VSMSX vs. DFISX
Compare and contrast key facts about Vanguard S&P Small-Cap 600 Index Fund Institutional Shares (VSMSX) and DFA International Small Company Portfolio (DFISX).
VSMSX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Apr 1, 2011. DFISX is managed by Dimensional. It was launched on Sep 30, 1996.
Performance
VSMSX vs. DFISX - Performance Comparison
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VSMSX vs. DFISX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VSMSX Vanguard S&P Small-Cap 600 Index Fund Institutional Shares | 0.71% | 6.04% | 7.20% | 17.57% | -16.19% | 26.72% | 11.46% | 22.73% | -8.51% | 13.39% |
DFISX DFA International Small Company Portfolio | -1.97% | 36.35% | 3.76% | 14.46% | -17.13% | 10.71% | 9.27% | 24.18% | -19.42% | 24.78% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VSMSX achieves a 0.71% return, which is significantly higher than DFISX's -1.97% return. Over the past 10 years, VSMSX has outperformed DFISX with an annualized return of 9.58%, while DFISX has yielded a comparatively lower 7.66% annualized return.
VSMSX
- 1D
- -0.71%
- 1M
- -6.66%
- YTD
- 0.71%
- 6M
- 2.43%
- 1Y
- 17.27%
- 3Y*
- 9.49%
- 5Y*
- 3.87%
- 10Y*
- 9.58%
DFISX
- 1D
- -0.34%
- 1M
- -11.77%
- YTD
- -1.97%
- 6M
- 2.11%
- 1Y
- 26.89%
- 3Y*
- 14.28%
- 5Y*
- 6.58%
- 10Y*
- 7.66%
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VSMSX vs. DFISX - Expense Ratio Comparison
VSMSX has a 0.08% expense ratio, which is lower than DFISX's 0.39% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
VSMSX vs. DFISX — Risk / Return Rank
VSMSX
DFISX
VSMSX vs. DFISX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard S&P Small-Cap 600 Index Fund Institutional Shares (VSMSX) and DFA International Small Company Portfolio (DFISX). 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.
| VSMSX | DFISX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 0.79 | 1.66 | -0.87 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.26 | 2.15 | -0.90 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.17 | 1.33 | -0.16 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.03 | 2.04 | -1.01 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 4.20 | 7.97 | -3.77 |
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
| VSMSX | DFISX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.79 | 1.66 | -0.87 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.18 | 0.42 | -0.24 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.41 | 0.48 | -0.06 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.51 | 0.44 | +0.07 |
Correlation
The correlation between VSMSX and DFISX is 0.67, which is considered to be moderate. This suggests that the two assets have some degree of positive relationship in their price movements. Moderate correlation can be acceptable for portfolio diversification, offering a balance between risk and potential returns.
Dividends
VSMSX vs. DFISX - Dividend Comparison
VSMSX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.38%, less than DFISX's 3.21% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VSMSX Vanguard S&P Small-Cap 600 Index Fund Institutional Shares | 1.38% | 1.39% | 1.49% | 1.47% | 1.52% | 1.17% | 1.10% | 1.38% | 1.39% | 1.11% | 1.00% | 1.33% |
DFISX DFA International Small Company Portfolio | 3.21% | 3.19% | 3.39% | 3.01% | 3.51% | 3.06% | 1.71% | 4.54% | 7.74% | 1.27% | 4.44% | 4.47% |
Drawdowns
VSMSX vs. DFISX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VSMSX drawdown since its inception was -44.42%, smaller than the maximum DFISX drawdown of -60.66%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VSMSX and DFISX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VSMSX | DFISX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -44.42% | -60.66% | +16.24% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -14.87% | -11.96% | -2.91% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -27.93% | -35.06% | +7.13% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -44.42% | -43.00% | -1.42% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -8.30% | -11.77% | +3.47% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -7.48% | -11.69% | +4.21% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.65% | 3.06% | +0.59% |
Volatility
VSMSX vs. DFISX - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Vanguard S&P Small-Cap 600 Index Fund Institutional Shares (VSMSX) is 5.55%, while DFA International Small Company Portfolio (DFISX) has a volatility of 5.90%. This indicates that VSMSX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than DFISX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VSMSX | DFISX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 5.55% | 5.90% | -0.35% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 12.75% | 10.04% | +2.71% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 22.62% | 15.38% | +7.24% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 21.55% | 15.75% | +5.80% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 23.19% | 16.11% | +7.08% |