DFAIX vs. VCSH
Compare and contrast key facts about DFA Short-Duration Real Return Portfolio (DFAIX) and Vanguard Short-Term Corporate Bond ETF (VCSH).
DFAIX is managed by Dimensional. It was launched on Nov 5, 2013. VCSH is a passively managed fund by Vanguard that tracks the performance of the Barclays Capital U.S. 1-5 Year Corporate Index. It was launched on Nov 19, 2009.
Performance
DFAIX vs. VCSH - Performance Comparison
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DFAIX vs. VCSH - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
DFAIX DFA Short-Duration Real Return Portfolio | 0.86% | 4.86% | 6.38% | 5.64% | -2.77% | 5.40% | 2.75% | 5.63% | 0.11% | 1.71% |
VCSH Vanguard Short-Term Corporate Bond ETF | 0.13% | 6.77% | 4.91% | 6.20% | -5.62% | -0.63% | 5.13% | 7.02% | 0.92% | 2.17% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, DFAIX achieves a 0.86% return, which is significantly higher than VCSH's 0.13% return. Over the past 10 years, DFAIX has outperformed VCSH with an annualized return of 3.20%, while VCSH has yielded a comparatively lower 2.72% annualized return.
DFAIX
- 1D
- 0.19%
- 1M
- -0.09%
- YTD
- 0.86%
- 6M
- 1.22%
- 1Y
- 3.68%
- 3Y*
- 5.27%
- 5Y*
- 3.82%
- 10Y*
- 3.20%
VCSH
- 1D
- 0.29%
- 1M
- -0.83%
- YTD
- 0.13%
- 6M
- 1.37%
- 1Y
- 4.93%
- 3Y*
- 5.36%
- 5Y*
- 2.37%
- 10Y*
- 2.72%
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DFAIX vs. VCSH - Expense Ratio Comparison
DFAIX has a 0.22% expense ratio, which is higher than VCSH's 0.04% expense ratio. However, both funds are considered low-cost compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios usually range from 0.3% to 0.9%.
Return for Risk
DFAIX vs. VCSH — Risk / Return Rank
DFAIX
VCSH
DFAIX vs. VCSH - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for DFA Short-Duration Real Return Portfolio (DFAIX) and Vanguard Short-Term Corporate Bond ETF (VCSH). 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.
| DFAIX | VCSH | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 3.57 | 2.17 | +1.40 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 5.96 | 3.19 | +2.76 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 2.07 | 1.45 | +0.62 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 8.64 | 3.52 | +5.12 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 34.01 | 14.44 | +19.58 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
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Sharpe Ratios by Period
| DFAIX | VCSH | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 3.57 | 2.17 | +1.40 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 1.21 | 0.83 | +0.38 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 1.26 | 0.81 | +0.44 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 1.08 | 1.01 | +0.07 |
Correlation
The correlation between DFAIX and VCSH is 0.41, which is considered to be moderate. This suggests that the two assets have some degree of positive relationship in their price movements. Moderate correlation can be acceptable for portfolio diversification, offering a balance between risk and potential returns.
Dividends
DFAIX vs. VCSH - Dividend Comparison
DFAIX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.61%, more than VCSH's 4.41% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
DFAIX DFA Short-Duration Real Return Portfolio | 4.61% | 4.65% | 4.14% | 3.66% | 1.68% | 0.98% | 0.82% | 2.53% | 2.72% | 1.71% | 1.41% | 1.29% |
VCSH Vanguard Short-Term Corporate Bond ETF | 4.41% | 4.35% | 3.96% | 3.09% | 2.01% | 1.81% | 2.27% | 2.87% | 2.65% | 2.26% | 2.10% | 2.08% |
Drawdowns
DFAIX vs. VCSH - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum DFAIX drawdown since its inception was -5.63%, smaller than the maximum VCSH drawdown of -12.86%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for DFAIX and VCSH.
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Drawdown Indicators
| DFAIX | VCSH | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -5.63% | -12.86% | +7.23% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -0.47% | -1.40% | +0.93% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -5.46% | -9.48% | +4.02% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -5.63% | -12.86% | +7.23% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.28% | -0.83% | +0.55% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -0.95% | -0.97% | +0.02% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.12% | 0.34% | -0.22% |
Volatility
DFAIX vs. VCSH - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for DFA Short-Duration Real Return Portfolio (DFAIX) is 0.50%, while Vanguard Short-Term Corporate Bond ETF (VCSH) has a volatility of 0.94%. This indicates that DFAIX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than VCSH based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| DFAIX | VCSH | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 0.50% | 0.94% | -0.44% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 0.75% | 1.29% | -0.54% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.07% | 2.28% | -1.21% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 3.18% | 2.86% | +0.32% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 2.56% | 3.35% | -0.79% |