VEAvsDFAIETF Comparison
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Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF (VEA) and Dimensional International Core Equity Market ETF (DFAI) belong to the same industry segment: DM Blended Cap. VEA's top 3 sector exposures are Finance, Technology and Industrials. In contrast, DFAI's top sector exposures are Finance, Industrials and Technology. VEA is less expensive with a Total Expense Ratio (TER) of 0.03%, versus 0.18% for DFAI. VEA is up 17.28% year-to-date (YTD) with +$11.77B in YTD flows. DFAI performs worse with 13.25% YTD performance, and +$3.67B in YTD flows. Run a side-by-side ETF comparison of VEA and DFAI below, and assess how they stack up in performance, liquidity, risk, exposure, holdings, and more, helping you select the best ETF for your investments.
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VEA vs DFAI performance and flow charts
Performance
Cumulative Flows
Historic performance and flows
Data as of 09/11/2026
| 1M | 3M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perf. | VEA DFAI | +0.19%-1.17% | +2.96%+5.70% | +17.28%+13.25% | +24.67%+20.94% | +75.82%+70.86% | +60.24%+60.73% |
| Flows | VEA DFAI | +$1.09B+$272M | +$3.49B+$1.21B | +$11.77B+$3.67B | +$20.59B+$4.37B | +$43.99B+$9.46B | +$65.56B+$12.87B |
Volatility and drawdown
| 3M | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volatility | VEA DFAI | +16.19%+10.38% | +16.87%+12.53% | +15.10%+13.10% | +16.31%+14.83% |
| Max drawdown | VEA DFAI | -4.65%-2.48% | -11.68%-10.27% | -13.16%-13.45% | -29.34%-27.08% |
| Max drawdown duration | VEA DFAI | 45d16d | 65d124d | 37d41d | 843d778d |
Trading data
VEA | DFAI | |
Last sale 9/11/2026 at 1:30 PM | $72.69 | $42.77 |
| Previous close 09/10/2026 | $71.92 | $42.38 |
| Consolidated volume 09/10/2026 | ||
| Average volume 30 days | ||
| Average discount or premium 30 days | ||
| Average Bid/Ask spread 30 days |
Replication quality
Data as of August 31, 2026
1-year trailing difference
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DFAI
is actively managed and doesn’t replicate an indexVEA | DFAI | |
|---|---|---|
| Tracking error | ||
| Tracking difference | ||
| 1 year cumulative return difference | ||
| Best | ||
| Worst | ||
| Daily return difference | ||
| Average | ||
| Worst | ||
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Main metrics
Last update 9/11/2026 at 1:30 PM
Live
Closed
VEA | DFAI | |
|---|---|---|
| Last price | $72.69 | $42.77 |
| 1D performance | +1.07% | +0.92% |
| AuM | $237.57 B | $18.12 B |
| E/R | 0.03% | 0.18% |
Characteristics
VEA | DFAI | |
|---|---|---|
| Management strategy | Passive | Active |
| Provider | Vanguard | Dimensional |
| Benchmark | FTSE Developed All Cap ex US Index | - |
| N° of holdings | 3807 | 3590 |
| Asset class | Equities | - |
| Trailing 12m distribution yield | Join | Join |
| Inception date | July 20, 2007 | November 17, 2020 |
| ESG | No | No |
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Exposure
Countries
VEA
Japan
20.51%
United Kingdom
10.8%
Canada
10.38%
Republic of Korea
7.84%
Switzerland
7.28%
Other
43.2%
DFAI
Japan
23.32%
Canada
11.87%
United Kingdom
11.41%
Switzerland
8.2%
Germany
7.32%
France
7.15%
Other
30.72%
Sectors
VEA
Finance
27.73%
Technology
14.82%
Industrials
14.75%
Non-Energy Materi.
8.06%
Healthcare
7.54%
Other
27.11%
DFAI
Finance
26.89%
Industrials
15.31%
Technology
10.38%
Non-Energy Materi.
9.51%
Healthcare
8.07%
Consumer Non-Cycl.
7.58%
Other
22.25%
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Diversification
VEA
Total weight of top 15 holdings out of 15
16%
DFAI
Total weight of top 15 holdings out of 15
12.62%
Top 15 holdings
Data as of July 31, 2026
VEA
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
2.47%
ASML Holding NV
1.95%
SK hynix, Inc.
1.93%
HSBC Holdings Plc
1.12%
Roche Holding AG
0.94%
Royal Bank of Canada
0.90%
Novartis AG
0.90%
Nestlé SA
0.79%
Shell Plc
0.79%
AstraZeneca PLC
0.78%
Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc.
0.75%
Siemens AG
0.74%
BHP Group Ltd.
0.66%
Commonwealth Bank of Australia
0.64%
Banco Santander SA
0.63%
DFAI
ASML Holding NV
1.64%
HSBC Holdings Plc
1.16%
Roche Holding AG
1.05%
Shell Plc
1.02%
Royal Bank of Canada
1.00%
Nestlé SA
0.84%
AstraZeneca PLC
0.81%
Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc.
0.77%
Novartis AG
0.67%
The Toronto-Dominion Bank
0.64%
Toyota Motor Corp.
0.63%
TotalEnergies SE
0.62%
BHP Group Ltd.
0.59%
Allianz SE
0.59%
Siemens AG
0.59%
Frequently asked questions about VEA and DFAI
How have the VEA and DFAI ETFs performed in 2026?
As of September 11, 2026, VEA is up 17.28% year-to-date (YTD), while DFAI has returned 13.25%. That puts VEA better performer ahead so far this year.
Which ETF is attracting more investor money: VEA or DFAI?
Year-to-date, the VEA ETF saw +$11.77B in flows, compared to +$3.67B for DFAI.
Which ETF is more volatile: VEA or DFAI?
Over the past year, VEA had a volatility of 16.87%, while DFAI experienced 12.53%.
Which ETF is bigger: VEA or DFAI?
As of September 11, 2026, VEA holds $237.57 B in assets under management (AUM), while DFAI manages $18.12 B.
What sectors do the VEA and DFAI ETFs invest in?
VEA leans toward sectors like Finance, Technology and Industrials. Meanwhile, DFAI focuses on Finance, Industrials and Technology.
What are the top holdings of the VEA ETF and DFAI ETF?
VEA top holdings include Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., ASML Holding NV and SK hynix, Inc.. DFAI holds in its top three: ASML Holding NV, HSBC Holdings Plc and Roche Holding AG.
Which ETF is more diversified: VEA or DFAI?
VEA holds 3875 securities with 16% of its assets in the top 15. DFAI has 3651 securities and a top 15 weight of 12.62%.
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Latest news about VEA & DFAI
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