DFIEX vs. IEI
DFIEX (DFA International Core Equity Portfolio I) and IEI (iShares 3-7 Year Treasury Bond ETF) are both funds - DFIEX is a Foreign Large Cap Equities fund managed by Dimensional, while IEI is a Government Bonds fund tracking the ICE U.S. Treasury 3-7 Year Bond Index. Over the past 10 years, DFIEX returned 10.01%/yr vs 1.28%/yr for IEI. At a correlation of -0.17, they often move in opposite directions. DFIEX charges 0.24%/yr vs 0.15%/yr for IEI.
Performance
DFIEX vs. IEI - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, DFIEX achieves a 11.05% return, which is significantly higher than IEI's -0.42% return. Over the past 10 years, DFIEX has outperformed IEI with an annualized return of 10.01%, while IEI has yielded a comparatively lower 1.28% annualized return.
DFIEX
- 1D
- 0.31%
- 1M
- 3.55%
- YTD
- 11.05%
- 6M
- 14.04%
- 1Y
- 28.12%
- 3Y*
- 19.64%
- 5Y*
- 9.78%
- 10Y*
- 10.01%
IEI
- 1D
- -0.13%
- 1M
- -0.17%
- YTD
- -0.42%
- 6M
- -0.49%
- 1Y
- 3.28%
- 3Y*
- 3.52%
- 5Y*
- 0.23%
- 10Y*
- 1.28%
DFIEX vs. IEI - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
DFIEX DFA International Core Equity Portfolio I | 11.05% | 36.18% | 3.99% | 17.50% | -13.51% | 13.85% | 7.73% | 21.70% | -17.41% | 28.04% |
IEI iShares 3-7 Year Treasury Bond ETF | -0.42% | 6.96% | 1.81% | 4.42% | -9.51% | -2.54% | 6.95% | 5.71% | 1.36% | 1.22% |
Correlation
The correlation between DFIEX and IEI is 0.33, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.33 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.29 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.19 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.01 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jan 12, 2007 | -0.17 |
The correlation between DFIEX and IEI shifts across timeframes, from -0.17 (all time) to 0.33 (1 year), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
DFIEX vs. IEI — Risk / Return Rank
DFIEX
IEI
DFIEX vs. IEI - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for DFA International Core Equity Portfolio I (DFIEX) and iShares 3-7 Year Treasury Bond ETF (IEI). 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.
| DFIEX | IEI | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.90 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +1.12 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.36 | 1.19 | +0.17 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.49 | 1.32 | +1.17 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 9.74 | 3.96 | +5.78 |
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
| DFIEX | IEI | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.99 | 1.09 | +0.90 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.62 | 0.05 | +0.58 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.61 | 0.33 | +0.29 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.37 | 0.70 | -0.33 |
Drawdowns
DFIEX vs. IEI - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum DFIEX drawdown since its inception was -62.22%, which is greater than IEI's maximum drawdown of -14.60%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for DFIEX and IEI.
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Drawdown Indicators
| DFIEX | IEI | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -62.22% | -14.60% | -47.62% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -11.01% | -2.50% | -8.51% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -12.81% | -3.66% | -9.15% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -28.66% | -13.88% | -14.78% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -41.04% | -14.60% | -26.44% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.35% | -1.85% | +1.50% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -12.18% | -2.67% | -9.51% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.81% | 0.83% | +1.98% |
Volatility
DFIEX vs. IEI - Volatility Comparison
DFA International Core Equity Portfolio I (DFIEX) has a higher volatility of 4.11% compared to iShares 3-7 Year Treasury Bond ETF (IEI) at 0.91%. This indicates that DFIEX's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than IEI based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| DFIEX | IEI | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 4.11% | 0.91% | +3.20% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 11.15% | 2.13% | +9.02% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 13.85% | 3.04% | +10.81% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 15.75% | 4.77% | +10.98% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 16.39% | 3.93% | +12.46% |
DFIEX vs. IEI - Expense Ratio Comparison
DFIEX has a 0.24% expense ratio, which is higher than IEI's 0.15% 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
DFIEX vs. IEI - Dividend Comparison
DFIEX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.91%, less than IEI's 3.64% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
DFIEX DFA International Core Equity Portfolio I | 2.91% | 3.22% | 3.42% | 3.36% | 2.88% | 2.98% | 1.77% | 2.90% | 2.95% | 2.49% | 2.76% | 4.20% |
IEI iShares 3-7 Year Treasury Bond ETF | 3.64% | 3.48% | 3.18% | 2.36% | 1.37% | 0.73% | 1.12% | 2.01% | 1.95% | 1.51% | 1.33% | 1.39% |
Frequently Asked Questions
DFIEX and IEI have a correlation of 0.33, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
DFIEX has higher volatility (4.11%) compared to IEI (0.91%). In terms of maximum drawdown, DFIEX dropped -62.22% vs IEI's -14.60%.
DFIEX currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.99 vs 1.09), 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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