DSCGX vs. NESIX
Compare and contrast key facts about DFA U.S. Small Cap Growth Portfolio (DSCGX) and Needham Small Cap Growth Fund Institutional (NESIX).
DSCGX is managed by Dimensional. It was launched on Dec 20, 2012. NESIX is managed by Needham. It was launched on Dec 30, 2016.
Performance
DSCGX vs. NESIX - Performance Comparison
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DSCGX vs. NESIX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
DSCGX DFA U.S. Small Cap Growth Portfolio | -3.76% | 5.94% | 13.86% | 21.25% | -17.79% | 20.37% | 19.35% | 26.17% | -12.33% | 15.36% |
NESIX Needham Small Cap Growth Fund Institutional | 9.63% | 11.16% | 13.47% | 5.85% | -29.71% | 11.36% | 73.06% | 55.28% | -4.87% | 12.63% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, DSCGX achieves a -3.76% return, which is significantly lower than NESIX's 9.63% return.
DSCGX
- 1D
- -1.01%
- 1M
- -9.72%
- YTD
- -3.76%
- 6M
- -3.83%
- 1Y
- 9.42%
- 3Y*
- 9.34%
- 5Y*
- 4.44%
- 10Y*
- 9.37%
NESIX
- 1D
- -4.46%
- 1M
- -7.08%
- YTD
- 9.63%
- 6M
- 12.40%
- 1Y
- 48.73%
- 3Y*
- 11.47%
- 5Y*
- 1.26%
- 10Y*
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DSCGX vs. NESIX - Expense Ratio Comparison
DSCGX has a 0.32% expense ratio, which is lower than NESIX's 1.18% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
DSCGX vs. NESIX — Risk / Return Rank
DSCGX
NESIX
DSCGX vs. NESIX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for DFA U.S. Small Cap Growth Portfolio (DSCGX) and Needham Small Cap Growth Fund Institutional (NESIX). 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.
| DSCGX | NESIX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 0.47 | 1.34 | -0.87 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 0.84 | 1.91 | -1.07 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.11 | 1.25 | -0.15 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 0.54 | 2.44 | -1.89 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 2.04 | 8.21 | -6.18 |
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
| DSCGX | NESIX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.47 | 1.34 | -0.87 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.22 | 0.04 | +0.18 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.43 | — | — |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.49 | 0.53 | -0.03 |
Correlation
The correlation between DSCGX and NESIX is 0.80, 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
DSCGX vs. NESIX - Dividend Comparison
DSCGX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.60%, while NESIX has not paid dividends to shareholders.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
DSCGX DFA U.S. Small Cap Growth Portfolio | 0.60% | 0.60% | 0.62% | 0.72% | 4.08% | 3.27% | 0.58% | 1.28% | 5.44% | 1.50% | 1.12% | 1.20% |
NESIX Needham Small Cap Growth Fund Institutional | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 3.93% | 23.92% | 13.26% | 8.25% | 21.96% | 8.89% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Drawdowns
DSCGX vs. NESIX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum DSCGX drawdown since its inception was -41.44%, smaller than the maximum NESIX drawdown of -49.61%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for DSCGX and NESIX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| DSCGX | NESIX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -41.44% | -49.61% | +8.17% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -13.40% | -17.25% | +3.85% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -31.32% | -49.61% | +18.29% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -41.44% | — | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -10.99% | -9.15% | -1.84% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -7.28% | -15.27% | +7.99% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.58% | 5.12% | -1.54% |
Volatility
DSCGX vs. NESIX - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for DFA U.S. Small Cap Growth Portfolio (DSCGX) is 5.47%, while Needham Small Cap Growth Fund Institutional (NESIX) has a volatility of 10.99%. This indicates that DSCGX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than NESIX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| DSCGX | NESIX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 5.47% | 10.99% | -5.52% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 12.08% | 22.90% | -10.82% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 21.43% | 35.06% | -13.63% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 20.43% | 29.10% | -8.67% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 21.75% | 26.30% | -4.55% |