VO vs. DFGEX
VO (Vanguard Mid-Cap ETF) and DFGEX (DFA Global Real Estate Securities Portfolio) are both funds - VO is a Mid Cap Blend Equities fund tracking the CRSP US Mid Cap Index, while DFGEX is a REIT fund managed by Dimensional. Over the past 10 years, VO returned 11.77%/yr vs 4.11%/yr for DFGEX. A 0.68 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. VO charges 0.03%/yr vs 0.14%/yr for DFGEX.
Performance
VO vs. DFGEX - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
The year-to-date returns for both investments are quite close, with VO having a 10.43% return and DFGEX slightly higher at 10.89%. Over the past 10 years, VO has outperformed DFGEX with an annualized return of 11.77%, while DFGEX has yielded a comparatively lower 4.11% annualized return.
VO
- 1D
- 0.97%
- 1M
- 2.97%
- YTD
- 10.43%
- 6M
- 9.31%
- 1Y
- 19.60%
- 3Y*
- 15.74%
- 5Y*
- 7.79%
- 10Y*
- 11.77%
DFGEX
- 1D
- 0.35%
- 1M
- 3.29%
- YTD
- 10.89%
- 6M
- 11.70%
- 1Y
- 13.17%
- 3Y*
- 10.06%
- 5Y*
- 2.03%
- 10Y*
- 4.11%
VO vs. DFGEX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VO Vanguard Mid-Cap ETF | 10.43% | 11.62% | 15.31% | 16.03% | -18.73% | 24.70% | 18.10% | 30.98% | -9.24% | 19.28% |
DFGEX DFA Global Real Estate Securities Portfolio | 10.89% | 7.92% | 1.92% | 9.54% | -23.84% | 31.03% | -6.71% | 26.32% | -4.12% | 5.95% |
Correlation
The correlation between VO and DFGEX is 0.59, which is moderate. They share some common price drivers but move independently often enough to provide real diversification benefit when combined.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.59 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.68 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.73 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.68 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Aug 3, 2012 | 0.68 |
The correlation between VO and DFGEX shifts across timeframes, from 0.59 (1 year) to 0.73 (5 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
VO vs. DFGEX — Risk / Return Rank
VO
DFGEX
VO vs. DFGEX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Mid-Cap ETF (VO) and DFA Global Real Estate Securities Portfolio (DFGEX). 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.
| VO | DFGEX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.35 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.51 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.25 | 1.19 | +0.06 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.23 | 1.42 | +0.81 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 8.44 | 4.97 | +3.47 |
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Drawdowns
VO vs. DFGEX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VO drawdown since its inception was -58.87%, which is greater than DFGEX's maximum drawdown of -42.67%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VO and DFGEX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VO | DFGEX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -58.87% | -42.67% | -16.20% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -8.17% | -9.04% | +0.87% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -19.02% | -17.37% | -1.65% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -27.57% | -32.78% | +5.21% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -39.37% | -42.67% | +3.30% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.45% | 0.00% | -0.45% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -7.85% | -9.63% | +1.78% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.16% | 2.58% | -0.42% |
Volatility
VO vs. DFGEX - Volatility Comparison
Vanguard Mid-Cap ETF (VO) has a higher volatility of 4.31% compared to DFA Global Real Estate Securities Portfolio (DFGEX) at 3.97%. This indicates that VO's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than DFGEX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VO | DFGEX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 4.31% | 3.97% | +0.34% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 9.71% | 8.87% | +0.84% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 12.74% | 11.92% | +0.82% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 17.65% | 16.29% | +1.36% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 18.96% | 17.72% | +1.24% |
VO vs. DFGEX - Expense Ratio Comparison
VO has a 0.03% expense ratio, which is lower than DFGEX's 0.14% 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
VO vs. DFGEX - Dividend Comparison
VO's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.36%, less than DFGEX's 3.67% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
DFGEX DFA Global Real Estate Securities Portfolio | 3.67% | 4.07% | 3.78% | 3.36% | 5.70% | 4.50% | 2.29% | 6.95% | 5.09% | 0.64% | 0.32% | 2.45% |
VO Vanguard Mid-Cap ETF | 1.36% | 1.52% | 1.49% | 1.52% | 1.60% | 1.12% | 1.45% | 1.48% | 1.82% | 1.35% | 1.45% | 1.47% |
Frequently Asked Questions
VO and DFGEX have a correlation of 0.59, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
VO has higher volatility (4.31%) compared to DFGEX (3.97%). In terms of maximum drawdown, VO dropped -58.87% vs DFGEX's -42.67%.
VO currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.43 vs 1.08), 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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