VFSIX vs. DFLVX
VFSIX (Vanguard Short-Term Investment-Grade Fund Institutional Shares) and DFLVX (DFA U.S. Large Cap Value Portfolio) are both mutual funds - VFSIX is a Total Bond Market fund managed by Vanguard, while DFLVX is a Large Cap Value Equities fund actively managed by Dimensional. Over the past 10 years, VFSIX returned 2.51%/yr vs 11.93%/yr for DFLVX. Their -0.12 correlation means they have often moved in opposite directions in the past. VFSIX charges 0.07%/yr vs 0.22%/yr for DFLVX.
Performance
VFSIX vs. DFLVX - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VFSIX achieves a 0.55% return, which is significantly lower than DFLVX's 18.84% return. Over the past 10 years, VFSIX has underperformed DFLVX with an annualized return of 2.51%, while DFLVX has yielded a comparatively higher 11.93% annualized return.
VFSIX
- 1D
- 0.00%
- 1M
- -0.48%
- 6M
- 0.16%
- YTD
- 0.55%
- 1Y
- 2.82%
- 3Y*
- 5.29%
- 5Y*
- 2.24%
- 10Y*
- 2.51%
- ALL TIME*
- 3.63%
DFLVX
- 1D
- 0.67%
- 1M
- 1.90%
- 6M
- 13.48%
- YTD
- 18.84%
- 1Y
- 32.92%
- 3Y*
- 17.16%
- 5Y*
- 12.14%
- 10Y*
- 11.93%
- ALL TIME*
- 10.39%
Liquidity Comparison
| Position | Avg. Volume Value (2W) | Avg. Volume Value (1M) | Avg. Volume Value (3M) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
| $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
VFSIX vs. DFLVX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VFSIX Vanguard Short-Term Investment-Grade Fund Institutional Shares | 0.55% | 6.89% | 5.12% | 5.88% | -5.72% | -0.59% | 5.28% | 5.88% | 1.00% | 2.15% |
DFLVX DFA U.S. Large Cap Value Portfolio | 18.84% | 16.36% | 12.76% | 11.52% | -5.81% | 30.40% | -0.58% | 25.46% | -11.68% | 18.50% |
Correlation
The correlation between VFSIX and DFLVX is 0.23, which is low. Their historical price movements had little consistent relationship.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most. | 0.23 |
Correlation (3Y) Balances recent behavior with more history. | 0.14 |
Correlation (5Y) Shows whether the relationship held over a longer period. | 0.11 |
Correlation (10Y) Provides a long-term view across more market conditions. | -0.01 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Sep 30, 1997 | -0.12 |
The correlation between VFSIX and DFLVX shifts across timeframes, from -0.12 (all time) to 0.23 (1 year), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
VFSIX vs. DFLVX — Risk / Return Rank
VFSIX
DFLVX
VFSIX vs. DFLVX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Short-Term Investment-Grade Fund Institutional Shares (VFSIX) and DFA U.S. Large Cap Value Portfolio (DFLVX). 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.
| VFSIX | DFLVX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -1.08 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -1.05 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.35 | 1.48 | -0.13 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.19 | 5.21 | -3.02 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 8.24 | 19.82 | -11.58 |
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Drawdowns
VFSIX vs. DFLVX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VFSIX drawdown since its inception was -9.21%, smaller than the maximum DFLVX drawdown of -65.65%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VFSIX and DFLVX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VFSIX | DFLVX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -9.21% | -65.65% | +56.44% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -1.71% | -5.86% | +4.15% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -1.71% | -16.64% | +14.93% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -9.21% | -19.83% | +10.62% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -9.21% | -41.79% | +32.58% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.58% | -0.70% | +0.12% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -0.79% | -8.44% | +7.65% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.45% | 1.57% | -1.12% |
Volatility
VFSIX vs. DFLVX - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Vanguard Short-Term Investment-Grade Fund Institutional Shares (VFSIX) is 0.48%, while DFA U.S. Large Cap Value Portfolio (DFLVX) has a volatility of 2.54%. This indicates that VFSIX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than DFLVX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VFSIX | DFLVX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 0.48% | 2.54% | -2.06% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 1.77% | 8.20% | -6.43% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 2.28% | 11.23% | -8.95% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 3.00% | 15.77% | -12.77% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 2.49% | 18.29% | -15.80% |
VFSIX vs. DFLVX - Expense Ratio Comparison
VFSIX has a 0.07% expense ratio, which is lower than DFLVX's 0.22% 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%.
Dividends
VFSIX vs. DFLVX - Dividend Comparison
VFSIX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.37%, more than DFLVX's 1.43% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
DFLVX DFA U.S. Large Cap Value Portfolio | 1.43% | 1.71% | 1.87% | 3.65% | 4.56% | 5.90% | 1.97% | 4.04% | 7.83% | 6.06% | 3.77% | 6.52% |
VFSIX Vanguard Short-Term Investment-Grade Fund Institutional Shares | 4.37% | 4.61% | 4.19% | 2.88% | 2.06% | 1.81% | 2.35% | 2.95% | 2.80% | 2.13% | 2.17% | 2.12% |
Frequently Asked Questions
VFSIX and DFLVX have a correlation of 0.23, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
DFLVX has higher volatility (2.54%) compared to VFSIX (0.48%). In terms of maximum drawdown, VFSIX dropped -9.21% vs DFLVX's -65.65%.
DFLVX currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.72 vs 1.64), 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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