DFAW — Dimensional World Equity ETF
Global Multi-Region Ranked #131 of 458 tracked ETFs · Issued by Dimensional Fund Advisors
DFAW Price Performance — Growth of $10,000
Value of a $10,000 investment in DFAW over time, compared with SPY. Both lines are rebased to $10,000 on the first shared date. Based on total returns — prices are adjusted for dividends and splits, so this assumes distributions were reinvested. Hover or tap the chart for exact values.
DFAW Drawdown
The "underwater" chart: DFAW's decline from its highest prior value at each point in time. It shows how deep past losses ran and how long the fund took to recover to break-even.
What If You'd Invested in DFAW?
See what a lump sum in DFAW would have grown to, with the option to add a regular monthly contribution on top. Figures use total returns — dividends are assumed reinvested.
Past performance doesn't predict future results. Assumes contributions on the first trading day of each month, no trading costs or taxes, and reinvested distributions. History is limited to the range published in the site's daily return data.
Overview
The Dimensional World Equity ETF, trading under the ticker DFAW, is a Global Multi-Region fund issued by Dimensional Fund Advisors. With $1.45 billion in assets under management, the fund holds a price of $82.52 and offers a dividend yield of 1.28%. It carries an expense ratio of 0.24% and has achieved an ETFValuer grade of B, reflecting a score of 68.5 out of 100. The fund currently ranks #131 among the 458 tracked ETFs across all categories, while sitting within a specific category of 8 Global Multi-Region funds. This positioning suggests moderate investor adoption relative to the broader universe of tracked funds. The combination of its asset size and cost structure places it in a competitive tier for global equity exposure.
Over the last day, the fund gained 0.11%, following a weekly decline of 0.41% and a monthly gain of 0.35%. The three-month return accelerated to +4.20%, which continued into a six-month return of +8.18%. Year-to-date performance stands at +11.47%, and the one-year return is recorded at +21.52%. Data for the three-year horizon is not currently available. The trend indicates a shift from short-term volatility to stronger gains over the longer six-month and one-year periods.
The fund is assigned a Low volatility label, though specific beta data is not provided. It has recorded a maximum drawdown of -16.94%, indicating the largest peak-to-trough decline experienced. A Sharpe ratio of 1.29 suggests the fund has generated a favorable return relative to the risk taken during the measured period. This combination of a low volatility classification and a high Sharpe ratio implies efficient risk management despite the significant drawdown. The fund's behavior reflects a profile where returns have generally compensated well for the downside risk encountered.
AI-generated summary based on the data on this page.
DFAW Top Holdings
| # | Holding | % of Net Assets | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dimensional U S Core Equity 2 ETF | 52.59% | $686M |
| 2 | DFA Dimensional International Core Equity 2 ETF | 19.12% | $249M |
| 3 | Dimensional US Core Equity 1 ETF | 17.46% | $228M |
| 4 | DFA Dimensional Emerging Markets Core Equity 2 ETF | 9.06% | $118M |
| 5 | DFA Dimensional Global Real Estate ETF | 1.72% | $22M |
| 6 | DIMENSIONAL FUND ADVISORS LP | 0.43% | $6M |
Holdings as of 2026-04-30 per the fund's most recent SEC N-PORT-P filing. Top 6 holdings make up 100.4% of net assets — a rough gauge of concentration risk (the higher this figure, the more the fund's return depends on a handful of names). To see how DFAW's holdings overlap with other ETFs you own or are considering, check the Stock Overlap tool.
Which Funds Overlap With DFAW
Holding two funds that own the same companies adds cost and complexity without adding much diversification. These tracked ETFs share the most names with DFAW's top 10 — DFAC overlaps most, holding 1 of the same companies as DFAW's top 10 (0.4% of DFAW's assets).
| ETF | Name | Shared Companies | DFAW Weight | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DFAC | Dimensional U.S. Core Equity 2 ETF | 1 | 0.4% | DIMENSIONAL FUND ADVISORS LP |
| DFAX | Dimensional World ex U.S. Core Equity 2 ETF | 1 | 0.4% | DIMENSIONAL FUND ADVISORS LP |
| DFUS | Dimensional U.S. Equity Market ETF | 1 | 0.4% | DIMENSIONAL FUND ADVISORS LP |
| DFAT | Dimensional U.S. Targeted Value ETF | 1 | 0.4% | DIMENSIONAL FUND ADVISORS LP |
| DFSV | Dimensional US Small Cap Value ETF | 1 | 0.4% | DIMENSIONAL FUND ADVISORS LP |
Compares the top 10 reported holdings of each fund, so it's a floor on true overlap — two S&P 500 trackers overlap ~100% even when only 10 names are listed. Use the Stock Overlap tool to search by individual company.
