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DFASvsNUSCETF Comparison
Dimensional US Small Cap ETF (DFAS) and NuShares ESG Small-Cap ETF (NUSC) belong to the same industry segment: US Small Cap. DFAS's top 3 sector exposures are Industrials, Financials and Consumer Discretionary. In contrast, NUSC's top sector exposures are Financials, Information Technology and Industrials. DFAS is less expensive with a Total Expense Ratio (TER) of 0.27%, versus 0.31% for NUSC. DFAS is up 3.1% year-to-date (YTD) with +$385M in YTD flows. NUSC performs worse with 2.41% YTD performance, and -$120M in YTD flows. Run a side-by-side ETF comparison of DFAS and NUSC below, and assess how they stack up in performance, liquidity, risk, exposure, holdings, and more, helping you select the best ETF for your investments.
DFAS vs NUSC performance and flow charts
Performance
Cumulative Flows
| 1M | 3M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perf. | DFAS NUSC | -5.85%-5.22% | +0.78%-0.77% | +3.10%+2.41% | +21.15%+19.86% | +41.49%+37.77% | n/a+15.33% |
| Flows | DFAS NUSC | +$227M+$5M | +$523M-$116M | +$385M-$120M | +$1.82B-$165M | +$5.01B-$63M | -+$355M |
| 3M | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volatility | DFAS NUSC | +15.91%+16.05% | +21.92%+22.08% | +19.87%+19.76% | n/a+21.30% |
| Max drawdown | DFAS NUSC | -5.87%-5.66% | -15.55%-16.49% | -26.11%-26.88% | n/a-28.74% |
| Max drawdown duration | DFAS NUSC | 29d17d | 46d46d | 373d379d | n/a1073d |
DFAS | NUSC | |
Last sale 3/11/2026 at 1:30 PM | $71.72 | $45.71 |
| Previous close 03/11/2026 | $71.86 | $45.86 |
| Consolidated volume 03/11/2026 | ||
| Average volume 30 days | ||
| Average discount or premium 30 days | ||
| Average Bid/Ask spread 30 days |
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DFAS | NUSC | |
|---|---|---|
| Tracking error | ||
| Tracking difference | ||
| 1 year cumulative return difference | ||
| Best | ||
| Worst | ||
| Daily return difference | ||
| Average | ||
| Worst | ||
DFAS | NUSC | |
|---|---|---|
| Last price | $71.72 | $45.71 |
| 1D performance | -0.19% | -0.33% |
| AuM | $12.82 B | $1.17 B |
| E/R | 0.27% | 0.31% |
DFAS | NUSC | |
|---|---|---|
| Management strategy | Active | Passive |
| Provider | Dimensional | Nuveen |
| Benchmark | - | MSCI TIAA ESG USA Small-Cap Index |
| N° of holdings | 1820 | 405 |
| Asset class | - | Equities |
| Trailing 12m distribution yield | Join | Join |
| Inception date | June 14, 2021 | December 13, 2016 |
| ESG | No | Yes |
Countries
Sectors
Diversification
Total weight of top 15 holdings out of 15
Total weight of top 15 holdings out of 15
Top 15 holdings
How have the DFAS and NUSC ETFs performed in 2026?
As of March 10, 2026, DFAS is up 3.1% year-to-date (YTD), while NUSC has returned 2.41%. That puts DFAS better performer ahead so far this year.
Which ETF is attracting more investor money: DFAS or NUSC?
Year-to-date, the DFAS ETF saw +$385M in flows, compared to -$120M for NUSC.
Which ETF is more volatile: DFAS or NUSC?
Over the past year, DFAS had a volatility of 21.92%, while NUSC experienced 22.08%.
Which ETF is bigger: DFAS or NUSC?
As of March 10, 2026, DFAS holds $12.82 B in assets under management (AUM), while NUSC manages $1.17 B.
What sectors do the DFAS and NUSC ETFs invest in?
DFAS leans toward sectors like Industrials, Financials and Consumer Discretionary. Meanwhile, NUSC focuses on Financials, Information Technology and Industrials.
What are the top holdings of the DFAS ETF and NUSC ETF?
DFAS top holdings include KRATOS DEFENSE AND SECURITY SOLS, HECLA MINING and MUELLER INDUSTRIES. NUSC holds in its top three: TECHNIPFMC PLC, MODERNA INC and EXACT SCIENCES.
Which ETF is more diversified: DFAS or NUSC?
DFAS holds 1868 securities with 4.13% of its assets in the top 15. NUSC has 412 securities and a top 15 weight of 14.04%.
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