DFSCX vs. SPSM
Compare and contrast key facts about DFA U.S. Micro Cap Portfolio (DFSCX) and SPDR Portfolio S&P 600 Small Cap ETF (SPSM).
DFSCX is managed by Dimensional. It was launched on Dec 23, 1981. SPSM is a passively managed fund by State Street that tracks the performance of the S&P SmallCap 600 Index. It was launched on Jul 8, 2013.
Performance
DFSCX vs. SPSM - Performance Comparison
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DFSCX vs. SPSM - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
DFSCX DFA U.S. Micro Cap Portfolio | 1.62% | 9.65% | 11.43% | 17.93% | -12.49% | 33.70% | 6.61% | 20.68% | -11.60% | 10.92% |
SPSM SPDR Portfolio S&P 600 Small Cap ETF | 3.48% | 6.11% | 8.55% | 16.11% | -16.12% | 26.67% | 11.69% | 25.85% | -11.17% | 15.44% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, DFSCX achieves a 1.62% return, which is significantly lower than SPSM's 3.48% return. Both investments have delivered pretty close results over the past 10 years, with DFSCX having a 9.92% annualized return and SPSM not far ahead at 10.05%.
DFSCX
- 1D
- -0.81%
- 1M
- -5.81%
- YTD
- 1.62%
- 6M
- 3.98%
- 1Y
- 22.54%
- 3Y*
- 12.53%
- 5Y*
- 7.14%
- 10Y*
- 9.92%
SPSM
- 1D
- 2.81%
- 1M
- -4.07%
- YTD
- 3.48%
- 6M
- 5.20%
- 1Y
- 20.56%
- 3Y*
- 10.51%
- 5Y*
- 4.16%
- 10Y*
- 10.05%
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DFSCX vs. SPSM - Expense Ratio Comparison
DFSCX has a 0.41% expense ratio, which is higher than SPSM's 0.05% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
DFSCX vs. SPSM — Risk / Return Rank
DFSCX
SPSM
DFSCX vs. SPSM - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for DFA U.S. Micro Cap Portfolio (DFSCX) and SPDR Portfolio S&P 600 Small Cap ETF (SPSM). 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.
| DFSCX | SPSM | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.02 | 0.92 | +0.11 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.57 | 1.41 | +0.16 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.21 | 1.19 | +0.02 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.40 | 1.42 | -0.01 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 5.67 | 5.73 | -0.06 |
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
| DFSCX | SPSM | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.02 | 0.92 | +0.11 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.34 | 0.19 | +0.15 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.44 | 0.44 | 0.00 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.59 | 0.41 | +0.17 |
Correlation
The correlation between DFSCX and SPSM 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
DFSCX vs. SPSM - Dividend Comparison
DFSCX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.94%, less than SPSM's 1.59% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
DFSCX DFA U.S. Micro Cap Portfolio | 0.94% | 1.03% | 0.97% | 2.48% | 5.16% | 10.77% | 0.87% | 2.80% | 5.50% | 5.05% | 0.90% | 6.33% |
SPSM SPDR Portfolio S&P 600 Small Cap ETF | 1.59% | 1.62% | 1.85% | 1.61% | 1.38% | 1.40% | 1.34% | 1.58% | 1.82% | 1.51% | 1.49% | 2.37% |
Drawdowns
DFSCX vs. SPSM - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum DFSCX drawdown since its inception was -63.07%, which is greater than SPSM's maximum drawdown of -42.89%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for DFSCX and SPSM.
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Drawdown Indicators
| DFSCX | SPSM | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -63.07% | -42.89% | -20.18% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -13.51% | -14.82% | +1.31% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -27.01% | -27.94% | +0.93% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -46.88% | -42.89% | -3.99% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -7.45% | -5.81% | -1.64% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -9.95% | -8.02% | -1.93% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.46% | 3.67% | -0.21% |
Volatility
DFSCX vs. SPSM - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for DFA U.S. Micro Cap Portfolio (DFSCX) is 5.39%, while SPDR Portfolio S&P 600 Small Cap ETF (SPSM) has a volatility of 6.26%. This indicates that DFSCX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than SPSM based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| DFSCX | SPSM | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 5.39% | 6.26% | -0.87% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 12.53% | 12.94% | -0.41% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 22.14% | 22.56% | -0.42% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 21.09% | 21.54% | -0.45% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 22.63% | 22.98% | -0.35% |