NUV vs. DFSMX
NUV (Nuveen Municipal Value Fund Inc.) and DFSMX (DFA Short Term Municipal Bond Portfolio) are both Municipal Bonds funds. Over the past 10 years, NUV returned 2.33%/yr vs 1.23%/yr for DFSMX. Their 0.13 correlation means their historical movements had little consistent relationship. NUV charges 0.52%/yr vs 0.20%/yr for DFSMX.
Performance
NUV vs. DFSMX - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, NUV achieves a 3.54% return, which is significantly higher than DFSMX's 1.27% return. Over the past 10 years, NUV has outperformed DFSMX with an annualized return of 2.33%, while DFSMX has yielded a comparatively lower 1.23% annualized return.
NUV
- 1D
- 0.33%
- 1M
- -0.52%
- 6M
- 2.26%
- YTD
- 3.54%
- 1Y
- 10.82%
- 3Y*
- 5.98%
- 5Y*
- -1.04%
- 10Y*
- 2.33%
- ALL TIME*
- 3.59%
DFSMX
- 1D
- 0.01%
- 1M
- 0.11%
- 6M
- 0.95%
- YTD
- 1.27%
- 1Y
- 2.25%
- 3Y*
- 2.65%
- 5Y*
- 1.76%
- 10Y*
- 1.23%
- ALL TIME*
- 1.62%
Liquidity Comparison
| Position | Avg. Volume Value (2W) | Avg. Volume Value (1M) | Avg. Volume Value (3M) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
| $4.58M | $4.45M | $4.78M |
NUV vs. DFSMX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NUV Nuveen Municipal Value Fund Inc. | 3.54% | 10.27% | 4.04% | 3.99% | -14.03% | -3.51% | 7.50% | 19.75% | -4.83% | 10.33% |
DFSMX DFA Short Term Municipal Bond Portfolio | 1.27% | 2.30% | 2.84% | 2.98% | -0.36% | -0.11% | 0.83% | 1.62% | 1.22% | 1.15% |
Correlation
The correlation between NUV and DFSMX is 0.12, which is low. Their historical price movements had little consistent relationship.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most. | 0.12 |
Correlation (3Y) Balances recent behavior with more history. | 0.13 |
Correlation (5Y) Shows whether the relationship held over a longer period. | 0.16 |
Correlation (10Y) Provides a long-term view across more market conditions. | 0.13 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Aug 22, 2002 | 0.13 |
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Return for Risk
NUV vs. DFSMX — Risk / Return Rank
NUV
DFSMX
NUV vs. DFSMX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Nuveen Municipal Value Fund Inc. (NUV) and DFA Short Term Municipal Bond Portfolio (DFSMX). 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.
| NUV | DFSMX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -2.67 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -8.75 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.32 | 5.99 | -4.67 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.81 | 22.52 | -19.72 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 13.26 | 86.52 | -73.26 |
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Drawdowns
NUV vs. DFSMX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum NUV drawdown since its inception was -35.42%, which is greater than DFSMX's maximum drawdown of -2.66%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for NUV and DFSMX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| NUV | DFSMX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -35.42% | -2.66% | -32.76% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -4.20% | -0.11% | -4.09% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -7.88% | -0.49% | -7.39% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -28.29% | -1.66% | -26.63% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -28.29% | -1.69% | -26.60% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -6.28% | 0.00% | -6.28% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -8.98% | -0.23% | -8.75% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.89% | 0.03% | +0.86% |
Volatility
NUV vs. DFSMX - Volatility Comparison
Nuveen Municipal Value Fund Inc. (NUV) has a higher volatility of 1.41% compared to DFA Short Term Municipal Bond Portfolio (DFSMX) at 0.17%. This indicates that NUV's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than DFSMX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| NUV | DFSMX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 1.41% | 0.17% | +1.24% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 5.12% | 0.38% | +4.74% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 6.71% | 0.54% | +6.17% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 9.49% | 0.79% | +8.70% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 10.29% | 0.76% | +9.53% |
NUV vs. DFSMX - Expense Ratio Comparison
NUV has a 0.52% expense ratio, which is higher than DFSMX's 0.20% expense ratio.
Dividends
NUV vs. DFSMX - Dividend Comparison
NUV's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.26%, more than DFSMX's 2.53% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
DFSMX DFA Short Term Municipal Bond Portfolio | 2.53% | 2.08% | 2.80% | 1.94% | 0.63% | 0.19% | 0.83% | 1.22% | 1.11% | 0.95% | 0.94% | 0.95% |
NUV Nuveen Municipal Value Fund Inc. | 4.26% | 4.30% | 4.16% | 3.94% | 3.91% | 3.41% | 3.35% | 3.48% | 4.01% | 3.99% | 4.10% | 3.95% |
Frequently Asked Questions
NUV and DFSMX have a correlation of 0.12, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
NUV has higher volatility (1.41%) compared to DFSMX (0.17%). In terms of maximum drawdown, NUV dropped -35.42% vs DFSMX's -2.66%.
DFSMX currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (4.43 vs 1.76), 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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