DFAI vs. DFAE

Last updated Apr 1, 2026

Compare and contrast key facts about Dimensional International Core Equity Market ETF (DFAI) and Dimensional Emerging Core Equity Market ETF (DFAE).

DFAI and DFAE are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. DFAI is an actively managed fund by Dimensional. It was launched on Nov 17, 2020. DFAE is an actively managed fund by Dimensional. It was launched on Dec 2, 2020.

Performance

DFAI vs. DFAE - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Dimensional International Core Equity Market ETF (DFAI) and Dimensional Emerging Core Equity Market ETF (DFAE). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

DFAI vs. DFAE - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020
DFAI Dimensional International Core Equity Market ETF	2.50%	34.04%	4.68%	17.60%	-12.95%	13.86%	2.88%
DFAE Dimensional Emerging Core Equity Market ETF	4.12%	31.48%	7.68%	12.63%	-17.52%	3.53%	4.85%

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, DFAI achieves a 2.50% return, which is significantly lower than DFAE's 4.12% return.

DFAI

• 1D: 2.96%
• 1M: -7.52%
• YTD: 2.50%
• 6M: 8.18%
• 1Y: 28.07%
• 3Y*: 16.13%
• 5Y*: 9.44%
• 10Y*: —

DFAE

• 1D: 3.52%
• 1M: -8.86%
• YTD: 4.12%
• 6M: 8.25%
• 1Y: 33.86%
• 3Y*: 16.49%
• 5Y*: 6.10%
• 10Y*: —

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

DFAI vs. DFAE - Expense Ratio Comparison

DFAI has a 0.18% expense ratio, which is lower than DFAE's 0.35% expense ratio.

DFAE

Dimensional Emerging Core Equity Market ETF

DFAI

Dimensional International Core Equity Market ETF

Return for Risk

DFAI vs. DFAE — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.

DFAI

DFAI Risk / Return Rank: 87
DFAI Sharpe Ratio Rank: 86
DFAI Sortino Ratio Rank: 87
DFAI Omega Ratio Rank: 88
DFAI Calmar Ratio Rank: 86
DFAI Martin Ratio Rank: 86

DFAE

DFAE Risk / Return Rank: 87
DFAE Sharpe Ratio Rank: 87
DFAE Sortino Ratio Rank: 88
DFAE Omega Ratio Rank: 88
DFAE Calmar Ratio Rank: 87
DFAE Martin Ratio Rank: 87

The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

DFAI vs. DFAE - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Dimensional International Core Equity Market ETF (DFAI) and Dimensional Emerging Core Equity Market ETF (DFAE). 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.

	DFAI	DFAE	Difference
Sharpe ratio Return per unit of total volatility	1.69	1.76	-0.07
Sortino ratio Return per unit of downside risk	2.32	2.35	-0.03
Omega ratio Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.35	1.35	0.00
Calmar ratio Return relative to maximum drawdown	2.46	2.61	-0.15
Martin ratio Return relative to average drawdown	9.75	10.09	-0.33
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

DFAI vs. DFAE - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current DFAI Sharpe Ratio is 1.69, which is comparable to the DFAE Sharpe Ratio of 1.76. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of DFAI and DFAE, offering insights into how both investments have performed under varying market conditions. These values are calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	DFAI	DFAE	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	1.69	1.76	-0.07
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.60	0.35	+0.25
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.73	0.44	+0.28

Correlation

The correlation between DFAI and DFAE is 0.77, which is considered to be high. That indicates a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Having highly-correlated positions in a portfolio may signal a lack of diversification, potentially leading to increased risk during market downturns.

Dividends

DFAI vs. DFAE - Dividend Comparison

DFAI's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.41%, more than DFAE's 2.11% yield.

	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020
DFAI Dimensional International Core Equity Market ETF	2.41%	2.45%	2.72%	2.64%	2.72%	2.06%	0.09%
DFAE Dimensional Emerging Core Equity Market ETF	2.11%	2.20%	2.35%	2.43%	2.85%	1.63%	0.01%

Drawdowns

DFAI vs. DFAE - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum DFAI drawdown since its inception was -27.44%, smaller than the maximum DFAE drawdown of -32.21%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for DFAI and DFAE.

Drawdown Indicators

	DFAI	DFAE	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-27.44%	-32.21%	+4.77%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-10.95%	-12.80%	+1.85%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-27.44%	-32.21%	+4.77%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-7.61%	-9.73%	+2.12%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-5.21%	-10.59%	+5.38%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	2.76%	3.31%	-0.55%

Volatility

DFAI vs. DFAE - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for Dimensional International Core Equity Market ETF (DFAI) is 7.35%, while Dimensional Emerging Core Equity Market ETF (DFAE) has a volatility of 10.23%. This indicates that DFAI experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than DFAE based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	DFAI	DFAE	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	7.35%	10.23%	-2.88%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	10.56%	14.31%	-3.75%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	16.70%	19.37%	-2.67%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	15.81%	17.36%	-1.55%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	15.66%	17.50%	-1.84%