (YTD)
DFAS is at 16.93% YTD. There are 40 ETFs in the Small Cap Blend Equities category with higher YTD returns, going as high as 48.69%.
| Symbol | Name | YTD Return | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Direxion Daily Small Cap Bull 3X Shares | 48.69% | 1.35B | Nov 2008 | DFAS vs TNA | |
| Victoryshares Small Cap Free Cash Flow ETF | 27.87% | 684.65M | Dec 2023 | DFAS vs SFLO | |
| Inspire Small/Mid Cap Impact ETF | 27.66% | 334.88M | Feb 2017 | DFAS vs ISMD | |
| Allspring SMID Core ETF | 27.10% | 78.82M | Jul 2025 | DFAS vs ASCE | |
| First Trust Small Cap Core AlphaDEX Fund | 25.97% | 1.37B | May 2007 | DFAS vs FYX |
Lowest Volatility Alternatives to DFAS
DFAS has 16.67% 1-year volatility. There are 28 ETFs in the Small Cap Blend Equities category with lower 1-year volatility, going as low as 6.55%.
| Symbol | Name | Volatility 1Y | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ProShares Russell 2000 Dynamic Daily Buffer ETF | 6.55% | — | Jun 2025 | DFAS vs RB | |
| iShares MSCI USA Small-Cap Min Vol Factor ETF | 9.75% | 288.96M | Sep 2016 | DFAS vs SMMV | |
| Global X Russell 2000 Covered Call ETF | 10.67% | 1.37B | Apr 2019 | DFAS vs RYLD | |
| First Trust Horizon Managed Volatility Small/Mid E... | 10.73% | 35.21M | Apr 2020 | DFAS vs HSMV | |
| CresAlta Small & Mid-Cap ETF | 11.65% | 88.99M | May 2026 | DFAS vs CVSM |
Lowest Drawdown Alternatives to DFAS
DFAS has a 1-year max drawdown of -9.36%. There are 33 ETFs in the Small Cap Blend Equities category with shallower 1-year drawdowns, going as shallow as -2.09%.
| Symbol | Name | Max Drawdown 1Y | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ProShares Russell 2000 Dynamic Daily Buffer ETF | -2.09% | — | Jun 2025 | DFAS vs RB | |
| Global X Russell 2000 Covered Call ETF | -6.29% | 1.37B | Apr 2019 | DFAS vs RYLD | |
| Hypatia Women CEO ETF | -6.96% | 5.55M | Jan 2023 | DFAS vs WCEO | |
| iShares MSCI USA Small-Cap Min Vol Factor ETF | -7.02% | 288.96M | Sep 2016 | DFAS vs SMMV | |
| 6 Meridian Small Cap Equity ETF | -7.16% | 106.31M | May 2020 | DFAS vs SIXS |
Other ETFs from Dimensional
The 10 most viewed Dimensional ETFs shown here include DFUS, DFIV, DFAW and span 6 categories. AUM among these funds goes as high as $48B.
Often Compared With DFAS
Investors most often compare DFAS with AVUV, DFSTX, VBR. These 19 comparison targets span 11 categories, based on PortfoliosLab usage data.
Compare DFAS with Any Fund or Stock
Compare DFAS with any ETF, mutual fund, or stock using PortfoliosLab's comparison tool.
Pair DFAS with funds that move differently
Dimensional U.S. Small Cap ETF alternatives help with substitution. Diversifiers are the next step when you want funds with lower historical correlation to DFAS.
Explore DFAS Diversifiers