DFISX vs. VFSAX
Compare and contrast key facts about DFA International Small Company Portfolio (DFISX) and Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US Small-Cap Index Fund Admiral Shares (VFSAX).
DFISX is managed by Dimensional. It was launched on Sep 30, 1996. VFSAX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Feb 7, 2019.
Performance
DFISX vs. VFSAX - Performance Comparison
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DFISX vs. VFSAX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
DFISX DFA International Small Company Portfolio | 1.00% | 36.35% | 3.76% | 14.46% | -17.13% | 10.71% | 9.27% | 16.23% |
VFSAX Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US Small-Cap Index Fund Admiral Shares | 1.27% | 29.89% | 2.58% | 15.13% | -21.30% | 12.68% | 11.90% | 13.47% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, DFISX achieves a 1.00% return, which is significantly lower than VFSAX's 1.27% return.
DFISX
- 1D
- 3.03%
- 1M
- -7.73%
- YTD
- 1.00%
- 6M
- 5.20%
- 1Y
- 30.54%
- 3Y*
- 15.42%
- 5Y*
- 6.89%
- 10Y*
- 7.99%
VFSAX
- 1D
- 2.40%
- 1M
- -8.22%
- YTD
- 1.27%
- 6M
- 3.64%
- 1Y
- 29.20%
- 3Y*
- 13.60%
- 5Y*
- 5.33%
- 10Y*
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DFISX vs. VFSAX - Expense Ratio Comparison
DFISX has a 0.39% expense ratio, which is higher than VFSAX's 0.16% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
DFISX vs. VFSAX — Risk / Return Rank
DFISX
VFSAX
DFISX vs. VFSAX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for DFA International Small Company Portfolio (DFISX) and Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US Small-Cap Index Fund Admiral Shares (VFSAX). 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.
| DFISX | VFSAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.99 | 2.06 | -0.07 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 2.56 | 2.63 | -0.07 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.39 | 1.41 | -0.01 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.34 | 2.49 | -0.15 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 9.16 | 9.78 | -0.62 |
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
| DFISX | VFSAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.99 | 2.06 | -0.07 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.44 | 0.36 | +0.08 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.50 | — | — |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.45 | 0.48 | -0.03 |
Correlation
The correlation between DFISX and VFSAX is 0.96, 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
DFISX vs. VFSAX - Dividend Comparison
DFISX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.11%, less than VFSAX's 3.27% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
DFISX DFA International Small Company Portfolio | 3.11% | 3.19% | 3.39% | 3.01% | 3.51% | 3.06% | 1.71% | 4.54% | 7.74% | 1.27% | 4.44% | 4.47% |
VFSAX Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US Small-Cap Index Fund Admiral Shares | 3.27% | 3.31% | 3.36% | 3.06% | 2.22% | 2.67% | 1.85% | 3.19% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Drawdowns
DFISX vs. VFSAX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum DFISX drawdown since its inception was -60.66%, which is greater than VFSAX's maximum drawdown of -39.86%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for DFISX and VFSAX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| DFISX | VFSAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -60.66% | -39.86% | -20.80% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -11.96% | -11.48% | -0.48% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -35.06% | -33.81% | -1.25% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -43.00% | — | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -9.09% | -9.36% | +0.27% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -11.69% | -9.42% | -2.27% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.05% | 2.92% | +0.13% |
Volatility
DFISX vs. VFSAX - Volatility Comparison
DFA International Small Company Portfolio (DFISX) and Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US Small-Cap Index Fund Admiral Shares (VFSAX) have volatilities of 6.81% and 6.64%, 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
| DFISX | VFSAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 6.81% | 6.64% | +0.17% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 10.46% | 10.11% | +0.35% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 15.63% | 14.58% | +1.05% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 15.80% | 14.90% | +0.90% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 16.13% | 17.03% | -0.90% |