Skip to content
etf.net

DFAW vs SAMT

Dimensional World Equity ETF

DFAWANYSE Arca

Strategas Macro Thematic Opportunities ETF

SAMTBNYSE Arca

Overlap

Expense ratio

DFAW −0.43pt a year

DFAW0.23%SAMT0.66%

Avg volume · 30D

SAMT 1.5×the volume

DFAW98.6KSAMT150K

3Y return · a year

SAMT +2.5pt

DFAW+21.8%SAMT+24.3%

DFAW vs SAMT Performance

Oct 31, 2025 – Oct 30, 2026

+15.7%DFAW+8.8%SAMT

Oct 31, 2025 to Oct 30, 2026. DFAW +15.7%. SAMT +8.8%. Use the arrow keys to read each point.−5%0%5%20%25%Oct 2025Apr 2026Oct 2026
Expense ratio
DFAW 0.23%, better
SAMT 0.66%
Fund size
DFAW $1.71B
SAMT $794M
1Y total return
DFAW +15.7%, better
SAMT +8.8%
Yield (12M)
DFAW 1.30%, better
SAMT 0.66%
Holdings
DFAW 6
SAMT 29
Avg volume (30D)
DFAW 98.6K sh
SAMT 150K sh, better
NAV per share
DFAW $82.88
SAMT $41.55
52W range

ETF.net Grade

DFAW: Cost 95, Risk 74, Mission 100, Tradability 83, Holdings 32, Durability 79. SAMT: Cost 55, Risk 40, Mission not scored, Tradability 84, Holdings 53, Durability 71.
Pillar letters and Scores for DFAW, SAMT, with each pillar’s weight
PillarDFAWSAMT
Cost30% weightA95HigherB55
Mission25% weightA100Not scored
Risk15% weightA74HigherC40
Tradability15% weightA83A84Higher
Holdings10% weightD32C53Higher
Durability5% weightA79HigherA71

Rank among Global Active Equity funds

How we build Categories ›
Same Category. Both funds are graded against the same funds, so their Grades compare head to head.

Same Category. DFAW and SAMT 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 SAMT 17th of 44 funds in the Global Active Equity Category.

  1. Rank 1AAVTMAvantis Total Equity Markets ETF 1Score 79
  2. Rank 1ABDVLiShares Disciplined Volatility Equity Active ETFScore 79
  3. Rank 1ADFAWDimensional World Equity ETFScore 79
  4. Rank 4AAVGEAvantis All Equity Markets ETFScore 78
  5. Rank 15BAVOSAvos Global Equities ETFScore 59
  6. Rank 17BSAMTStrategas Macro Thematic Opportunities ETFScore 58
  7. Rank 18BTGLBT. Rowe Price Global Equity ETFScore 56

Our read on each fund

ETF.net Research

DFAWADimensional World Equity ETF

SAMTBStrategas Macro Thematic Opportunities ETF

In short

DFAW No data

SAMT Most thematic ETFs are one-trick: one theme, forever. SAMT runs three to five macro themes at once and rotates them as the cycle turns, steered by Strategas, the macro research shop behind it. Flat 0.66%, no waiver.

Stated mandate

DFAW No data

SAMT The Fund seeks long-term capital appreciation through active investment principally in U.S. common stocks associated with three to five macro-thematic trends. The Adviser uses technical, fundamental, qualitative, and quantitative analysis and may adjust the portfolio as trends change.

Why people hold it

DFAW No data

  • SAMT Single-theme funds live or die by one idea. SAMT holds three to five macro themes at a time and rotates them as trends change, so no single story carries the portfolio.strategasetfs.com
  • The calls come from Strategas' own macro research desk, an institutional strategy firm operating since 2006 and now part of Baird, not an outside index provider.strategasetfs.comlinkedin.com
  • Roughly 50 US-listed stocks across the cap spectrum, so a theme can be played through mid and small caps, not just the usual mega-cap proxies.strategasetfs.com
  • Among the easier funds in its peer group to get in and out of, which matters for a strategy that reshuffles as themes rotate.

