Average Daily Volume
658.6K
Fund Overview
The Dimensional U.S. Small Cap ETF (DFAS) is designed to provide investors with exposure to small-cap U.S. stocks. The fund employs a systematic investment approach that emphasizes diversification and cost efficiency. DFAS seeks to capture the potential long-term risk and return characteristics of the U.S. small-cap equity market. The fund typically invests in a broad range of small-cap companies, focusing on those with higher profitability and lower relative price. DFAS is part of Dimensional Fund Advisors' suite of ETFs, which are known for their evidence-based investment strategies.
- Asset Class
-
Equity
- Industry
-
N/A
- Annual Dividend Rate
-
- Smart Beta
-
No
- Leveraged / Inverse
-
N/A / No
- Dividend Quality - Yield
-
- N/A
- Currency Hedged
-
No
- Portfolio Turnover
-
8 %
- Dividend Date
-
Why Invest in the DFAS ETF?
Potential Benefits
- Exposure to small-cap stocks, which historically have offered higher growth potential compared to large-cap stocks.
- Diversification across a broad range of U.S. small-cap companies, reducing single-stock risk.
- Systematic investment approach that emphasizes factors like profitability and relative price.
- Lower expense ratio compared to many actively managed small-cap funds.
- Liquidity and transparency typical of ETFs, allowing for easy trading throughout the day.
Potential Risks
- Small-cap stocks can be more volatile than large-cap stocks, leading to greater price swings.
- Economic downturns may disproportionately impact small-cap companies due to their size and financial resilience.
- Limited international exposure, as the fund focuses solely on U.S. small-cap stocks.
- Underperformance risk if the small-cap segment lags behind other market segments.
- Factor-based investing may not always outperform the broader market.
RSI data unavailable or insufficient history.
Monthly Returns (%)
| Year |
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
| 2026 |
+5.4%
|
+2.3%
|
-5.0%
|
+8.7%
|
+1.6%
|
+5.2%
|
-1.6%
|
+0.7%
|
-4.9%
|
+1.7%
|
-
|
-
|
| 2025 |
+3.3%
|
-5.2%
|
-6.1%
|
-3.0%
|
+5.7%
|
+4.2%
|
+1.3%
|
+5.8%
|
+0.5%
|
-0.8%
|
+2.8%
|
+0.1%
|
| 2024 |
-3.4%
|
+4.4%
|
+3.9%
|
-6.0%
|
+4.9%
|
-1.9%
|
+8.7%
|
-1.4%
|
+0.9%
|
-1.5%
|
+10.6%
|
-7.7%
|
| 2023 |
+9.5%
|
-0.9%
|
-4.9%
|
-2.0%
|
-2.5%
|
+9.1%
|
+5.2%
|
-3.6%
|
-5.3%
|
-5.7%
|
+8.7%
|
+11.1%
|
| 2022 |
-7.6%
|
+1.4%
|
-0.2%
|
-7.5%
|
+1.8%
|
-8.9%
|
+10.5%
|
-3.2%
|
-9.2%
|
+12.1%
|
+4.8%
|
-6.1%
|
| 2021 |
+3.6%
|
+9.2%
|
+4.3%
|
+2.5%
|
+1.8%
|
-0.4%
|
-1.3%
|
+2.3%
|
-2.3%
|
+4.8%
|
-2.3%
|
+4.5%
|
| 2020 |
-4.2%
|
-9.7%
|
-21.8%
|
+13.2%
|
+5.6%
|
+2.3%
|
+4.1%
|
+3.9%
|
-4.0%
|
+3.5%
|
+15.0%
|
+8.0%
|
| 2019 |
+10.2%
|
+4.9%
|
-3.1%
|
+4.3%
|
-8.8%
|
+7.6%
|
+0.8%
|
-5.9%
|
+3.5%
|
+2.0%
|
+3.1%
|
+2.9%
|
| 2018 |
+2.3%
|
-4.4%
|
+0.8%
|
+0.6%
|
+5.2%
|
+0.6%
|
+2.3%
|
+3.6%
|
-2.6%
|
-9.8%
|
+1.2%
|
-12.1%
|
| 2017 |
-0.3%
|
+1.2%
|
-0.3%
|
+1.0%
|
-2.4%
|
+2.7%
|
+0.8%
|
-2.1%
|
+7.2%
|
+1.4%
|
+3.0%
|
-0.5%
|
< -5%
-5% to -2%
-2% to 0%
0%
0% to +2%
+2% to +5%
> +5%
Top Holdings (by weight)
| Symbol |
Company Name |
Weight |
|
SFM
|
SPROUTS FARMERS MARKET INC |
0.5 % |
|
BRBR
|
BELLRING BRANDS INC CLASS A |
0.3 % |
|
BECN
|
BEACON ROOFING SUPPLY INC CLASS A |
0.3 % |
|
EXLS
|
EXLSERVICE HOLDINGS INC |
0.3 % |
|
X
|
UNITED STATES STEEL CORP |
0.3 % |
|
ENSG
|
ENSIGN GROUP INC |
0.3 % |
|
SSB
|
SOUTHSTATE CORP |
0.3 % |
|
CRS
|
CARPENTER TECHNOLOGY CORP |
0.3 % |
|
EHC
|
ENCOMPASS HEALTH CORP |
0.3 % |
|
DTM
|
DT MIDSTREAM INC ORDINARY SHARES |
0.2 % |
Top 10 holdings shown, out of 2 total holdings.
