DFAI vs. UGA
DFAI (Dimensional International Core Equity Market ETF) and UGA (United States Gasoline Fund LP) are both exchange-traded funds - DFAI is a Foreign Large Cap Equities fund actively managed by Dimensional, while UGA is a Oil & Gas fund tracking the Front Month Unleaded Gasoline. DFAI is actively managed, while UGA is passively managed. Over the past 5 years, DFAI returned 9.35%/yr vs 22.69%/yr for UGA. At a 0.11 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. DFAI charges 0.18%/yr vs 0.75%/yr for UGA.
Performance
DFAI vs. UGA - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, DFAI achieves a 7.50% return, which is significantly lower than UGA's 64.09% return.
DFAI
- 1D
- -2.83%
- 1M
- -1.64%
- YTD
- 7.50%
- 6M
- 6.97%
- 1Y
- 23.12%
- 3Y*
- 17.77%
- 5Y*
- 9.35%
- 10Y*
- —
UGA
- 1D
- -1.12%
- 1M
- -12.11%
- YTD
- 64.09%
- 6M
- 60.42%
- 1Y
- 59.74%
- 3Y*
- 18.95%
- 5Y*
- 22.69%
- 10Y*
- 14.31%
DFAI vs. UGA - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
DFAI Dimensional International Core Equity Market ETF | 7.50% | 34.04% | 4.68% | 17.60% | -12.95% | 13.86% | 5.34% |
UGA United States Gasoline Fund LP | 64.09% | -2.00% | 3.77% | 1.27% | 46.34% | 68.49% | 22.62% |
Correlation
The correlation between DFAI and UGA is -0.29, meaning they tend to move in opposite directions. This is especially valuable for risk management - when one declines, the other has historically tended to hold steady or rise.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | -0.29 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | -0.07 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.09 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Nov 18, 2020 | 0.11 |
The correlation between DFAI and UGA shifts across timeframes, from -0.29 (1 year) to 0.11 (all time), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
DFAI vs. UGA — Risk / Return Rank
DFAI
UGA
DFAI vs. UGA - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Dimensional International Core Equity Market ETF (DFAI) and United States Gasoline Fund LP (UGA). 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.
| DFAI | UGA | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.16 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.04 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.29 | 1.30 | -0.01 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.12 | 3.17 | -1.05 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 8.25 | 9.39 | -1.14 |
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Drawdowns
DFAI vs. UGA - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum DFAI drawdown since its inception was -27.44%, smaller than the maximum UGA drawdown of -86.59%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for DFAI and UGA.
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Drawdown Indicators
| DFAI | UGA | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -27.44% | -86.59% | +59.15% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -10.95% | -18.96% | +8.01% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -13.25% | -26.68% | +13.43% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -27.44% | -38.11% | +10.67% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | — | -75.89% | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -3.10% | -18.05% | +14.95% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -5.09% | -36.69% | +31.60% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.81% | 6.43% | -3.62% |
Volatility
DFAI vs. UGA - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Dimensional International Core Equity Market ETF (DFAI) is 5.38%, while United States Gasoline Fund LP (UGA) has a volatility of 9.24%. This indicates that DFAI experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than UGA based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| DFAI | UGA | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 5.38% | 9.24% | -3.86% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 12.60% | 30.57% | -17.97% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 14.77% | 35.22% | -20.45% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 16.03% | 34.45% | -18.42% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 15.77% | 37.22% | -21.45% |
DFAI vs. UGA - Expense Ratio Comparison
DFAI has a 0.18% expense ratio, which is lower than UGA's 0.75% expense ratio.
Dividends
DFAI vs. UGA - Dividend Comparison
DFAI's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.29%, while UGA has not paid dividends to shareholders.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
DFAI Dimensional International Core Equity Market ETF | 2.29% | 2.45% | 2.72% | 2.64% | 2.72% | 2.06% | 0.09% |
UGA United States Gasoline Fund LP | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Frequently Asked Questions
DFAI and UGA have a correlation of -0.29, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
UGA has higher volatility (9.24%) compared to DFAI (5.38%). In terms of maximum drawdown, DFAI dropped -27.44% vs UGA's -86.59%.
On 5-year performance, UGA leads with 22.69% vs 9.35% for DFAI. On fees, DFAI is cheaper at 0.18% per year. On volatility, DFAI has been the lower-risk option at 5.38%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 5-year period, UGA has performed better with a 22.69% return vs 9.35%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
DFAI is cheaper with a 0.18% expense ratio, compared with 0.75% for UGA.
DFAI has the higher dividend yield at 2.29%, compared with 0.00% for UGA.
DFAI is categorized as Foreign Large Cap Equities, while UGA is Oil & Gas. They also come from different issuers: Dimensional and Concierge Technologies. Their fees differ too: 0.18% for DFAI and 0.75% for UGA.
UGA currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.73 vs 1.57), 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.
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