DFAR vs. VNQ
Compare and contrast key facts about Dimensional US Real Estate ETF (DFAR) and Vanguard Real Estate ETF (VNQ).
DFAR and VNQ 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. VNQ is a passively managed fund by Vanguard that tracks the performance of the MSCI US Investable Market Real Estate 25/50 Index. It was launched on Sep 23, 2004.
Performance
DFAR vs. VNQ - Performance Comparison
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DFAR vs. VNQ - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
DFAR Dimensional US Real Estate ETF | 3.46% | 1.31% | 5.25% | 11.04% | -14.30% |
VNQ Vanguard Real Estate ETF | 1.31% | 3.24% | 4.81% | 11.85% | -15.83% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, DFAR achieves a 3.46% return, which is significantly higher than VNQ's 1.31% return.
DFAR
- 1D
- 1.55%
- 1M
- -6.28%
- YTD
- 3.46%
- 6M
- 0.97%
- 1Y
- 2.53%
- 3Y*
- 6.36%
- 5Y*
- —
- 10Y*
- —
VNQ
- 1D
- 1.57%
- 1M
- -6.31%
- YTD
- 1.31%
- 6M
- -1.04%
- 1Y
- 1.86%
- 3Y*
- 6.44%
- 5Y*
- 2.79%
- 10Y*
- 4.65%
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DFAR vs. VNQ - Expense Ratio Comparison
DFAR has a 0.19% expense ratio, which is higher than VNQ's 0.13% 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
DFAR vs. VNQ — Risk / Return Rank
DFAR
VNQ
DFAR vs. VNQ - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Dimensional US Real Estate ETF (DFAR) and Vanguard Real Estate ETF (VNQ). 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 | VNQ | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 0.16 | 0.11 | +0.04 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 0.32 | 0.27 | +0.05 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.04 | 1.04 | +0.01 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 0.30 | 0.23 | +0.07 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 1.16 | 0.88 | +0.28 |
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
| DFAR | VNQ | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.16 | 0.11 | +0.04 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | — | 0.15 | — |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | — | 0.23 | — |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.06 | 0.26 | -0.19 |
Correlation
The correlation between DFAR and VNQ is 0.99, 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
DFAR vs. VNQ - Dividend Comparison
DFAR's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.98%, less than VNQ's 3.93% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
DFAR Dimensional US Real Estate ETF | 2.98% | 2.97% | 2.89% | 3.06% | 1.69% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
VNQ Vanguard Real Estate ETF | 3.93% | 3.92% | 3.85% | 3.95% | 3.91% | 2.56% | 3.93% | 3.39% | 4.74% | 4.23% | 4.82% | 3.92% |
Drawdowns
DFAR vs. VNQ - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum DFAR drawdown since its inception was -32.27%, smaller than the maximum VNQ drawdown of -73.07%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for DFAR and VNQ.
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Drawdown Indicators
| DFAR | VNQ | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -32.27% | -73.07% | +40.80% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -12.10% | -12.44% | +0.34% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | — | -34.48% | — |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | — | -42.40% | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -6.75% | -9.57% | +2.82% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -14.76% | -13.71% | -1.05% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.13% | 3.18% | -0.05% |
Volatility
DFAR vs. VNQ - Volatility Comparison
Dimensional US Real Estate ETF (DFAR) and Vanguard Real Estate ETF (VNQ) have volatilities of 4.48% and 4.52%, 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
| DFAR | VNQ | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 4.48% | 4.52% | -0.04% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 9.28% | 9.29% | -0.01% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 16.06% | 16.33% | -0.27% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 19.32% | 18.81% | +0.51% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 19.32% | 20.71% | -1.39% |