DFSI vs VSGX: Grades, Fees and Holdings Compared

Dimensional International Sustainability Core 1 ETF

DFSIBNYSE Arca

Vanguard ESG International Stock ETF

VSGXACboe

Overlap

35.7%by weight

Expense ratio

VSGX −0.13pt a year

DFSI0.23%VSGX0.10%

Avg volume · 30D

VSGX 2.9×the volume

DFSI56.5KVSGX166K

3Y return · a year

DFSI +0.1pt

DFSI+20.0%VSGX+19.9%

DFSI vs VSGX Performance

Nov 7, 2025 – Nov 9, 2026

+15.1%DFSI+16.9%VSGX

Expense ratio: DFSI 0.23%; VSGX 0.10%, better
Fund size: DFSI $1.17B; VSGX $6.7B
1Y total return: DFSI +15.1%; VSGX +16.9%, better
Yield (12M): DFSI 2.25%; VSGX 3.07%, better
Holdings: DFSI 2828; VSGX 6691
Avg volume (30D): DFSI 56.5K sh; VSGX 166K sh, better
NAV per share: DFSI $44.66; VSGX $76.60
52W range

ETF.net Grade

Pillar letters and Scores for DFSI, VSGX, with each pillar’s weight
Pillar	DFSI	VSGX
Cost30% weight	C50	A100Higher
Mission25% weight	Not scored	A100
Risk15% weight	B62Higher	D36
Tradability15% weight	B61	B61
Holdings10% weight	A86Higher	B59
Durability5% weight	B60	A90Higher

Rank among International ESG & Values Index funds

How we build Categories ›

Same Category. DFSI and VSGX are both graded against the same 18 International ESG & Values Index funds, so their Grades compare head to head.

International ESG & Values Index⁠

Category · 18 funds

See all 18 ›

VSGX ranks 1st and DFSI 9th of 18 funds in the International ESG & Values Index Category.

Rank 1AVSGXVanguard ESG International Stock ETFScore 79
Rank 2AESGDiShares ESG Aware MSCI EAFE ETFScore 78
Rank 7BNUDMNuveen ESG International Developed Markets EquityScore 61
Rank 9BDFSIDimensional International Sustainability Core 1 ETFScore 60
Rank 10BAVSDAvantis Responsible International Equity ETFScore 58

Our read on each fund

ETF.net Research

DFSIBDimensional International Sustainability Core 1 ETF

VSGXAVanguard ESG International Stock ETF

In short

DFSI Not an index tracker: Dimensional runs an all-cap slice of developed markets outside the US, thousands of names tilted toward cheaper, more profitable firms, carbon-heavy ones screened out. 0.23% net of a waiver through February 28, 2027.

VSGX Most ex-US ESG funds stop at big developed-market names. VSGX casts a wider net: large, mid and small caps across developed and emerging markets, minus the industries its index screens out, for 0.10% a year.

Stated mandate

DFSI The ETF seeks long-term capital appreciation. It uses an integrated investment approach to build a broadly diversified portfolio of non-U.S. developed-market companies while incorporating sustainability considerations.

VSGX The Fund seeks to track an index of large-, mid-, and small-capitalization stocks from developed and emerging markets outside the United States, subject to environmental, social, and corporate-governance screening.

Why people hold it

DFSI Owns a few thousand stocks across developed markets outside the US, reaching down into the small caps that large-cap ESG index funds leave out.sec.gov
The screen is wide: companies with high carbon emissions or reserves are excluded, alongside flags for tobacco, cluster munitions, private prisons and child labor.sec.gov
Standard Dimensional machinery underneath: value and profitability tilts set by the manager, not frozen until an index provider's next rebalance date.sec.gov

VSGX 0.10% a year, well under half the typical fee in its international ESG peer group. Vanguard's usual move: undercut the room.
Reaches past the usual EAFE box, holding thousands of stocks across developed and emerging markets. EAFE-based rivals like ESGD and DMXF cover developed large and mid caps only.msci.com
The screen is FTSE's rulebook, not Vanguard's opinion: out go fossil fuel reserves, weapons, tobacco, alcohol, gambling, adult entertainment and nuclear power, plus conduct flags.ftserussell.com
What survives the screen stays market-cap weighted, with no factor tilts or manager stock picks. Distributions land quarterly.lseg.com

Worth knowing

DFSI 0.23% (0.24% gross) net of a waiver through February 28, 2027 lands near the category median, and index-tracking peers go lower: VSGX at 0.10%, DMXF at 0.12%.
Active, so there's no index holding it to a line. MSCI World ex USA IMI is the stated yardstick, and the small-cap and value tilts can push results away from it.sec.gov
Sustainability here is Dimensional's own definition rather than a published ESG index, so the holdings can differ from what another provider's label would give you.sec.gov

VSGX Cutting oil, gas, coal, nuclear and weapons names removes whole slices of the market, so results can drift from a plain ex-US index in either direction.ftserussell.com
Emerging markets, small caps and foreign currency all ride along, which can mean wider swings than a developed large-cap-only ex-US fund.
It de-selects rather than rewards: clearing the screen isn't the same as being a sustainability leader, and there's no carbon or Paris-alignment target.lseg.com

Full DFSI profile⁠

Full VSGX profile⁠

DFSI vs VSGX Holdings

How DFSI and VSGX differ

Overlap by weight

35.7%

Shared holdings make up 64.6% of DFSI and 47.4% of VSGX.

