DFSD vs. GSG
DFSD (Dimensional Short-Duration Fixed Income ETF) and GSG (iShares S&P GSCI Commodity-Indexed Trust) are both exchange-traded funds - DFSD is a Short-Term Bond fund actively managed by Dimensional, while GSG is a Commodities fund tracking the S&P GSCI Total Return Index. DFSD is actively managed, while GSG is passively managed. Over the past 3 years, DFSD returned 5.18%/yr vs 14.41%/yr for GSG. At a correlation of -0.13, they often move in opposite directions. DFSD charges 0.16%/yr vs 0.75%/yr for GSG.
Performance
DFSD vs. GSG - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, DFSD achieves a 0.61% return, which is significantly lower than GSG's 32.35% return.
DFSD
- 1D
- -0.20%
- 1M
- -0.20%
- 6M
- 0.55%
- YTD
- 0.61%
- 1Y
- 3.46%
- 3Y*
- 5.18%
- 5Y*
- —
- 10Y*
- —
GSG
- 1D
- 3.60%
- 1M
- -0.20%
- 6M
- 28.24%
- YTD
- 32.35%
- 1Y
- 34.57%
- 3Y*
- 14.41%
- 5Y*
- 13.83%
- 10Y*
- 7.40%
DFSD vs. GSG - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
DFSD Dimensional Short-Duration Fixed Income ETF | 0.61% | 6.59% | 4.60% | 6.09% | -5.87% | -0.05% |
GSG iShares S&P GSCI Commodity-Indexed Trust | 32.35% | 5.93% | 8.52% | -5.51% | 24.08% | -3.22% |
Correlation
The correlation between DFSD and GSG is -0.35, meaning they tend to move in opposite directions. This is especially valuable for risk management - when one declines, the other has historically tended to hold steady or rise.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | -0.35 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | -0.20 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Nov 16, 2021 | -0.13 |
Over the past year, the inverse relationship between DFSD and GSG has strengthened: their correlation has moved from -0.13 to -0.35, meaning they now move in opposite directions more often than their long-term average.
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Return for Risk
DFSD vs. GSG — Risk / Return Rank
DFSD
GSG
DFSD vs. GSG - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Dimensional Short-Duration Fixed Income ETF (DFSD) and iShares S&P GSCI Commodity-Indexed Trust (GSG). 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.
Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.
| DFSD | GSG | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.30 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.63 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.34 | 1.27 | +0.07 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.37 | 1.85 | +0.52 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 8.92 | 6.29 | +2.63 |
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Drawdowns
DFSD vs. GSG - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum DFSD drawdown since its inception was -8.45%, smaller than the maximum GSG drawdown of -89.62%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for DFSD and GSG.
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Drawdown Indicators
| DFSD | GSG | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -8.45% | -89.62% | +81.17% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -1.47% | -18.81% | +17.34% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -1.47% | -18.81% | +17.34% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | — | -29.12% | — |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | — | -57.64% | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.52% | -60.04% | +59.52% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -2.03% | -63.69% | +61.66% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.39% | 5.51% | -5.12% |
Volatility
DFSD vs. GSG - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Dimensional Short-Duration Fixed Income ETF (DFSD) is 0.67%, while iShares S&P GSCI Commodity-Indexed Trust (GSG) has a volatility of 7.35%. This indicates that DFSD experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than GSG based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| DFSD | GSG | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 0.67% | 7.35% | -6.68% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 1.57% | 21.50% | -19.93% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.95% | 23.48% | -21.53% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 2.76% | 22.80% | -20.04% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 2.76% | 22.00% | -19.24% |
DFSD vs. GSG - Expense Ratio Comparison
DFSD has a 0.16% expense ratio, which is lower than GSG's 0.75% expense ratio.
Dividends
DFSD vs. GSG - Dividend Comparison
DFSD's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.20%, while GSG has not paid dividends to shareholders.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
DFSD Dimensional Short-Duration Fixed Income ETF | 4.20% | 4.12% | 4.81% | 3.89% | 2.12% | 0.11% |
GSG iShares S&P GSCI Commodity-Indexed Trust | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Frequently Asked Questions
DFSD and GSG have a correlation of -0.35, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
GSG has higher volatility (7.35%) compared to DFSD (0.67%). In terms of maximum drawdown, DFSD dropped -8.45% vs GSG's -89.62%.
On 3-year performance, GSG leads with 14.41% vs 5.18% for DFSD. On fees, DFSD is cheaper at 0.16% per year. On volatility, DFSD has been the lower-risk option at 0.67%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 3-year period, GSG has performed better with a 14.41% return vs 5.18%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
DFSD is cheaper with a 0.16% expense ratio, compared with 0.75% for GSG.
DFSD has the higher dividend yield at 4.20%, compared with 0.00% for GSG.
DFSD is categorized as Short-Term Bond, while GSG is Commodities. They also come from different issuers: Dimensional and iShares. Their fees differ too: 0.16% for DFSD and 0.75% for GSG.
DFSD currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.79 vs 1.48), 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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