DFAPX vs. VBTLX
DFAPX (DFA Investment Grade Portfolio) and VBTLX (Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund Admiral Shares) are both mutual funds - DFAPX is a Intermediate Core Bond fund managed by Dimensional, while VBTLX is a Total Bond Market fund tracking the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Float Adjusted Index. Over the past 10 years, DFAPX returned 2.03%/yr vs 1.58%/yr for VBTLX. Their correlation of 0.93 suggests significant overlap in exposure. DFAPX charges 0.20%/yr vs 0.04%/yr for VBTLX.
Performance
DFAPX vs. VBTLX - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, DFAPX achieves a 0.65% return, which is significantly higher than VBTLX's 0.42% return. Over the past 10 years, DFAPX has outperformed VBTLX with an annualized return of 2.03%, while VBTLX has yielded a comparatively lower 1.58% annualized return.
DFAPX
- 1D
- 0.10%
- 1M
- 0.69%
- YTD
- 0.65%
- 6M
- 0.43%
- 1Y
- 5.47%
- 3Y*
- 4.56%
- 5Y*
- 0.63%
- 10Y*
- 2.03%
VBTLX
- 1D
- 0.00%
- 1M
- 0.55%
- YTD
- 0.42%
- 6M
- 0.35%
- 1Y
- 5.34%
- 3Y*
- 4.05%
- 5Y*
- 0.21%
- 10Y*
- 1.58%
DFAPX vs. VBTLX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
DFAPX DFA Investment Grade Portfolio | 0.65% | 7.22% | 1.81% | 6.84% | -12.92% | -1.57% | 9.19% | 9.97% | -0.24% | 3.37% |
VBTLX Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund Admiral Shares | 0.42% | 7.17% | 1.26% | 5.74% | -13.16% | -1.81% | 7.72% | 8.73% | -0.25% | 3.56% |
Correlation
The correlation between DFAPX and VBTLX is 0.90, indicating a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Combining them offers limited diversification - they tend to fall together during downturns.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.90 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.94 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.96 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.94 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Aug 6, 2012 | 0.93 |
The correlation between DFAPX and VBTLX has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.90 to 0.96 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
DFAPX vs. VBTLX — Risk / Return Rank
DFAPX
VBTLX
DFAPX vs. VBTLX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for DFA Investment Grade Portfolio (DFAPX) and Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund Admiral Shares (VBTLX). 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.
| DFAPX | VBTLX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.09 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.15 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.26 | 1.24 | +0.02 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.12 | 1.86 | +0.26 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 6.04 | 5.58 | +0.46 |
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
| DFAPX | VBTLX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.45 | 1.36 | +0.09 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.11 | 0.04 | +0.07 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.42 | 0.32 | +0.10 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.49 | 0.76 | -0.27 |
Drawdowns
DFAPX vs. VBTLX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum DFAPX drawdown since its inception was -18.30%, roughly equal to the maximum VBTLX drawdown of -18.81%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for DFAPX and VBTLX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| DFAPX | VBTLX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -18.30% | -18.81% | +0.51% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -2.66% | -2.89% | +0.23% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -4.74% | -6.00% | +1.26% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -18.22% | -18.14% | -0.08% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -18.30% | -18.81% | +0.51% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -1.20% | -2.18% | +0.98% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -3.47% | -2.67% | -0.80% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.93% | 0.96% | -0.03% |
Volatility
DFAPX vs. VBTLX - Volatility Comparison
DFA Investment Grade Portfolio (DFAPX) and Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund Admiral Shares (VBTLX) have volatilities of 1.32% and 1.38%, respectively, indicating that both stocks experience similar levels of price fluctuations. This suggests that the risk associated with both stocks, as measured by volatility, is nearly the same. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| DFAPX | VBTLX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 1.32% | 1.38% | -0.06% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 2.72% | 2.80% | -0.08% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 3.90% | 3.97% | -0.07% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 5.82% | 6.01% | -0.19% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 4.88% | 4.98% | -0.10% |
DFAPX vs. VBTLX - Expense Ratio Comparison
DFAPX has a 0.20% expense ratio, which is higher than VBTLX'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%.
Dividends
DFAPX vs. VBTLX - Dividend Comparison
DFAPX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.74%, less than VBTLX's 3.98% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
DFAPX DFA Investment Grade Portfolio | 3.74% | 3.78% | 3.79% | 3.31% | 2.62% | 3.31% | 2.14% | 2.59% | 2.67% | 2.21% | 2.12% | 2.45% |
VBTLX Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund Admiral Shares | 3.98% | 3.87% | 3.69% | 3.10% | 2.59% | 1.96% | 2.39% | 2.74% | 2.57% | 2.56% | 2.53% | 2.82% |
Frequently Asked Questions
With a correlation of 0.90, DFAPX and VBTLX move almost identically. Holding both adds very little diversification - you're essentially doubling your position in the same market segment. Choosing one is usually more capital-efficient.
VBTLX has higher volatility (1.38%) compared to DFAPX (1.32%). In terms of maximum drawdown, DFAPX dropped -18.30% vs VBTLX's -18.81%.
DFAPX currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.45 vs 1.36), 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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