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DFAW vs FGSM

Dimensional World Equity ETF

DFAWANYSE Arca

Frontier Asset Global Small Cap Equity ETF

FGSMCNYSE Arca

Overlap

Expense ratio

DFAW −0.59pt a year

DFAW0.23%FGSM0.82%

Avg volume · 30D

DFAW 28.9×the volume

DFAW98.6KFGSM3.41K

DFAW vs FGSM Performance

Oct 31, 2025 – Nov 2, 2026

+15.6%DFAW+19.5%FGSM

Oct 31, 2025 to Nov 2, 2026. DFAW +15.6%. FGSM +19.5%. Use the arrow keys to read each point.0%5%10%25%Oct 2025May 2026Nov 2026
Expense ratio
DFAW 0.23%, better
FGSM 0.82%
Fund size
DFAW $1.71B
FGSM $47M
1Y total return
DFAW +15.6%
FGSM +19.5%, better
Yield (12M)
DFAW 1.30%
FGSM 1.41%, better
Holdings
DFAW 6
FGSM 7
Avg volume (30D)
DFAW 98.6K sh, better
FGSM 3.41K sh
NAV per share
DFAW $82.88
FGSM $34.46
52W range

ETF.net Grade

DFAW: Cost 95, Risk 75, Mission 100, Tradability 83, Holdings 32, Durability 79. FGSM: Cost 26, Risk 65, Mission not scored, Tradability 52, Holdings 31, Durability 35.
Pillar letters and Scores for DFAW, FGSM, with each pillar’s weight
PillarDFAWFGSM
Cost30% weightA95HigherD26
Mission25% weightA100Not scored
Risk15% weightA75HigherB65
Tradability15% weightA83HigherC52
Holdings10% weightD32HigherD31
Durability5% weightA79HigherD35

Rank among Global Active Equity funds

Same Category. Both funds are graded against the same funds, so their Grades compare head to head.

Same Category. DFAW and FGSM are both graded against the same 44 Global Active Equity funds, so their Grades compare head to head.

Global Active Equity⁠

Category · 44 funds
See all 44 ›

DFAW ranks 1st and FGSM 27th of 44 funds in the Global Active Equity Category.

  1. Rank 1AAVGEAvantis All Equity Markets ETFScore 79
  2. Rank 1AAVTMAvantis Total Equity Markets ETF 1Score 79
  3. Rank 1ABDVLiShares Disciplined Volatility Equity Active ETFScore 79
  4. Rank 1ADFAWDimensional World Equity ETFScore 79
  5. Rank 5ABFLXiShares Flexible Equity Active ETFScore 74
  6. Rank 26CINFLHorizon Kinetics Inflation Beneficiaries ETFScore 41
  7. Rank 27CFGSMFrontier Asset Global Small Cap Equity ETFScore 40
  8. Rank 28DCDIGCity Different Investments Global Equity ETFScore 39

DFAW vs FGSM Holdings

How we measure overlap

Each holding counts at its smaller weight in the two funds, summed over the full Holdings. Sector, country and asset class use the same rule on each fund’s split. Cash, FX and derivative lines stay out of the counts. Two bond funds get no overlap figure.

DFAW vs FGSM Cost

Overpaying FGSM vs DFAW

$10,930

On $10,000 over 30 years. 7% growth a year before fees, expense ratio only.

  • DFAW 0.23%

    $4,759

  • FGSM 0.82%

    $15,689

$10,000
30 years

Cost over time

  • DFAW 0.23%
  • FGSM 0.82%
  • Overpaying
One line per fund, from year 0 to year 30. Use the arrow keys to read each point.$0$5K$10K$15K$20K051015202530FGSM $15,689DFAW $4,759

Year by year

YearDFAWFGSMOverpaying
10$419$1,457$1,038
20$1,630$5,519$3,889
30$4,759$15,689$10,930

Expense ratio

  • 0.23%DFAW, cheaper
  • 0.82%FGSM
  • Middle half of Global Active Equity funds
  • Median 0.69%

DFAW 2nd cheapest of 44 funds

FGSM 33rd cheapest of 44 funds

DFAW vs FGSM Dividends

Last 12 months to Nov 2, 2026
Yield (12M)
DFAW 1.30%
FGSM 1.41%, better
Payout (12M)
DFAW $1.08
FGSM $0.49
Last payment
DFAW $0.26
FGSM $0.05
Ex-dividend
DFAW Sep 22, 2026
FGSM Sep 29, 2026
Paid on
DFAW Sep 24, 2026
FGSM Oct 6, 2026
Frequency
DFAW Quarterly
FGSM Quarterly

Distribution history

Per share, 2023 to 2026, same scale for both

DFAWQuarterly · 12 paymentsAll DFAW payments⁠
One bar per payment. 12 payments from 2023 to 2026 YTD. Dec 21, 2023 $0.23; Mar 19, 2024 $0.10; Jun 18, 2024 $0.30; Sep 17, 2024 $0.22; Dec 19, 2024 $0.30; Mar 25, 2025 $0.14; Jun 24, 2025 $0.36; Sep 23, 2025 $0.24; Dec 18, 2025 $0.28; Mar 24, 2026 $0.16; Jun 23, 2026 $0.38; Sep 22, 2026 $0.26. Use the arrow keys to read each point.$0$0.2520232026YTD
FGSMQuarterly · 7 paymentsAll FGSM payments⁠
One bar per payment. 7 payments from 2023 to 2026 YTD. Mar 28, 2025 $0.0038; Jun 27, 2025 $0.21; Sep 29, 2025 $0.02; Dec 30, 2025 $0.24; Mar 30, 2026 $0.001; Jun 29, 2026 $0.19; Sep 29, 2026 $0.05. Use the arrow keys to read each point.$0$0.2520232026YTD

DFAW vs FGSM Risk

Fall from peak · 5 years

This chart needs five years of history for both funds.

Risk facts

VolatilityStd dev, 3 years
DFAW 11.8%FGSM 12.1%since Jan 2025
Return per unit of riskSharpe ratio, 3 years
DFAW 1.37FGSM 1.23since Jan 2025
Worst fallMax drawdown, 5 years
DFAW −16.9%since Sep 2023FGSM −17.7%since Dec 2024
Market sensitivityBeta, 5 years
DFAW 0.91FGSM 0.73

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