MGC vs. DFAU
Compare and contrast key facts about Vanguard Mega Cap ETF (MGC) and Dimensional US Core Equity Market ETF (DFAU).
MGC and DFAU are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. MGC is a passively managed fund by Vanguard that tracks the performance of the CRSP US Mega Cap Index. It was launched on Dec 17, 2007. DFAU is an actively managed fund by Dimensional. It was launched on Nov 17, 2020.
Performance
MGC vs. DFAU - Performance Comparison
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MGC vs. DFAU - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MGC Vanguard Mega Cap ETF | -4.86% | 19.31% | 27.16% | 29.77% | -19.95% | 27.58% | 5.84% |
DFAU Dimensional US Core Equity Market ETF | -2.67% | 16.78% | 23.17% | 24.79% | -16.99% | 26.89% | 6.48% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, MGC achieves a -4.86% return, which is significantly lower than DFAU's -2.67% return.
MGC
- 1D
- 0.81%
- 1M
- -4.09%
- YTD
- -4.86%
- 6M
- -2.26%
- 1Y
- 18.99%
- 3Y*
- 19.96%
- 5Y*
- 12.41%
- 10Y*
- 14.78%
DFAU
- 1D
- 0.71%
- 1M
- -4.35%
- YTD
- -2.67%
- 6M
- -0.51%
- 1Y
- 19.02%
- 3Y*
- 17.82%
- 5Y*
- 11.15%
- 10Y*
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MGC vs. DFAU - Expense Ratio Comparison
MGC has a 0.05% expense ratio, which is lower than DFAU's 0.12% expense ratio. Despite the difference, both funds are considered low-cost compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios usually range from 0.3% to 0.9%.
Return for Risk
MGC vs. DFAU — Risk / Return Rank
MGC
DFAU
MGC vs. DFAU - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Mega Cap ETF (MGC) and Dimensional US Core Equity Market ETF (DFAU). 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.
| MGC | DFAU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.01 | 1.03 | -0.02 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.56 | 1.56 | 0.00 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.23 | 1.24 | 0.00 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.64 | 1.56 | +0.07 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 7.19 | 7.42 | -0.24 |
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
| MGC | DFAU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.01 | 1.03 | -0.02 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.72 | 0.66 | +0.06 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.82 | — | — |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.56 | 0.80 | -0.24 |
Correlation
The correlation between MGC and DFAU is 0.97, 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
MGC vs. DFAU - Dividend Comparison
MGC's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.01%, less than DFAU's 1.03% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MGC Vanguard Mega Cap ETF | 1.01% | 0.93% | 1.15% | 1.35% | 1.65% | 1.17% | 1.45% | 1.81% | 2.10% | 1.83% | 2.14% | 2.11% |
DFAU Dimensional US Core Equity Market ETF | 1.03% | 0.95% | 1.10% | 1.29% | 1.40% | 1.00% | 0.13% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Drawdowns
MGC vs. DFAU - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum MGC drawdown since its inception was -51.93%, which is greater than DFAU's maximum drawdown of -23.61%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for MGC and DFAU.
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Drawdown Indicators
| MGC | DFAU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -51.93% | -23.61% | -28.32% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -11.93% | -12.45% | +0.52% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -25.74% | -23.61% | -2.13% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -33.07% | — | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -6.33% | -5.36% | -0.97% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -7.12% | -5.12% | -2.00% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.72% | 2.62% | +0.10% |
Volatility
MGC vs. DFAU - Volatility Comparison
Vanguard Mega Cap ETF (MGC) and Dimensional US Core Equity Market ETF (DFAU) have volatilities of 5.54% and 5.39%, respectively, indicating that both stocks experience similar levels of price fluctuations. This suggests that the risk associated with both stocks, as measured by volatility, is nearly the same. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| MGC | DFAU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 5.54% | 5.39% | +0.15% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 9.86% | 9.67% | +0.19% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 18.80% | 18.52% | +0.28% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 17.26% | 17.03% | +0.23% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 18.19% | 16.87% | +1.32% |