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DFIV Dimensional International Value ETF

Category: Large Cap Value Equities

Inception: 1999-04-16 Issuer: Dimensional
Net Assets
$9.6B
Expense Ratio
0.27 %
# of Holdings
522
Average Daily Volume
907.5K

Fund Overview

The Dimensional International Value ETF (DFIV) is an exchange-traded fund managed by Dimensional Fund Advisors that seeks to provide long-term capital appreciation by investing in non-U.S. developed market value stocks. The fund employs a systematic, research-driven approach to identify undervalued companies with strong profitability metrics. DFIV focuses on markets outside the United States, including countries in Europe, Asia, and the Pacific region. The fund's strategy is rooted in academic research and emphasizes factors like price-to-book ratios and profitability to select stocks. DFIV is designed for investors seeking international value exposure with a disciplined, low-cost approach.
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
16 %
Dividend Date

Why Invest in the DFIV ETF?

Potential Benefits

  • Provides exposure to undervalued international stocks, potentially offering higher returns over the long term.
  • Diversifies a portfolio beyond U.S. equities, reducing geographic concentration risk.
  • Employs a systematic, research-backed approach to stock selection, minimizing behavioral biases.
  • Lower expense ratio compared to many actively managed international value funds.
  • Focuses on profitable companies, potentially reducing exposure to financially unstable firms.

Potential Risks

  • International investments are subject to currency fluctuations, which can impact returns.
  • Value stocks may underperform growth stocks during certain market cycles.
  • Political and economic instability in foreign markets can affect performance.
  • Higher volatility compared to broad market ETFs due to concentrated value exposure.
  • Emerging market exposure (if any) may introduce additional risks.

Performance

1 Week 1 Month 1 Year 3 Years 5 Years YTD 2025 2024 Since Inception
-2.63% -4.25% +23.86% +92.06% +105.64% +12.44% +45.83% +7.82% +568.73%

Performance


Monthly Returns (%)

Year Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
2026 +6.0% +6.0% -5.7% +4.4% +1.0% -1.5% +6.0% +1.3% -3.3% -0.5% - -
2025 +4.8% +4.0% +2.2% +2.1% +5.3% +3.1% +0.3% +5.8% +1.9% +0.5% +4.2% +4.1%
2024 -1.3% +2.6% +5.9% -1.6% +5.0% -3.5% +3.7% +1.9% +0.9% -3.9% +0.4% -2.5%
2023 +9.0% -1.7% -0.6% +3.4% -5.6% +6.3% +4.8% -3.2% -1.2% -4.5% +6.6% +4.5%
2022 +3.4% -2.0% +0.9% -5.5% +4.8% -10.8% +2.8% -3.7% -9.5% +7.8% +11.8% -1.1%
2021 -0.8% +6.4% +4.7% +1.7% +5.1% -2.5% -0.7% +0.8% -0.3% +3.5% -6.4% +5.4%
2020 -5.3% -8.4% -21.0% +6.6% +4.5% +3.7% +0.2% +6.4% -3.9% -2.8% +18.4% +5.6%
2019 +7.8% +1.6% -1.0% +3.1% -7.4% +6.2% -3.2% -4.0% +4.9% +3.3% +1.2% +3.2%
2018 +5.8% -5.6% -1.2% +2.5% -3.4% -2.3% +3.1% -3.4% +1.7% -8.4% -0.8% -5.9%
2017 +4.4% -0.8% +2.2% +1.5% +1.7% +1.1% +4.6% -0.2% +3.6% +1.7% +0.9% +2.6%
< -5% -5% to -2% -2% to 0% 0% 0% to +2% +2% to +5% > +5%

Top Holdings (by weight)

Symbol Company Name Weight
SHEL n/a 3.5 %
HSBC HSBC HOLDINGS PLC ADR 1.4 %
NVS NOVARTIS AG ADR 1.3 %
SU SUNCOR ENERGY INC 0.8 %
CVE CENOVUS ENERGY INC 0.4 %
SAN BANCO SANTANDER SA ADR 0.4 %
ALC ALCON INC 0.4 %
MFC MANULIFE FINANCIAL CORP 0.4 %
NWG NATWEST GROUP PLC ADR 0.3 %
PHG KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS NV ADR 0.3 %
Top 10 holdings shown, out of 522 total holdings.

