DFTEX vs. IWM
DFTEX (DFA Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio Fund) and IWM (iShares Russell 2000 ETF) are both funds - DFTEX is a Corporate Bonds fund managed by Dimensional, while IWM is a Small Cap Blend Equities fund tracking the Russell 2000 Index. Over the past 10 years, DFTEX returned 2.35%/yr vs 11.27%/yr for IWM. At a correlation of -0.07, they often move in opposite directions. DFTEX charges 0.20%/yr vs 0.19%/yr for IWM.
Performance
DFTEX vs. IWM - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, DFTEX achieves a 1.08% return, which is significantly lower than IWM's 19.22% return. Over the past 10 years, DFTEX has underperformed IWM with an annualized return of 2.35%, while IWM has yielded a comparatively higher 11.27% annualized return.
DFTEX
- 1D
- 0.62%
- 1M
- 1.42%
- YTD
- 1.08%
- 6M
- 1.49%
- 1Y
- 6.11%
- 3Y*
- 6.02%
- 5Y*
- 0.58%
- 10Y*
- 2.35%
IWM
- 1D
- 0.87%
- 1M
- 2.99%
- YTD
- 19.22%
- 6M
- 16.00%
- 1Y
- 41.75%
- 3Y*
- 17.23%
- 5Y*
- 6.07%
- 10Y*
- 11.27%
DFTEX vs. IWM - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
DFTEX DFA Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio Fund | 1.08% | 7.70% | 2.89% | 9.61% | -16.28% | -2.05% | 10.26% | 13.38% | -2.10% | 5.20% |
IWM iShares Russell 2000 ETF | 19.22% | 12.66% | 11.38% | 16.83% | -20.48% | 14.54% | 20.03% | 25.39% | -11.12% | 14.58% |
Correlation
The correlation between DFTEX and IWM is 0.40, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.40 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.31 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.18 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.01 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Aug 3, 2012 | -0.07 |
The correlation between DFTEX and IWM shifts across timeframes, from -0.07 (all time) to 0.40 (1 year), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
DFTEX vs. IWM — Risk / Return Rank
DFTEX
IWM
DFTEX vs. IWM - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for DFA Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio Fund (DFTEX) and iShares Russell 2000 ETF (IWM). 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.
| DFTEX | IWM | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.49 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.47 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.27 | 1.33 | -0.06 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.96 | 3.57 | -1.61 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 6.35 | 12.63 | -6.27 |
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Drawdowns
DFTEX vs. IWM - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum DFTEX drawdown since its inception was -22.83%, smaller than the maximum IWM drawdown of -59.05%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for DFTEX and IWM.
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Drawdown Indicators
| DFTEX | IWM | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -22.83% | -59.05% | +36.22% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -3.22% | -11.03% | +7.81% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -5.38% | -27.50% | +22.12% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -22.83% | -31.91% | +9.08% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -22.83% | -41.13% | +18.30% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.74% | 0.00% | -0.74% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -4.45% | -10.76% | +6.31% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.99% | 3.12% | -2.13% |
Volatility
DFTEX vs. IWM - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for DFA Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio Fund (DFTEX) is 1.45%, while iShares Russell 2000 ETF (IWM) has a volatility of 7.16%. This indicates that DFTEX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than IWM based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| DFTEX | IWM | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 1.45% | 7.16% | -5.71% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 3.14% | 14.29% | -11.15% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 4.20% | 19.73% | -15.53% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 6.71% | 22.61% | -15.90% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 5.89% | 23.08% | -17.19% |
DFTEX vs. IWM - Expense Ratio Comparison
DFTEX has a 0.20% expense ratio, which is higher than IWM's 0.19% 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
DFTEX vs. IWM - Dividend Comparison
DFTEX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.92%, more than IWM's 0.87% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
DFTEX DFA Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio Fund | 4.92% | 4.30% | 4.27% | 3.79% | 3.25% | 4.12% | 3.31% | 3.06% | 3.24% | 2.91% | 2.88% | 3.90% |
IWM iShares Russell 2000 ETF | 0.87% | 1.04% | 1.15% | 1.35% | 1.48% | 0.94% | 1.04% | 1.26% | 1.40% | 1.26% | 1.38% | 1.54% |
Frequently Asked Questions
DFTEX and IWM have a correlation of 0.40, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
IWM has higher volatility (7.16%) compared to DFTEX (1.45%). In terms of maximum drawdown, DFTEX dropped -22.83% vs IWM's -59.05%.
IWM currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.99 vs 1.50), 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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