DFSTX vs. TLT
DFSTX (DFA U.S. Small Cap Portfolio) and TLT (iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF) are both funds - DFSTX is a Small Cap Blend Equities fund managed by Dimensional, while TLT is a Government Bonds fund tracking the ICE U.S. Treasury 20+ Year Bond Index. Over the past 10 years, DFSTX returned 11.16%/yr vs -1.75%/yr for TLT. At a correlation of -0.26, they often move in opposite directions. DFSTX charges 0.27%/yr vs 0.15%/yr for TLT.
Performance
DFSTX vs. TLT - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, DFSTX achieves a 15.82% return, which is significantly higher than TLT's 0.27% return. Over the past 10 years, DFSTX has outperformed TLT with an annualized return of 11.16%, while TLT has yielded a comparatively lower -1.75% annualized return.
DFSTX
- 1D
- 2.42%
- 1M
- 5.56%
- YTD
- 15.82%
- 6M
- 13.14%
- 1Y
- 31.26%
- 3Y*
- 15.72%
- 5Y*
- 8.14%
- 10Y*
- 11.16%
TLT
- 1D
- -0.24%
- 1M
- 1.40%
- YTD
- 0.27%
- 6M
- 0.45%
- 1Y
- 3.88%
- 3Y*
- -1.38%
- 5Y*
- -6.53%
- 10Y*
- -1.75%
DFSTX vs. TLT - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
DFSTX DFA U.S. Small Cap Portfolio | 15.82% | 8.07% | 11.50% | 17.66% | -13.50% | 30.50% | 11.19% | 21.78% | -13.20% | 11.19% |
TLT iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF | 0.27% | 4.25% | -8.05% | 2.77% | -31.23% | -4.60% | 18.15% | 14.12% | -1.61% | 9.18% |
Correlation
The correlation between DFSTX and TLT is 0.29, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.29 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.22 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.07 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | -0.12 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jul 26, 2002 | -0.26 |
The correlation between DFSTX and TLT shifts across timeframes, from -0.26 (all time) to 0.29 (1 year), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
DFSTX vs. TLT — Risk / Return Rank
DFSTX
TLT
DFSTX vs. TLT - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for DFA U.S. Small Cap Portfolio (DFSTX) and iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF (TLT). 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.
| DFSTX | TLT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +1.40 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +1.99 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.29 | 1.06 | +0.24 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 3.15 | 0.38 | +2.77 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 10.70 | 0.92 | +9.78 |
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Drawdowns
DFSTX vs. TLT - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum DFSTX drawdown since its inception was -60.99%, which is greater than TLT's maximum drawdown of -48.35%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for DFSTX and TLT.
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Drawdown Indicators
| DFSTX | TLT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -60.99% | -48.35% | -12.64% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -9.16% | -7.58% | -1.58% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -25.91% | -19.18% | -6.73% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -25.91% | -43.70% | +17.79% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -44.78% | -48.35% | +3.57% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | 0.00% | -40.12% | +40.12% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -8.76% | -13.84% | +5.08% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.70% | 3.14% | -0.44% |
Volatility
DFSTX vs. TLT - Volatility Comparison
DFA U.S. Small Cap Portfolio (DFSTX) has a higher volatility of 5.10% compared to iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF (TLT) at 2.83%. This indicates that DFSTX's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than TLT based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| DFSTX | TLT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 5.10% | 2.83% | +2.27% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 12.02% | 6.64% | +5.38% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 17.03% | 9.68% | +7.35% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 20.61% | 15.85% | +4.76% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 22.09% | 14.91% | +7.18% |
DFSTX vs. TLT - Expense Ratio Comparison
DFSTX has a 0.27% expense ratio, which is higher than TLT'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
DFSTX vs. TLT - Dividend Comparison
DFSTX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.94%, less than TLT's 4.56% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
DFSTX DFA U.S. Small Cap Portfolio | 0.94% | 1.08% | 1.05% | 2.45% | 5.18% | 6.39% | 1.08% | 3.30% | 5.16% | 4.56% | 3.10% | 5.90% |
TLT iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF | 4.56% | 4.43% | 4.30% | 3.38% | 2.67% | 1.50% | 1.50% | 2.27% | 2.63% | 2.43% | 2.60% | 2.61% |
Frequently Asked Questions
DFSTX and TLT have a correlation of 0.29, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
DFSTX has higher volatility (5.10%) compared to TLT (2.83%). In terms of maximum drawdown, DFSTX dropped -60.99% vs TLT's -48.35%.
DFSTX currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.70 vs 0.30), 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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