DFAR vs. DFIC

Last updated Apr 1, 2026

Compare and contrast key facts about Dimensional US Real Estate ETF (DFAR) and DFA Dimensional International Core Equity 2 ETF (DFIC).

DFAR and DFIC are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. DFAR is an actively managed fund by Dimensional. It was launched on Feb 23, 2022. DFIC is an actively managed fund by Dimensional. It was launched on Mar 23, 2022.

Performance

DFAR vs. DFIC - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Dimensional US Real Estate ETF (DFAR) and DFA Dimensional International Core Equity 2 ETF (DFIC). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

DFAR vs. DFIC - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022
DFAR Dimensional US Real Estate ETF	3.46%	1.31%	5.25%	11.04%	-17.66%
DFIC DFA Dimensional International Core Equity 2 ETF	3.32%	37.09%	4.10%	17.32%	-9.27%

Returns By Period

The year-to-date returns for both stocks are quite close, with DFAR having a 3.46% return and DFIC slightly lower at 3.32%.

DFAR

• 1D: 1.55%
• 1M: -6.28%
• YTD: 3.46%
• 6M: 0.97%
• 1Y: 2.53%
• 3Y*: 6.36%
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

DFIC

• 1D: 3.02%
• 1M: -7.56%
• YTD: 3.32%
• 6M: 9.34%
• 1Y: 31.43%
• 3Y*: 17.04%
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

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

DFAR vs. DFIC - Expense Ratio Comparison

DFAR has a 0.19% expense ratio, which is lower than DFIC's 0.23% expense ratio. Despite the difference, both funds are considered low-cost compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios usually range from 0.3% to 0.9%.

DFIC

DFA Dimensional International Core Equity 2 ETF

DFAR

Dimensional US Real Estate ETF

Return for Risk

DFAR vs. DFIC — Risk / Return Rank

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

DFAR

DFAR Risk / Return Rank: 17
DFAR Sharpe Ratio Rank: 17
DFAR Sortino Ratio Rank: 16
DFAR Omega Ratio Rank: 16
DFAR Calmar Ratio Rank: 19
DFAR Martin Ratio Rank: 21

DFIC

DFIC Risk / Return Rank: 90
DFIC Sharpe Ratio Rank: 90
DFIC Sortino Ratio Rank: 91
DFIC Omega Ratio Rank: 92
DFIC Calmar Ratio Rank: 89
DFIC Martin Ratio Rank: 90

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.

DFAR vs. DFIC - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Dimensional US Real Estate ETF (DFAR) and DFA Dimensional International Core Equity 2 ETF (DFIC). 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.

	DFAR	DFIC	Difference
Sharpe ratio Return per unit of total volatility	0.16	1.93	-1.77
Sortino ratio Return per unit of downside risk	0.32	2.57	-2.25
Omega ratio Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.04	1.40	-0.35
Calmar ratio Return relative to maximum drawdown	0.30	2.75	-2.45
Martin ratio Return relative to average drawdown	1.16	11.02	-9.86
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

DFAR vs. DFIC - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current DFAR Sharpe Ratio is 0.16, which is lower than the DFIC Sharpe Ratio of 1.93. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of DFAR and DFIC, 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

	DFAR	DFIC	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.16	1.93	-1.77
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.06	0.74	-0.68

Correlation

The correlation between DFAR and DFIC is 0.58, 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

DFAR vs. DFIC - Dividend Comparison

DFAR's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.98%, more than DFIC's 2.43% yield.

	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022
DFAR Dimensional US Real Estate ETF	2.98%	2.97%	2.89%	3.06%	1.69%
DFIC DFA Dimensional International Core Equity 2 ETF	2.43%	2.54%	2.87%	2.55%	1.47%

Drawdowns

DFAR vs. DFIC - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum DFAR drawdown since its inception was -32.27%, which is greater than DFIC's maximum drawdown of -24.40%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for DFAR and DFIC.

Drawdown Indicators

	DFAR	DFIC	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-32.27%	-24.40%	-7.87%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-12.10%	-11.00%	-1.10%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-6.75%	-7.56%	+0.81%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-14.76%	-4.64%	-10.12%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	3.13%	2.74%	+0.39%

Volatility

DFAR vs. DFIC - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for Dimensional US Real Estate ETF (DFAR) is 4.48%, while DFA Dimensional International Core Equity 2 ETF (DFIC) has a volatility of 7.20%. This indicates that DFAR experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than DFIC based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	DFAR	DFIC	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	4.48%	7.20%	-2.72%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	9.28%	10.43%	-1.15%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	16.06%	16.43%	-0.37%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	19.32%	16.19%	+3.13%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	19.32%	16.19%	+3.13%