DFAX vs. IWO
Compare and contrast key facts about Dimensional World ex US Core Equity 2 ETF (DFAX) and iShares Russell 2000 Growth ETF (IWO).
DFAX and IWO are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. DFAX is a passively managed fund by Dimensional that tracks the performance of the MSCI All Country World ex USA Index. It was launched on Mar 6, 2008. IWO is a passively managed fund by iShares that tracks the performance of the Russell 2000 Growth Index. It was launched on Jul 24, 2000. Both DFAX and IWO are passive ETFs, meaning that they are not actively managed but aim to replicate the performance of the underlying index as closely as possible.
Performance
DFAX vs. IWO - Performance Comparison
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DFAX vs. IWO - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
DFAX Dimensional World ex US Core Equity 2 ETF | 5.34% | 35.42% | 4.78% | 16.66% | -14.48% | -2.68% |
IWO iShares Russell 2000 Growth ETF | -2.09% | 12.90% | 15.04% | 18.51% | -26.27% | -2.66% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, DFAX achieves a 5.34% return, which is significantly higher than IWO's -2.09% return.
DFAX
- 1D
- 1.32%
- 1M
- -5.38%
- YTD
- 5.34%
- 6M
- 10.06%
- 1Y
- 34.45%
- 3Y*
- 17.69%
- 5Y*
- —
- 10Y*
- —
IWO
- 1D
- 0.75%
- 1M
- -6.57%
- YTD
- -2.09%
- 6M
- -0.97%
- 1Y
- 24.27%
- 3Y*
- 12.46%
- 5Y*
- 1.37%
- 10Y*
- 9.75%
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DFAX vs. IWO - Expense Ratio Comparison
DFAX has a 0.30% expense ratio, which is higher than IWO's 0.24% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
DFAX vs. IWO — Risk / Return Rank
DFAX
IWO
DFAX vs. IWO - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Dimensional World ex US Core Equity 2 ETF (DFAX) and iShares Russell 2000 Growth ETF (IWO). 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.
| DFAX | IWO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 2.05 | 0.97 | +1.09 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 2.70 | 1.49 | +1.21 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.42 | 1.19 | +0.23 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 3.10 | 1.64 | +1.46 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 12.07 | 5.48 | +6.59 |
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
| DFAX | IWO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 2.05 | 0.97 | +1.09 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | — | 0.06 | — |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | — | 0.41 | — |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.54 | 0.26 | +0.28 |
Correlation
The correlation between DFAX and IWO is 0.72, 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
DFAX vs. IWO - Dividend Comparison
DFAX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.43%, more than IWO's 0.48% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
DFAX Dimensional World ex US Core Equity 2 ETF | 2.43% | 2.58% | 2.98% | 3.01% | 3.30% | 1.40% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
IWO iShares Russell 2000 Growth ETF | 0.48% | 0.56% | 0.80% | 0.73% | 0.73% | 0.32% | 0.44% | 0.71% | 0.76% | 0.73% | 0.97% | 0.89% |
Drawdowns
DFAX vs. IWO - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum DFAX drawdown since its inception was -28.15%, smaller than the maximum IWO drawdown of -60.11%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for DFAX and IWO.
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Drawdown Indicators
| DFAX | IWO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -28.15% | -60.11% | +31.96% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -11.31% | -14.87% | +3.56% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | — | -40.51% | — |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | — | -42.02% | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -7.06% | -10.59% | +3.53% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -6.86% | -16.80% | +9.94% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.90% | 4.44% | -1.54% |
Volatility
DFAX vs. IWO - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Dimensional World ex US Core Equity 2 ETF (DFAX) is 7.40%, while iShares Russell 2000 Growth ETF (IWO) has a volatility of 8.60%. This indicates that DFAX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than IWO based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| DFAX | IWO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 7.40% | 8.60% | -1.20% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 11.34% | 16.54% | -5.20% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 16.87% | 25.23% | -8.36% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 15.86% | 24.46% | -8.60% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 15.86% | 24.06% | -8.20% |