- ISIN
- US2332038437
- CUSIP
- 233203843
- Issuer
- Dimensional
- Inception Date
- Mar 19, 1992
- Region
- North America (U.S.)
- Category
- Small Cap Blend Equities
- Min. Investment
- $0
- Index Tracked
- No Index (Active)
- Domicile
- United States
- Distribution Policy
- Distributing
- Asset Class
- Equity
- Asset Class Size
- Small-Cap
- Asset Class Style
- Blend
- Assets Under Management
- $20B
Share Price Chart
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Performance
DFSTX Performance Chart
DFA U.S. Small Cap Portfolio (DFSTX) is up 17.8% since the beginning of the year. DFSTX is currently trading at $61 per share. Investors who bought $1,000 worth of DFSTX shares 5 years ago would now be looking at an investment worth $1,550.
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Compare this symbol against anything
Returns By Period
DFA U.S. Small Cap Portfolio (DFSTX) has returned 17.76% so far this year and 29.40% over the past 12 months. Over the last ten years, DFSTX has returned 10.82% per year, falling short of the S&P 500 Index benchmark, which averaged 13.26% annually.
DFA U.S. Small Cap Portfolio
- 1D
- 0.87%
- 1M
- -0.47%
- 6M
- 11.70%
- YTD
- 17.76%
- 1Y
- 29.40%
- 3Y*
- 13.92%
- 5Y*
- 9.16%
- 10Y*
- 10.82%
- ALL TIME*
- 10.49%
Benchmark (S&P 500 Index)
- 1D
- 0.70%
- 1M
- 0.09%
- 6M
- 7.94%
- YTD
- 9.41%
- 1Y
- 20.07%
- 3Y*
- 17.84%
- 5Y*
- 11.25%
- 10Y*
- 13.26%
- ALL TIME*
- 8.09%
DFSTX Monthly Returns History
Based on dividend-adjusted daily data since Mar 19, 1992, DFSTX's average daily return is +0.05%, while the average monthly return is +0.99%. At this rate, an investment would double in approximately 5.9 years.
Historically, 62% of months were positive and 38% were negative. The best month was Apr 2009 with a return of +18.6%, while the worst month was Mar 2020 at -22.1%. The longest winning streak lasted 10 consecutive months, and the longest losing streak was 5 months.
On a daily basis, DFSTX closed higher 53% of trading days. The best single day was Mar 24, 2020 with a return of +9.9%, while the worst single day was Mar 16, 2020 at -13.1%.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 5.43% | 2.59% | -5.12% | 8.95% | 1.71% | 5.31% | -1.67% | 17.76% | |||||
| 2025 | 3.35% | -5.14% | -5.97% | -2.80% | 5.83% | 4.10% | 1.35% | 5.77% | 0.40% | -1.05% | 2.75% | 0.04% | 8.07% |
| 2024 | -3.13% | 4.40% | 3.89% | -5.83% | 4.91% | -1.62% | 8.83% | -1.06% | 0.88% | -1.45% | 10.52% | -7.71% | 11.50% |
| 2023 | 8.68% | -0.62% | -4.50% | -2.11% | -2.21% | 8.96% | 4.98% | -3.36% | -5.17% | -5.62% | 8.59% | 10.91% | 17.66% |
| 2022 | -7.27% | 1.26% | 0.15% | -7.54% | 1.74% | -8.27% | 10.08% | -3.30% | -9.10% | 12.00% | 4.46% | -5.84% | -13.50% |
| 2021 | 3.80% | 9.20% | 4.42% | 2.53% | 2.15% | -0.51% | -1.44% | 2.28% | -2.20% | 4.53% | -1.94% | 4.70% | 30.50% |
Benchmark Metrics
DFA U.S. Small Cap Portfolio has an annualized alpha of 2.41%, beta of 0.97, and R2 of 0.71 versus S&P 500 Index. Calculated based on daily prices since March 19, 1992.
- This fund captured 114.24% of S&P 500 Index gains and 106.38% of its losses - amplifying both gains and losses, but participating more in upside than downside.
- This fund generated an annualized alpha of 2.41% versus S&P 500 Index - delivering returns beyond what market exposure alone would predict.
