BRTNX vs. DFIEX

Last updated Jul 31, 2026

BRTNX (Bretton Fund) and DFIEX (DFA International Core Equity 2 Portfolio Institutional Class) are both mutual funds - BRTNX is a Large Cap Blend Equities fund managed by Bretton, while DFIEX is a Foreign Large Cap Equities fund managed by Dimensional. Over the past 10 years, BRTNX returned 13.75%/yr vs 9.85%/yr for DFIEX. Their 0.69 correlation means they have sometimes moved together and sometimes differently. BRTNX charges 1.35%/yr vs 0.24%/yr for DFIEX.

Performance

BRTNX vs. DFIEX - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Bretton Fund (BRTNX) and DFA International Core Equity 2 Portfolio Institutional Class (DFIEX). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, BRTNX achieves a 3.44% return, which is significantly lower than DFIEX's 10.31% return. Over the past 10 years, BRTNX has outperformed DFIEX with an annualized return of 13.75%, while DFIEX has yielded a comparatively lower 9.85% annualized return.

BRTNX

• 1D: -0.43%
• 1M: 2.77%
• 6M: 4.04%
• YTD: 3.44%
• 1Y: 12.45%
• 3Y*: 15.37%
• 5Y*: 10.74%
• 10Y*: 13.75%
• ALL TIME*: 12.22%

DFIEX

• 1D: -0.18%
• 1M: 0.68%
• 6M: 3.19%
• YTD: 10.31%
• 1Y: 24.27%
• 3Y*: 17.29%
• 5Y*: 9.86%
• 10Y*: 9.85%
• ALL TIME*: 6.94%

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

Liquidity Comparison

Position	Avg. Volume Value (2W)	Avg. Volume Value (1M)	Avg. Volume Value (3M)
BRTNX Bretton Fund	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00
DFIEX DFA International Core Equity 2 Portfolio Institutional Class	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00

BRTNX vs. DFIEX - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
BRTNX Bretton Fund	3.44%	11.57%	20.27%	28.91%	-12.57%	27.75%	8.44%	35.39%	-1.95%	18.19%
DFIEX DFA International Core Equity 2 Portfolio Institutional Class	10.31%	36.18%	3.99%	17.50%	-13.51%	13.85%	7.73%	21.70%	-17.41%	28.04%

Correlation

The correlation between BRTNX and DFIEX is 0.52, which is moderate. They have sometimes moved together and sometimes differently, sharing some price drivers without tracking each other closely.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most.	0.52
Correlation (3Y) Balances recent behavior with more history.	0.57
Correlation (5Y) Shows whether the relationship held over a longer period.	0.65
Correlation (10Y) Provides a long-term view across more market conditions.	0.68
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Sep 30, 2010	0.69

The correlation between BRTNX and DFIEX shifts across timeframes, from 0.52 (1 year) to 0.69 (all time), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.

Return for Risk

BRTNX vs. DFIEX — Risk / Return Rank

Compare historical risk-adjusted metric ranks over the past 12 months.

BRTNX

BRTNX Risk / Return Rank: 24
BRTNX Sharpe Ratio Rank: 27
BRTNX Sortino Ratio Rank: 29
BRTNX Omega Ratio Rank: 26
BRTNX Calmar Ratio Rank: 17
BRTNX Martin Ratio Rank: 19

DFIEX

DFIEX Risk / Return Rank: 63
DFIEX Sharpe Ratio Rank: 67
DFIEX Sortino Ratio Rank: 65
DFIEX Omega Ratio Rank: 63
DFIEX Calmar Ratio Rank: 59
DFIEX Martin Ratio Rank: 61

The rank (0–100) uses a weighted average of the Sharpe, Sortino, Omega, Calmar, and Martin percentile ranks for the trailing 12 months. Higher means stronger historical risk-adjusted performance within the peer group.

BRTNX vs. DFIEX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Bretton Fund (BRTNX) and DFA International Core Equity 2 Portfolio Institutional Class (DFIEX). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.

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.

	BRTNX	DFIEX	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	0.94	1.61	-0.67
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	1.44	2.27	-0.83
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.17	1.29	-0.12
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	0.84	2.09	-1.25
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	2.65	8.14	-5.48

BRTNX vs. DFIEX - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current BRTNX Sharpe Ratio is 0.94, which is lower than the DFIEX Sharpe Ratio of 1.61. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of BRTNX and DFIEX, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Drawdowns

BRTNX vs. DFIEX - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum BRTNX drawdown since its inception was -93.26%, which is greater than DFIEX's maximum drawdown of -62.22%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for BRTNX and DFIEX.

Drawdown Indicators

	BRTNX	DFIEX	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-93.26%	-62.22%	-31.04%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-14.53%	-11.01%	-3.52%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-93.26%	-12.81%	-80.45%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-93.26%	-28.66%	-64.60%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-93.26%	-41.04%	-52.22%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-91.44%	-1.07%	-90.37%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-12.65%	-12.09%	-0.56%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	4.57%	2.82%	+1.75%

Volatility

BRTNX vs. DFIEX - Volatility Comparison

Bretton Fund (BRTNX) has a higher volatility of 4.56% compared to DFA International Core Equity 2 Portfolio Institutional Class (DFIEX) at 3.55%. This indicates that BRTNX's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than DFIEX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	BRTNX	DFIEX	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	4.56%	3.55%	+1.01%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	9.98%	12.02%	-2.04%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	12.94%	14.31%	-1.37%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	457.37%	15.79%	+441.58%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	323.52%	16.11%	+307.41%

BRTNX vs. DFIEX - Expense Ratio Comparison

BRTNX has a 1.35% expense ratio, which is higher than DFIEX's 0.24% expense ratio.

Dividends

BRTNX vs. DFIEX - Dividend Comparison

BRTNX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.47%, less than DFIEX's 3.00% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
BRTNX Bretton Fund	1.47%	1.52%	1.09%	0.00%	1.98%	0.62%	0.29%	0.00%	0.86%	0.00%	1.63%	0.19%
DFIEX DFA International Core Equity 2 Portfolio Institutional Class	3.00%	3.22%	3.42%	3.36%	2.88%	2.98%	1.77%	2.90%	2.95%	2.49%	2.76%	4.20%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both BRTNX and DFIEX in my portfolio?

BRTNX and DFIEX have a correlation of 0.52, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, BRTNX or DFIEX?

BRTNX has higher volatility (4.56%) compared to DFIEX (3.55%). In terms of maximum drawdown, BRTNX dropped -93.26% vs DFIEX's -62.22%.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

DFIEX currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.61 vs 0.94), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.