Market Backdrop
10-Year Treasury Yield: 4.65% (as of 2026-07-27) — The yield on 10-year US Treasury bonds — the standard "risk-free rate" benchmark used to contextualize this fund’s Sharpe ratio and returns.
CBOE Volatility Index (VIX): 18.67 (as of 2026-07-27) — A real-time gauge of expected S&P 500 volatility over the next 30 days — useful context for this fund’s own volatility label.
Federal Funds Rate: 3.63% (as of 2026-06-01) — The Federal Reserve’s target policy rate, which anchors short-term borrowing costs across the economy.
Trade-Weighted US Dollar Index: 120.71 (as of 2026-07-24) — Measures the US dollar’s strength against major trading-partner currencies — dollar moves directly affect the US-dollar value of this fund’s international holdings.
What DFAW's Fees Cost You
DFAW charges an expense ratio of 0.24% a year, deducted automatically from the fund's value. Small percentages compound into real money — adjust the figures below to see the impact on your own numbers.
Assumes a constant gross return and no additional contributions — a simplification, but it isolates exactly what the expense ratio costs. Try the full fee calculator to model contributions and compare any two funds.
DFAW Dividend Income Estimator
DFAW currently yields 1.28%. Enter an amount to see the income that implies, or set a monthly income target to see the investment it would take.
Based on the fund's current trailing yield, which varies with price and distributions — treat it as an estimate, not a guarantee. Yields are not adjusted for tax.
DFAW Liquidity, Domicile & Tax Treatment
Liquidity: Quoted bid/ask spread is — and average daily volume is 94K/day. Tighter spreads and higher volume mean lower round-trip trading costs; this is a live-market snapshot and can widen during volatile sessions. AUM of $1.45B provides ample scale, supporting tight spreads and issuer commitment to keep the fund open.
Domicile & tax treatment: DFAW is a US-domiciled, SEC-registered ('40 Act) exchange-traded fund. Dividends and capital gains distributions are reported to US investors on Form 1099-DIV, and the fund is not subject to the PFIC reporting or UCITS-specific rules that apply to Irish- or Luxembourg-domiciled funds. Non-US investors should note that US-domiciled ETFs are generally subject to 30% US withholding tax on dividends (unless reduced by treaty) and to US estate tax exposure on the position — Irish-domiciled UCITS ETFs tracking the same index often avoid both, which is why non-US residents frequently prefer the UCITS equivalent where one exists. This is general information, not tax advice — consult a tax professional for your situation.
DFAW Performance History
| Period | Return |
|---|---|
| 1-Day | +0.11% |
| 1-Week | -0.41% |
| 1-Month | +0.35% |
| 3-Month | +4.20% |
| 6-Month | +8.18% |
| YTD | +11.47% |
| 1-Year | +21.52% |
| 3-Year | — |
How DFAW Compares to Other Global Multi-Region ETFs
| Rank | Grade | Ticker | Name | 1-Year | Exp. Ratio | AUM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #29 | B+ |
VXUS | Vanguard Total International Stock Index Fund ETF Shares | +21.55% | 0.05% | $650B |
| #37 | B+ |
IXUS | iShares Core MSCI Total International Stock ETF | +21.65% | 0.07% | $58.5B |
| #39 | B+ |
VT | Vanguard Total World Stock Index Fund ETF Shares | +19.00% | 0.06% | $96.8B |
| #84 | B |
ACWX | iShares MSCI ACWI ex U.S. ETF | +22.33% | 0.32% | $11.6B |
| #92 | B |
ACWI | iShares MSCI ACWI ETF | +18.98% | 0.32% | $33.2B |
| #106 | B |
CWI | State Street SPDR MSCI ACWI ex-US ETF | +22.19% | 0.3% | $2.78B |
| #125 | B |
URTH | iShares MSCI World ETF | +17.87% | 0.24% | $8.06B |
| #131 | B |
DFAW | Dimensional World Equity ETF | +21.52% | 0.24% | $1.45B |