Related ETFs: DFAS vs Peers
Comparison highlights key differences on cost, coverage, and focus within sector ETFs.
Investment Strategy
DFAS tracks a proprietary index of U.S. small-cap stocks, selected based on factors such as profitability and relative price. The fund employs a passive management approach but incorporates slight tilts toward these factors to enhance returns. It primarily holds common stocks of small-cap companies and avoids derivatives. The fund is rebalanced periodically to maintain its target exposures, ensuring alignment with its investment objectives.
Frequently Asked Questions
What factors does DFAS emphasize in its stock selection?
DFAS focuses on small-cap stocks with higher profitability and lower relative price, aiming to enhance long-term returns.
How often is DFAS rebalanced?
DFAS is rebalanced periodically to maintain its target exposures, though the exact frequency is determined by Dimensional Fund Advisors.
Is DFAS suitable for long-term investors?
Yes, DFAS is designed for long-term investors seeking small-cap exposure with a factor-based approach, but it comes with higher volatility.
How does DFAS compare to a broad small-cap ETF like VB?
DFAS incorporates factor tilts (profitability and price) whereas VB provides market-cap-weighted exposure to the entire small-cap segment without factor biases.
Industry Overview
The Dimensional U.S. Small Cap ETF (DFAS) provides exposure to the U.S. small-cap equity market, which consists of companies with market capitalizations typically below $2 billion. Small-cap stocks are often considered growth opportunities due to their potential for rapid expansion, though they come with higher volatility. Investing in small caps can diversify a portfolio and enhance long-term returns, but investors should be prepared for short-term fluctuations. DFAS offers a systematic, cost-effective way to access this segment of the market.
Alternative Comparison
Compared to peers like IJS (iShares S&P Small-Cap 600 Value ETF) and SCHA (Schwab U.S. Small-Cap ETF), DFAS distinguishes itself with its factor-based approach, targeting small-cap stocks with higher profitability and lower relative price. While IJS focuses on value stocks within the S&P 600 Small-Cap Index, DFAS casts a wider net across the small-cap universe. SCHA, on the other hand, offers a broader small-cap exposure without factor tilts. DFAS's expense ratio is competitive, making it an attractive option for cost-conscious investors seeking factor exposure.
Issuer Overview
Dimensional Fund Advisors (DFA) is a globally recognized investment firm known for its evidence-based approach to investing. Founded in 1981, DFA integrates academic research into its investment strategies, focusing on factors like size, value, and profitability. The firm manages a wide range of mutual funds and ETFs, emphasizing low costs, broad diversification, and long-term performance.
Conclusion
The Dimensional U.S. Small Cap ETF (DFAS) is a compelling choice for investors seeking exposure to the U.S. small-cap market with a systematic, factor-based approach. Its focus on profitability and relative price, combined with DFA's evidence-based methodology, positions it well for long-term growth. However, investors should be mindful of the inherent volatility in small-cap stocks and ensure DFAS aligns with their overall investment strategy.
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