IWM vs. DFISX
IWM (iShares Russell 2000 ETF) and DFISX (DFA International Small Company Portfolio) are both funds - IWM is a Small Cap Blend Equities fund tracking the Russell 2000 Index, while DFISX is a Foreign Small & Mid Cap Equities fund managed by Dimensional. Over the past 10 years, IWM returned 11.27%/yr vs 8.53%/yr for DFISX. A 0.60 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. IWM charges 0.19%/yr vs 0.39%/yr for DFISX.
Performance
IWM vs. DFISX - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, IWM achieves a 19.22% return, which is significantly higher than DFISX's 7.65% return. Over the past 10 years, IWM has outperformed DFISX with an annualized return of 11.27%, while DFISX has yielded a comparatively lower 8.53% annualized return.
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%
DFISX
- 1D
- 2.27%
- 1M
- 0.36%
- YTD
- 7.65%
- 6M
- 9.88%
- 1Y
- 23.06%
- 3Y*
- 17.56%
- 5Y*
- 6.74%
- 10Y*
- 8.53%
IWM vs. DFISX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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% |
DFISX DFA International Small Company Portfolio | 7.65% | 36.35% | 3.76% | 14.46% | -17.13% | 10.71% | 9.27% | 24.18% | -19.42% | 24.78% |
Correlation
The correlation between IWM and DFISX is 0.71, 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 | 0.71 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.69 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.72 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.69 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since May 26, 2000 | 0.60 |
The correlation between IWM and DFISX shifts across timeframes, from 0.60 (all time) to 0.72 (5 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
IWM vs. DFISX — Risk / Return Rank
IWM
DFISX
IWM vs. DFISX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Russell 2000 ETF (IWM) and DFA International Small Company Portfolio (DFISX). 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.
| IWM | DFISX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.39 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.46 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.33 | 1.29 | +0.04 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 3.57 | 1.90 | +1.67 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 12.63 | 6.86 | +5.77 |
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Drawdowns
IWM vs. DFISX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum IWM drawdown since its inception was -59.05%, roughly equal to the maximum DFISX drawdown of -60.66%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for IWM and DFISX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| IWM | DFISX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -59.05% | -60.66% | +1.61% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -11.03% | -11.96% | +0.93% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -27.50% | -13.68% | -13.82% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -31.91% | -35.06% | +3.15% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -41.13% | -43.00% | +1.87% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | 0.00% | -3.11% | +3.11% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -10.76% | -11.64% | +0.88% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.12% | 3.29% | -0.17% |
Volatility
IWM vs. DFISX - Volatility Comparison
iShares Russell 2000 ETF (IWM) has a higher volatility of 7.16% compared to DFA International Small Company Portfolio (DFISX) at 4.59%. This indicates that IWM's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than DFISX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| IWM | DFISX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 7.16% | 4.59% | +2.57% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 14.29% | 11.57% | +2.72% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 19.73% | 14.17% | +5.56% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 22.61% | 15.96% | +6.65% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 23.08% | 16.21% | +6.87% |
IWM vs. DFISX - Expense Ratio Comparison
IWM has a 0.19% expense ratio, which is lower than DFISX's 0.39% expense ratio.
Dividends
IWM vs. DFISX - Dividend Comparison
IWM's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.87%, less than DFISX's 2.92% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
DFISX DFA International Small Company Portfolio | 2.92% | 3.19% | 3.39% | 3.01% | 3.51% | 3.06% | 1.71% | 4.54% | 7.74% | 1.27% | 4.44% | 4.47% |
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
IWM and DFISX have a correlation of 0.71, 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 DFISX (4.59%). In terms of maximum drawdown, IWM dropped -59.05% vs DFISX's -60.66%.
IWM currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.99 vs 1.60), 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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