DFAL vs SASS

DFALADimensional US Large Cap Core Equity Market ETF

SASSDM.D. Sass Concentrated Value ETF

In short

DFAL —No data

SASS A high-conviction take on US value: M.D. Sass runs a concentrated book of large- and mid-cap value names measured against the Russell 1000 Value, leaning on stock picking rather than owning the whole index.

Stated mandate

DFAL —No data

SASS The Fund seeks long-term capital appreciation through an actively managed, high-conviction U.S. equity strategy focused primarily on large- and mid-capitalization value companies.

Why people hold it

DFAL —No data

• SASS Concentrated by design: a high-conviction set of large- and mid-cap value names, so the portfolio can look nothing like the Russell 1000 Value it measures itself against.
• The mandate is narrow and legible: US stocks, value screen, actively picked. No overseas drift, no factor grab bag.
• Standard 1940 Act fund plumbing, so shareholders get ordinary 1099 reporting rather than a K-1.

Worth knowing

DFAL —No data

• SASS The 0.75% expense ratio sits above the typical active US equity ETF, and the strongest-rated peers in the group (DFAU, AVLC) charge well under 0.20%.
• Thinly traded on a modest asset base, so spreads can be wider than in megacap index funds. Limit orders matter more here.
• Concentration cuts both ways: with few holdings, one name's stumble moves the whole fund. It launched in 2026, so the live record is short.

Full DFAL profile⁠

Full SASS profile⁠