Related ETFs: DFIV vs Peers

ETF Full Name Expense Ratio Net Assets Holdings Asset Class
AIVL WisdomTree U.S. AI Enhanced Value Fund 0.38 % $387.2M 102 Equity
AVDV Avantis International Small Cap Value ETF 0.36 % $7.6B 1 Equity
DFSV Dimensional US Small Cap Value ETF 0.30 % $4.2B 1 Equity
DLS WisdomTree International SmallCap Dividend Fund 0.58 % $895.8M 1 Equity
EFV iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF 0.33 % $20.4B 423 Equity
FNDC Schwab Fundamental International Small Equity ETF 0.39 % $3.1B 1 Equity
FNDF Schwab Fundamental International Equity ETF 0.25 % $14.3B 932 Equity
ISVL iShares International Developed Small Cap Value Factor ETF 0.30 % $25.9M 501 Equity
IVLU iShares MSCI Intl Value Factor ETF 0.30 % $2B 338 Equity
SCHY Schwab International Dividend Equity ETF 0.08 % $917.9M 100 Equity
Comparison highlights key differences on cost, coverage, and focus within sector ETFs.

Investment Strategy

DFIV tracks a proprietary index developed by Dimensional that screens for value stocks in developed international markets. The selection process emphasizes companies with lower price-to-book ratios and higher profitability metrics. The fund weights holdings based on market capitalization but with adjustments to enhance diversification. DFIV primarily holds common stocks of non-U.S. companies and rebalances periodically to maintain its value focus. Unlike pure index funds, DFIV incorporates some flexibility in security selection to potentially enhance returns while controlling costs and turnover.

Frequently Asked Questions

What markets does DFIV invest in?

DFIV invests in developed international markets outside the United States, including countries in Europe, Asia, and the Pacific region.

How often does DFIV rebalance its holdings?

DFIV rebalances periodically (typically quarterly) to maintain its value focus, though exact timing may vary based on market conditions.

Does DFIV invest in emerging markets?

No, DFIV focuses exclusively on developed international markets. Investors seeking emerging market exposure would need to consider other funds.

How does DFIV's approach differ from traditional index funds?

DFIV uses a systematic approach that incorporates value and profitability screens, offering more nuanced exposure than simple market-cap weighted index funds.

Is DFIV suitable for income-focused investors?

While DFIV may pay some dividends, its primary objective is capital appreciation through value investing rather than generating income.

Industry Overview

The DFIV ETF provides exposure to international value stocks, a segment of the market that includes companies trading below their intrinsic value based on fundamental metrics. International value investing offers diversification benefits and the potential for outperformance when value stocks rebound. The developed international markets where DFIV invests (Europe, Japan, Australia, etc.) often have different economic cycles than the U.S., providing portfolio diversification. However, these markets may face unique challenges like slower growth or demographic issues. DFIV's focus on profitable, undervalued companies aims to mitigate some of these risks while capturing the value premium across global markets.

Alternative Comparison

Compared to EFV (iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF), DFIV has a slightly different approach, incorporating profitability screens that EFV lacks. While both focus on international value stocks, DFIV's methodology may result in somewhat different sector and country exposures. AVDV (Avantis International Small Cap Value ETF) targets smaller companies than DFIV, making them potentially complementary rather than direct competitors. DFIV's expense ratio is competitive with these peers, though not the absolute lowest in the category.

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 practical investment solutions. The firm manages over $600 billion in assets and is particularly known for its systematic, factor-based strategies. DFA's ETFs, including DFIV, reflect the firm's long-standing expertise in value investing and international markets.

Conclusion

DFIV offers investors a cost-effective way to access international value stocks through Dimensional's research-driven approach. The fund's focus on both value and profitability factors may appeal to investors seeking systematic exposure to these return drivers outside the U.S. While international investing carries additional risks, DFIV's disciplined strategy aims to navigate these challenges while pursuing long-term capital appreciation.

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