DFSCX vs. VSCIX
Compare and contrast key facts about DFA U.S. Micro Cap Portfolio (DFSCX) and Vanguard Small-Cap Index Fund Institutional Shares (VSCIX).
DFSCX is managed by Dimensional. It was launched on Dec 23, 1981. VSCIX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Jul 7, 1997.
Performance
DFSCX vs. VSCIX - Performance Comparison
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DFSCX vs. VSCIX - 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% |
VSCIX Vanguard Small-Cap Index Fund Institutional Shares | -1.21% | 8.85% | 12.96% | 19.52% | -17.60% | 17.74% | 19.07% | 27.40% | -9.33% | 16.25% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, DFSCX achieves a 1.62% return, which is significantly higher than VSCIX's -1.21% return. Both investments have delivered pretty close results over the past 10 years, with DFSCX having a 9.92% annualized return and VSCIX not far ahead at 10.16%.
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%
VSCIX
- 1D
- -0.97%
- 1M
- -8.09%
- YTD
- -1.21%
- 6M
- 0.59%
- 1Y
- 16.09%
- 3Y*
- 11.86%
- 5Y*
- 5.03%
- 10Y*
- 10.16%
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DFSCX vs. VSCIX - Expense Ratio Comparison
DFSCX has a 0.41% expense ratio, which is higher than VSCIX's 0.04% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
DFSCX vs. VSCIX — Risk / Return Rank
DFSCX
VSCIX
DFSCX vs. VSCIX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for DFA U.S. Micro Cap Portfolio (DFSCX) and Vanguard Small-Cap Index Fund Institutional Shares (VSCIX). 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 | VSCIX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.02 | 0.75 | +0.27 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.57 | 1.19 | +0.38 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.21 | 1.16 | +0.04 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.40 | 0.97 | +0.44 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 5.67 | 4.21 | +1.46 |
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 | VSCIX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.02 | 0.75 | +0.27 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.34 | 0.24 | +0.10 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.44 | 0.47 | -0.03 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.59 | 0.38 | +0.20 |
Correlation
The correlation between DFSCX and VSCIX is 0.95, 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. VSCIX - Dividend Comparison
DFSCX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.94%, less than VSCIX's 1.39% 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% |
VSCIX Vanguard Small-Cap Index Fund Institutional Shares | 1.39% | 1.34% | 1.31% | 1.55% | 1.55% | 1.25% | 1.15% | 1.40% | 1.68% | 1.36% | 1.50% | 1.49% |
Drawdowns
DFSCX vs. VSCIX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum DFSCX drawdown since its inception was -63.07%, which is greater than VSCIX's maximum drawdown of -59.66%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for DFSCX and VSCIX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| DFSCX | VSCIX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -63.07% | -59.66% | -3.41% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -13.51% | -14.30% | +0.79% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -27.01% | -28.13% | +1.12% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -46.88% | -41.81% | -5.07% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -7.45% | -8.97% | +1.52% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -9.95% | -10.18% | +0.23% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.46% | 3.29% | +0.17% |
Volatility
DFSCX vs. VSCIX - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for DFA U.S. Micro Cap Portfolio (DFSCX) is 5.39%, while Vanguard Small-Cap Index Fund Institutional Shares (VSCIX) has a volatility of 5.90%. This indicates that DFSCX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than VSCIX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| DFSCX | VSCIX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 5.39% | 5.90% | -0.51% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 12.53% | 12.22% | +0.31% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 22.14% | 21.62% | +0.52% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 21.09% | 20.70% | +0.39% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 22.63% | 21.53% | +1.10% |