IWD vs. DFALX
IWD (iShares Russell 1000 Value ETF) and DFALX (DFA Large Cap International Portfolio) are both funds - IWD is a Large Cap Value Equities fund tracking the Russell 1000 Value Index, while DFALX is a Foreign Large Cap Equities fund managed by Dimensional. Over the past 10 years, IWD returned 11.13%/yr vs 9.57%/yr for DFALX. A 0.74 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. Both charge a 0.18% expense ratio.
Performance
IWD vs. DFALX - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, IWD achieves a 13.23% return, which is significantly higher than DFALX's 7.88% return. Over the past 10 years, IWD has outperformed DFALX with an annualized return of 11.13%, while DFALX has yielded a comparatively lower 9.57% annualized return.
IWD
- 1D
- 0.36%
- 1M
- 1.44%
- YTD
- 13.23%
- 6M
- 14.44%
- 1Y
- 26.58%
- 3Y*
- 17.65%
- 5Y*
- 10.14%
- 10Y*
- 11.13%
DFALX
- 1D
- -2.41%
- 1M
- -1.66%
- YTD
- 7.88%
- 6M
- 10.41%
- 1Y
- 22.50%
- 3Y*
- 17.50%
- 5Y*
- 9.00%
- 10Y*
- 9.57%
IWD vs. DFALX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IWD iShares Russell 1000 Value ETF | 13.23% | 15.68% | 14.17% | 11.34% | -7.75% | 24.95% | 2.73% | 26.12% | -8.45% | 13.45% |
DFALX DFA Large Cap International Portfolio | 7.88% | 33.60% | 4.55% | 17.88% | -13.04% | 12.79% | 8.13% | 22.05% | -14.15% | 25.35% |
Correlation
The correlation between IWD and DFALX is 0.77, which is moderate. They share some common price drivers but move independently often enough to provide real diversification benefit when combined.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.77 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.73 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.78 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.78 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since May 26, 2000 | 0.74 |
The correlation between IWD and DFALX has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.73 to 0.78 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
IWD vs. DFALX — Risk / Return Rank
IWD
DFALX
IWD vs. DFALX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Russell 1000 Value ETF (IWD) and DFA Large Cap International Portfolio (DFALX). 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.
| IWD | DFALX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.83 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +1.16 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.44 | 1.29 | +0.15 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 3.93 | 2.15 | +1.78 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 16.40 | 8.36 | +8.04 |
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
| IWD | DFALX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 2.44 | 1.61 | +0.83 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.69 | 0.58 | +0.11 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.65 | 0.59 | +0.05 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.42 | 0.37 | +0.05 |
Drawdowns
IWD vs. DFALX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum IWD drawdown since its inception was -60.10%, roughly equal to the maximum DFALX drawdown of -59.76%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for IWD and DFALX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| IWD | DFALX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -60.10% | -59.76% | -0.34% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -6.79% | -10.70% | +3.91% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -15.71% | -13.11% | -2.60% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -19.04% | -27.52% | +8.48% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -38.51% | -35.58% | -2.93% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -1.56% | -2.74% | +1.18% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -8.65% | -12.00% | +3.35% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 1.62% | 2.74% | -1.12% |
Volatility
IWD vs. DFALX - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for iShares Russell 1000 Value ETF (IWD) is 3.18%, while DFA Large Cap International Portfolio (DFALX) has a volatility of 4.21%. This indicates that IWD experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than DFALX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| IWD | DFALX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 3.18% | 4.21% | -1.03% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 8.30% | 11.69% | -3.39% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 10.94% | 14.29% | -3.35% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 14.83% | 15.71% | -0.88% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 17.30% | 16.19% | +1.11% |
IWD vs. DFALX - Expense Ratio Comparison
Both IWD and DFALX have an expense ratio of 0.18%, making them cost-effective options compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios typically range from 0.3% to 0.9%.
Dividends
IWD vs. DFALX - Dividend Comparison
IWD's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.51%, less than DFALX's 2.80% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
DFALX DFA Large Cap International Portfolio | 2.80% | 2.89% | 3.18% | 3.24% | 2.86% | 3.00% | 1.88% | 2.88% | 3.07% | 2.55% | 2.89% | 2.94% |
IWD iShares Russell 1000 Value ETF | 1.51% | 1.69% | 1.87% | 2.02% | 2.15% | 1.62% | 2.05% | 2.45% | 2.71% | 2.09% | 2.25% | 2.47% |
Frequently Asked Questions
IWD and DFALX have a correlation of 0.77, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
DFALX has higher volatility (4.21%) compared to IWD (3.18%). In terms of maximum drawdown, IWD dropped -60.10% vs DFALX's -59.76%.
IWD currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.44 vs 1.61), 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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