SHUS vs. DFAU

Last updated Aug 4, 2026

SHUS (Stratified LargeCap Hedged ETF) and DFAU (Dimensional US Core Equity Market ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - SHUS is a Equity Hedged fund actively managed by Exchange Traded Concepts, while DFAU is a Large Cap Blend Equities fund actively managed by Dimensional. Both are actively managed. Over the past year, SHUS returned 18.95% vs 24.32% for DFAU. Their 0.76 correlation means they have sometimes moved together and sometimes differently. SHUS charges 0.79%/yr vs 0.12%/yr for DFAU.

Performance

SHUS vs. DFAU - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Stratified LargeCap Hedged ETF (SHUS) and Dimensional US Core Equity Market ETF (DFAU). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, SHUS achieves a 11.99% return, which is significantly lower than DFAU's 12.63% return.

SHUS

• 1D: 0.74%
• 1M: 0.95%
• 6M: 8.10%
• YTD: 11.99%
• 1Y: 18.95%
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —
• ALL TIME*: 10.87%

DFAU

• 1D: 1.31%
• 1M: 1.79%
• 6M: 9.88%
• YTD: 12.63%
• 1Y: 24.32%
• 3Y*: 20.07%
• 5Y*: 12.66%
• 10Y*: —
• ALL TIME*: 15.12%

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

Liquidity Comparison

Position	Avg. Volume Value (2W)	Avg. Volume Value (1M)	Avg. Volume Value (3M)
DFAU Dimensional US Core Equity Market ETF	$29.77M	$29.67M	$32.10M
SHUS Stratified LargeCap Hedged ETF	$376.99	$481.64	$2.74K

SHUS vs. DFAU - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024
SHUS Stratified LargeCap Hedged ETF	11.99%	10.89%	-2.65%
DFAU Dimensional US Core Equity Market ETF	12.63%	16.78%	2.78%

Correlation

The correlation between SHUS and DFAU is 0.70, which is moderate. They have sometimes moved together and sometimes differently, sharing some price drivers without tracking each other closely.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most.	0.70
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Sep 30, 2024	0.76

The correlation between SHUS and DFAU has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.70 to 0.76 - a consistent structural relationship.

SHUS vs. DFAU - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors	SHUS	DFAU
Technology	15.9%	39.8%
Consumer Cyclical	13.2%	10.4%
Consumer Defensive	12.8%	3.9%
Healthcare	12.7%	7.4%
Industrials	10.7%	9.0%
Financial Services	10.4%	14.2%
Utilities	6.4%	2.4%
Communication Services	6.3%	7.4%
Energy	6.0%	3.2%
Real Estate	3.5%	0.2%
Basic Materials	2.2%	2.2%

Return for Risk

SHUS vs. DFAU — Risk / Return Rank

Compare historical risk-adjusted metric ranks over the past 12 months.

SHUS

SHUS Risk / Return Rank: 76
SHUS Sharpe Ratio Rank: 77
SHUS Sortino Ratio Rank: 80
SHUS Omega Ratio Rank: 75
SHUS Calmar Ratio Rank: 73
SHUS Martin Ratio Rank: 74

DFAU

DFAU Risk / Return Rank: 80
DFAU Sharpe Ratio Rank: 81
DFAU Sortino Ratio Rank: 79
DFAU Omega Ratio Rank: 79
DFAU Calmar Ratio Rank: 78
DFAU Martin Ratio Rank: 85

The rank (0–100) uses a weighted average of the Sharpe, Sortino, Omega, Calmar, and Martin percentile ranks for the trailing 12 months. Higher means stronger historical risk-adjusted performance within the peer group.

SHUS vs. DFAU - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Stratified LargeCap Hedged ETF (SHUS) 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.

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.

	SHUS	DFAU	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	1.89	1.90	-0.01
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	2.77	2.61	+0.16
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.34	1.34	0.00
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	2.74	2.82	-0.08
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	9.87	12.20	-2.32

SHUS vs. DFAU - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current SHUS Sharpe Ratio is 1.89, which is comparable to the DFAU Sharpe Ratio of 1.90. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of SHUS and DFAU, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Drawdowns

SHUS vs. DFAU - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum SHUS drawdown since its inception was -14.09%, smaller than the maximum DFAU drawdown of -23.61%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for SHUS and DFAU.

Drawdown Indicators

	SHUS	DFAU	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-14.09%	-23.61%	+9.52%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-6.95%	-8.67%	+1.72%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	—	-19.36%	—
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	—	-23.61%	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-0.33%	0.00%	-0.33%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-2.47%	-4.88%	+2.41%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	1.92%	2.00%	-0.08%

Volatility

SHUS vs. DFAU - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for Stratified LargeCap Hedged ETF (SHUS) is 2.87%, while Dimensional US Core Equity Market ETF (DFAU) has a volatility of 3.63%. This indicates that SHUS experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than DFAU based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	SHUS	DFAU	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	2.87%	3.63%	-0.76%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	7.39%	10.12%	-2.73%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	10.09%	12.89%	-2.80%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	12.41%	17.12%	-4.71%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	12.41%	16.69%	-4.28%

SHUS vs. DFAU - Expense Ratio Comparison

SHUS has a 0.79% expense ratio, which is higher than DFAU's 0.12% expense ratio.

Dividends

SHUS vs. DFAU - Dividend Comparison

SHUS's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.23%, more than DFAU's 0.90% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020
DFAU Dimensional US Core Equity Market ETF	0.90%	0.95%	1.10%	1.29%	1.40%	1.00%	0.13%
SHUS Stratified LargeCap Hedged ETF	1.23%	1.37%	0.26%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both SHUS and DFAU in my portfolio?

SHUS and DFAU have a correlation of 0.70, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, SHUS or DFAU?

DFAU has higher volatility (3.63%) compared to SHUS (2.87%). In terms of maximum drawdown, SHUS dropped -14.09% vs DFAU's -23.61%.

Which ETF is better, SHUS or DFAU?

On 1-year performance, DFAU leads with 24.32% vs 18.95% for SHUS. On fees, DFAU is cheaper at 0.12% per year. On volatility, SHUS has been the lower-risk option at 2.87%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF has performed better, SHUS or DFAU?

Over the 1-year period, DFAU has performed better with a 24.32% return vs 18.95%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

Which ETF is cheaper, SHUS or DFAU?

DFAU is cheaper with a 0.12% expense ratio, compared with 0.79% for SHUS.

Which ETF pays a higher dividend yield, SHUS or DFAU?

SHUS has the higher dividend yield at 1.23%, compared with 0.90% for DFAU.

What is the main difference between SHUS and DFAU?

SHUS is categorized as Equity Hedged, while DFAU is Large Cap Blend Equities. They also come from different issuers: Exchange Traded Concepts and Dimensional. Their fees differ too: 0.79% for SHUS and 0.12% for DFAU.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

DFAU currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.90 vs 1.89), 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.