VO vs. DFTEX
VO (Vanguard Mid-Cap ETF) and DFTEX (DFA Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio Fund) are both funds - VO is a Mid Cap Blend Equities fund tracking the CRSP US Mid Cap Index, while DFTEX is a Corporate Bonds fund managed by Dimensional. Over the past 10 years, VO returned 11.77%/yr vs 2.35%/yr for DFTEX. At a correlation of -0.04, they often move in opposite directions. VO charges 0.03%/yr vs 0.20%/yr for DFTEX.
Performance
VO vs. DFTEX - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VO achieves a 10.43% return, which is significantly higher than DFTEX's 1.08% return. Over the past 10 years, VO has outperformed DFTEX with an annualized return of 11.77%, while DFTEX has yielded a comparatively lower 2.35% 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%
DFTEX
- 1D
- 0.62%
- 1M
- 1.42%
- YTD
- 1.08%
- 6M
- 1.49%
- 1Y
- 6.11%
- 3Y*
- 6.02%
- 5Y*
- 0.58%
- 10Y*
- 2.35%
VO vs. DFTEX - 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% |
DFTEX DFA Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio Fund | 1.08% | 7.70% | 2.89% | 9.61% | -16.28% | -2.05% | 10.26% | 13.38% | -2.10% | 5.20% |
Correlation
The correlation between VO and DFTEX is 0.45, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.45 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.33 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.21 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.04 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Aug 3, 2012 | -0.04 |
The correlation between VO and DFTEX shifts across timeframes, from -0.04 (all time) to 0.45 (1 year), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
VO vs. DFTEX — Risk / Return Rank
VO
DFTEX
VO vs. DFTEX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Mid-Cap ETF (VO) and DFA Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio Fund (DFTEX). 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 | DFTEX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.07 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.22 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.25 | 1.27 | -0.02 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.23 | 1.96 | +0.28 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 8.44 | 6.35 | +2.09 |
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Drawdowns
VO vs. DFTEX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VO drawdown since its inception was -58.87%, which is greater than DFTEX's maximum drawdown of -22.83%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VO and DFTEX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VO | DFTEX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -58.87% | -22.83% | -36.04% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -8.17% | -3.22% | -4.95% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -19.02% | -5.38% | -13.64% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -27.57% | -22.83% | -4.74% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -39.37% | -22.83% | -16.54% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.45% | -0.74% | +0.29% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -7.85% | -4.45% | -3.40% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.16% | 0.99% | +1.17% |
Volatility
VO vs. DFTEX - Volatility Comparison
Vanguard Mid-Cap ETF (VO) has a higher volatility of 4.31% compared to DFA Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio Fund (DFTEX) at 1.45%. This indicates that VO's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than DFTEX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VO | DFTEX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 4.31% | 1.45% | +2.86% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 9.71% | 3.14% | +6.57% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 12.74% | 4.20% | +8.54% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 17.65% | 6.71% | +10.94% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 18.96% | 5.89% | +13.07% |
VO vs. DFTEX - Expense Ratio Comparison
VO has a 0.03% expense ratio, which is lower than DFTEX's 0.20% 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. DFTEX - Dividend Comparison
VO's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.36%, less than DFTEX's 4.92% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
DFTEX DFA Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio Fund | 4.92% | 4.30% | 4.27% | 3.79% | 3.25% | 4.12% | 3.31% | 3.06% | 3.24% | 2.91% | 2.88% | 3.90% |
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 DFTEX have a correlation of 0.45, 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 DFTEX (1.45%). In terms of maximum drawdown, VO dropped -58.87% vs DFTEX's -22.83%.
DFTEX currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.50 vs 1.43), 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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