VMCTX vs. DFIEX
Compare and contrast key facts about Vanguard Mega Cap Index Fund Institutional Shares (VMCTX) and DFA International Core Equity Portfolio I (DFIEX).
VMCTX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Feb 22, 2008. DFIEX is managed by Dimensional. It was launched on Sep 15, 2005.
Performance
VMCTX vs. DFIEX - Performance Comparison
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VMCTX vs. DFIEX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VMCTX Vanguard Mega Cap Index Fund Institutional Shares | -5.57% | 19.35% | 27.18% | 29.67% | -19.91% | 27.57% | 21.47% | 31.42% | -3.47% | 22.57% |
DFIEX DFA International Core Equity Portfolio I | 2.80% | 36.18% | 3.99% | 17.50% | -13.51% | 13.85% | 7.73% | 21.70% | -17.41% | 28.04% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VMCTX achieves a -5.57% return, which is significantly lower than DFIEX's 2.80% return. Over the past 10 years, VMCTX has outperformed DFIEX with an annualized return of 14.70%, while DFIEX has yielded a comparatively lower 9.64% annualized return.
VMCTX
- 1D
- 3.09%
- 1M
- -4.85%
- YTD
- -5.57%
- 6M
- -3.05%
- 1Y
- 18.08%
- 3Y*
- 19.63%
- 5Y*
- 12.25%
- 10Y*
- 14.70%
DFIEX
- 1D
- 3.02%
- 1M
- -6.42%
- YTD
- 2.80%
- 6M
- 8.00%
- 1Y
- 30.46%
- 3Y*
- 16.74%
- 5Y*
- 9.40%
- 10Y*
- 9.64%
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VMCTX vs. DFIEX - Expense Ratio Comparison
VMCTX has a 0.06% 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
VMCTX vs. DFIEX — Risk / Return Rank
VMCTX
DFIEX
VMCTX vs. DFIEX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Mega Cap Index Fund Institutional Shares (VMCTX) 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.
| VMCTX | DFIEX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 0.99 | 1.95 | -0.96 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.52 | 2.55 | -1.02 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.23 | 1.39 | -0.16 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.59 | 2.57 | -0.98 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 7.13 | 10.07 | -2.94 |
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
| VMCTX | DFIEX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.99 | 1.95 | -0.96 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.71 | 0.60 | +0.11 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.81 | 0.59 | +0.22 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.55 | 0.35 | +0.20 |
Correlation
The correlation between VMCTX and DFIEX is 0.79, 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
VMCTX vs. DFIEX - Dividend Comparison
VMCTX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.03%, less than DFIEX's 3.14% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VMCTX Vanguard Mega Cap Index Fund Institutional Shares | 1.03% | 0.94% | 1.16% | 1.36% | 1.66% | 1.18% | 1.46% | 1.82% | 2.11% | 1.84% | 2.13% | 2.13% |
DFIEX DFA International Core Equity Portfolio I | 3.14% | 3.22% | 3.42% | 3.36% | 2.88% | 2.98% | 1.77% | 2.90% | 2.95% | 2.49% | 2.76% | 4.20% |
Drawdowns
VMCTX vs. DFIEX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VMCTX drawdown since its inception was -52.00%, smaller than the maximum DFIEX drawdown of -62.22%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VMCTX and DFIEX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VMCTX | DFIEX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -52.00% | -62.22% | +10.22% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -12.04% | -11.01% | -1.03% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -25.77% | -28.66% | +2.89% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -32.96% | -41.04% | +8.08% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -7.08% | -7.75% | +0.67% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -7.14% | -12.26% | +5.12% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.69% | 2.81% | -0.12% |
Volatility
VMCTX vs. DFIEX - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Vanguard Mega Cap Index Fund Institutional Shares (VMCTX) is 5.50%, while DFA International Core Equity Portfolio I (DFIEX) has a volatility of 7.09%. This indicates that VMCTX 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
| VMCTX | DFIEX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 5.50% | 7.09% | -1.59% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 9.87% | 10.45% | -0.58% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 18.87% | 15.90% | +2.97% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 17.34% | 15.65% | +1.69% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 18.25% | 16.35% | +1.90% |