Worth knowing

DFAW No data

  • SAMT At 0.66% the fee sits near the norm for active global equity funds, but broad-index rivals like AVTM (0.22%) and AVGE (0.23%) cost far less.
  • Concentration cuts both ways: with roughly 50 names in a handful of themes, a trend that stalls can weigh on the whole fund. The prospectus flags this risk by name.strategasetfs.com
  • No index to check the manager against. Holdings reflect the team's conviction calls, and the live record only starts at the January 2022 launch.

Full DFAW profile⁠

Full SAMT profile⁠

DFAW vs SAMT 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 SAMT Cost

Overpaying SAMT vs DFAW

$8,137

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

  • DFAW 0.23%

    $4,759

  • SAMT 0.66%

    $12,896

$10,000
30 years

Cost over time

  • DFAW 0.23%
  • SAMT 0.66%
  • Overpaying
One line per fund, from year 0 to year 30. Use the arrow keys to read each point.$0$5K$10K$15K051015202530SAMT $12,896DFAW $4,759

Year by year

YearDFAWSAMTOverpaying
10$419$1,180$761
20$1,630$4,504$2,874
30$4,759$12,896$8,137

Expense ratio

  • 0.23%DFAW, cheaper
  • 0.66%SAMT
  • Middle half of Global Active Equity funds
  • Median 0.69%

DFAW 2nd cheapest of 44 funds

SAMT 21st cheapest of 44 funds

DFAW vs SAMT Dividends

Last 12 months to Oct 30, 2026
Yield (12M)
DFAW 1.30%, better
SAMT 0.66%
Payout (12M)
DFAW $1.08
SAMT $0.27
Last payment
DFAW $0.26
SAMT $0.27
Ex-dividend
DFAW Sep 22, 2026
SAMT Dec 30, 2025
Paid on
DFAW Sep 24, 2026
SAMT Jan 7, 2026
Frequency
DFAW Quarterly
SAMT Annual

Distribution history

Per share, 2022 to 2026, same scale for both

DFAWQuarterly · 12 paymentsAll DFAW payments⁠
One bar per payment. 12 payments from 2022 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
SAMTAnnual · 4 paymentsAll SAMT payments⁠
One bar per payment. 4 payments from 2022 to 2026 YTD. Dec 28, 2022 $0.17; Dec 28, 2023 $0.34; Dec 30, 2024 $0.41; Dec 30, 2025 $0.27. Use the arrow keys to read each point.$0$0.2520232026YTD

DFAW vs SAMT 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%, betterSAMT 15.3%
Return per unit of riskSharpe ratio, 3 years
DFAW 1.37, betterSAMT 1.22
Worst fallMax drawdown, 5 years
DFAW −16.9%since Sep 2023SAMT −20.6%since Jan 2022
Market sensitivityBeta, 5 years
DFAW 0.91SAMT 0.85

DFAW and SAMT in the news

All news⁠

Popular comparisons

  • DFAWAvsAVTMA

    Dimensional World Equity ETF · Avantis Total Equity Markets ETF 1

    Expense ratio
    0.23% · 0.22%
    Category
    Same Category. Both funds are graded against the same funds, so their Grades compare head to head.

  • SAMTBvsAVTMA

    Strategas Macro Thematic Opportunities ETF · Avantis Total Equity Markets ETF 1

    Expense ratio
    0.66% · 0.22%
    Category
    Same Category. Both funds are graded against the same funds, so their Grades compare head to head.

  • DFAWAvsBDVLA

    Dimensional World Equity ETF · iShares Disciplined Volatility Equity Active ETF

    Expense ratio
    0.23% · 0.39%
    Category
    Same Category. Both funds are graded against the same funds, so their Grades compare head to head.

  • SAMTBvsBDVLA

    Strategas Macro Thematic Opportunities ETF · iShares Disciplined Volatility Equity Active ETF

    Expense ratio
    0.66% · 0.39%
    Category
    Same Category. Both funds are graded against the same funds, so their Grades compare head to head.

  • DFAWAvsAVGEA

    Dimensional World Equity ETF · Avantis All Equity Markets ETF

    Expense ratio
    0.23% · 0.23%
    Category
    Same Category. Both funds are graded against the same funds, so their Grades compare head to head.

  • SAMTBvsAVGEA

    Strategas Macro Thematic Opportunities ETF · Avantis All Equity Markets ETF

    Expense ratio
    0.66% · 0.23%
    Category
    Same Category. Both funds are graded against the same funds, so their Grades compare head to head.