- With beta of 0.97 and R2 of 0.71, this fund moves broadly in line with S&P 500 Index - much of its variation is explained by market exposure rather than independent behavior.
- Alpha
- 2.41%
- Beta
- 0.97
- R²
- 0.71
- Upside Capture
- 114.24%
- Downside Capture
- 106.38%
Expense Ratio
DFSTX has an expense ratio of 0.27%, which is considered low.
Return for Risk
Risk / Return Rank
DFSTX ranks 67 for risk / return — above 67% of mutual funds peers on PortfoliosLab. Its historical combined result is above most peers.
Risk / Return Metrics
The table below present risk-adjusted performance metrics for DFA U.S. Small Cap Portfolio (DFSTX) and compare them to S&P 500 Index.
Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.
| DFSTX | Benchmark | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.15 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.38 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.27 | 1.25 | +0.02 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.85 | 2.00 | +0.85 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 9.79 | 8.49 | +1.29 |
Dividends
Dividend History
DFA U.S. Small Cap Portfolio provided a 0.97% dividend yield over the last twelve months, with an annual payout of $0.59 per share.
| Period | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dividend | $0.59 | $0.56 | $0.51 | $1.09 | $2.00 | $3.01 | $0.41 | $1.16 | $1.54 | $1.64 | $1.05 | $1.67 |
Dividend yield | 0.97% | 1.08% | 1.05% | 2.45% | 5.18% | 6.39% | 1.08% | 3.30% | 5.16% | 4.56% | 3.10% | 5.90% |
Monthly Dividends
The table displays the monthly dividend distributions for DFA U.S. Small Cap Portfolio. The dividends shown in the table have been adjusted to account for any splits that may have occurred.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.13 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.18 | $0.00 | $0.31 | |||||
| 2025 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.13 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.15 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.14 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.14 | $0.56 |
| 2024 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.11 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.14 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.14 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.13 | $0.51 |
| 2023 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.12 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.13 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.12 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.72 | $1.09 |
| 2022 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.07 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.11 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.12 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $1.70 | $2.00 |
| 2021 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.10 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.10 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.12 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $2.69 | $3.01 |
Drawdowns
Drawdowns Chart
The Drawdowns chart displays portfolio losses from any high point along the way. Drawdowns are calculated considering price movements and all distributions paid, if any.
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Worst Drawdowns
The table below displays the maximum drawdowns of the DFA U.S. Small Cap Portfolio. A maximum drawdown is a measure of risk, indicating the largest reduction in portfolio value due to a series of losing trades.
The maximum drawdown for the DFA U.S. Small Cap Portfolio was 60.99%, occurring on Mar 9, 2009. Recovery took 445 trading sessions.
The current DFA U.S. Small Cap Portfolio drawdown is 1.67%.
Drawdown | Fall | Recovery | Underwater | Related event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
-60.99%Mar 2009 | 1y 7mo | 1y 9mo | 3y 4moJul 2007 - Dec 2010 | Financial crisis2007–2009 |
-44.78%Mar 2020 | 1y 6mo | 8mo 6d | 2y 2moSep 2018 - Nov 2020 | COVID crash2020 |
-38.45%Oct 1998 | 5mo 18d | 1y 2mo | 1y 8moApr 1998 - Dec 1999 | — |
-36.29%Oct 2002 | 5mo 25d | 10mo 28d | 1y 4moApr 2002 - Sep 2003 | Dot-com crash2000–2002 |
-28.65%Oct 2011 | 2mo 27d | 11mo 10d | 1y 2moJul 2011 - Sep 2012 | — |
Drawdown Indicators
| DFSTX | Benchmark | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -60.99% | -56.78% | -4.21% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -9.16% | -9.10% | -0.06% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -25.91% | -18.90% | -7.01% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -25.91% | -25.43% | -0.48% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -44.78% | -33.92% | -10.86% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -1.67% | -1.58% | -0.09% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -8.73% | -10.70% | +1.97% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.68% | 2.14% | +0.54% |
Volatility
Volatility Chart
The chart below shows the rolling one-month volatility.
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