VFFSX vs. DFIEX
Compare and contrast key facts about Vanguard 500 Index Fund Institutional Select Shares (VFFSX) and DFA International Core Equity Portfolio I (DFIEX).
VFFSX is managed by Vanguard. DFIEX is managed by Dimensional. It was launched on Sep 15, 2005.
Performance
VFFSX vs. DFIEX - Performance Comparison
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VFFSX vs. DFIEX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VFFSX Vanguard 500 Index Fund Institutional Select Shares | -3.65% | 17.87% | 25.00% | 26.28% | -18.14% | 29.24% | 18.35% | 31.88% | -4.42% | 20.80% |
DFIEX DFA International Core Equity Portfolio I | 4.28% | 36.18% | 3.99% | 17.50% | -13.51% | 13.85% | 7.73% | 21.70% | -17.41% | 27.17% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VFFSX achieves a -3.65% return, which is significantly lower than DFIEX's 4.28% return.
VFFSX
- 1D
- 0.72%
- 1M
- -3.44%
- YTD
- -3.65%
- 6M
- -1.50%
- 1Y
- 17.39%
- 3Y*
- 18.59%
- 5Y*
- 11.94%
- 10Y*
- —
DFIEX
- 1D
- 1.44%
- 1M
- -2.09%
- YTD
- 4.28%
- 6M
- 9.56%
- 1Y
- 32.02%
- 3Y*
- 17.30%
- 5Y*
- 9.72%
- 10Y*
- 9.79%
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VFFSX vs. DFIEX - Expense Ratio Comparison
VFFSX has a 0.01% expense ratio, which is lower than DFIEX's 0.24% 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
VFFSX vs. DFIEX — Risk / Return Rank
VFFSX
DFIEX
VFFSX vs. DFIEX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard 500 Index Fund Institutional Select Shares (VFFSX) and DFA International Core Equity Portfolio I (DFIEX). 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.
| VFFSX | DFIEX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.00 | 2.05 | -1.05 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.52 | 2.66 | -1.14 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.23 | 1.41 | -0.17 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.54 | 2.84 | -1.31 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 7.31 | 11.17 | -3.85 |
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
| VFFSX | DFIEX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.00 | 2.05 | -1.05 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.71 | 0.62 | +0.09 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | — | 0.60 | — |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.77 | 0.35 | +0.42 |
Correlation
The correlation between VFFSX and DFIEX is 0.76, 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
VFFSX vs. DFIEX - Dividend Comparison
VFFSX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.20%, less than DFIEX's 3.10% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VFFSX Vanguard 500 Index Fund Institutional Select Shares | 1.20% | 1.14% | 1.24% | 1.46% | 1.70% | 1.61% | 1.56% | 2.15% | 2.09% | 1.81% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
DFIEX DFA International Core Equity Portfolio I | 3.10% | 3.22% | 3.42% | 3.36% | 2.88% | 2.98% | 1.77% | 2.90% | 2.95% | 2.49% | 2.76% | 4.20% |
Drawdowns
VFFSX vs. DFIEX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VFFSX drawdown since its inception was -33.82%, smaller than the maximum DFIEX drawdown of -62.22%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VFFSX and DFIEX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VFFSX | DFIEX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -33.82% | -62.22% | +28.40% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -8.90% | -11.01% | +2.11% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -24.51% | -28.66% | +4.15% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | — | -41.04% | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -5.56% | -6.42% | +0.86% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -4.57% | -12.26% | +7.69% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.55% | 2.80% | -0.25% |
Volatility
VFFSX vs. DFIEX - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Vanguard 500 Index Fund Institutional Select Shares (VFFSX) is 5.38%, while DFA International Core Equity Portfolio I (DFIEX) has a volatility of 6.66%. This indicates that VFFSX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than DFIEX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VFFSX | DFIEX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 5.38% | 6.66% | -1.28% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 9.55% | 10.52% | -0.97% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 18.32% | 15.92% | +2.40% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 16.91% | 15.66% | +1.25% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 18.51% | 16.35% | +2.16% |