Level by level

Holdings1,680 in both35.7%
Countryby domicile61.8%
Sector11 Sectors78.6%
Asset classStocks100%

Sector

Sector weights in DFSI and VSGX, widest gap first
Sector	Gap	DFSI	VSGX
Technology	VSGX +16.9 points	10.7%	27.6%
Industrials	DFSI +11.8 points	20.1%	8.3%
Financials	VSGX +3.6 points	24.8%	28.4%
Utilities	DFSI +2.4 points	3.0%	0.6%
Energy	DFSI +1.9 points	1.9%	0.0%
Materials	DFSI +1.4 points	7.1%	5.7%
Consumer Discretionary	DFSI +1.1 points	9.7%	8.6%
Consumer Staples	DFSI +1.1 points	5.7%	4.6%
Health Care	DFSI +0.9 points	9.9%	9.0%
Real Estate	VSGX +0.9 points	1.8%	2.7%
Communication	DFSI +0.9 points	5.3%	4.4%

Country, concentration and asset class

Country by domicile

Country weights in DFSI and VSGX, widest gap first
Country	Gap	DFSI	VSGX
Taiwan	VSGX +12.4 points	0.0%	12.4%
South Korea	VSGX +8.0 points	0.0%	8.0%
China	VSGX +6.6 points	0.2%	6.8%
United Kingdom	DFSI +5.9 points	11.8%	5.9%
Japan	DFSI +4.5 points	21.6%	17.1%
Switzerland	DFSI +4.2 points	9.5%	5.3%
India	VSGX +3.9 points	0.0%	3.9%
France	DFSI +3.9 points	6.8%	2.9%
Other countries (31)	DFSI +12.5 points	50.3%	37.8%

Outside the US: DFSI 99% developed, 1% emerging. VSGX 61% developed, 39% emerging.

Concentration

Weight in the 10 largest Holdings

DFSI10.0%
VSGX18.0%

Securities held

DFSI2,811
VSGX6,651

Asset class

DFSI: Stocks
VSGX: Stocks

Holdings

Only in DFSI1,131
In both1,680
Only in VSGX4,971

Only in DFSI

1,131 securities, 35.1% of DFSI by weight

Asml Holding NV2.30%
Novartis AG Adr1.10%
Astrazeneca PLC0.73%
Schneider Electric SE0.72%
Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC0.67%
Unilever PLC0.67%
Toronto-Dominion Bank0.54%
Siemens AG0.48%
Hitachi Ltd0.48%
Tesco PLC0.44%
Siemens Energy AG0.43%
Abb Ltd0.43%
Safran SA0.42%
Hsbc Holdings PLC0.42%
E.on SE0.39%
Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd0.37%
Airbus SE0.37%
Compass Group PLC0.36%
Lvmh Moet Hennessy Louis0.35%
Relx PLC0.35%
Argenx SE0.35%
Nordea Bank Abp0.34%
Bank of Nova Scotia/The0.31%
Ubs Group AG0.29%
Royal Bank of Canada0.29%
Canadian Imperial Bank of0.28%
Enel Spa0.28%
Muenchener Rueckversicher0.27%
Brookfield Corp0.27%
Wheaton Precious Metals C0.27%
Iberdrola SA0.26%
Aib Group PLC0.24%
Sika AG0.21%
Diageo PLC0.21%
Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Arge0.20%
Adidas AG0.20%
Bae Systems PLC0.20%
Vinci SA0.19%
Helvetia Baloise Holding0.19%
Hsbc Holdings PLC0.19%
Pan American Silver Corp0.19%
Sgs SA0.19%
Mtu Aero Engines AG0.18%
Bt Group PLC0.17%
Ferrari NV0.17%
Alamos Gold Inc0.16%
Kinross Gold Corp0.16%
Mitsubishi Heavy Industri0.16%
Bombardier Inc0.16%
Edp - Energias De Portuga0.16%

Only in VSGX

4,971 securities, 52.7% of VSGX by weight

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd5.75%
Samsung Electronics Co Ltd2.74%
SK hynix Inc2.24%
SLCMT11421.11%
Alibaba Group Holding Ltd0.77%
Nestle SA0.71%
MediaTek Inc0.68%
Shopify Inc0.55%
SoftBank Group Corp0.46%
MSCI EAFE Dec260.44%
Delta Electronics Inc0.41%
Kioxia Holdings Corp0.40%
Unilever PLC0.38%
Samsung Electronics-Pref0.35%
China Construction Bank Corp0.33%
Hon Hai Precision Industry Co Ltd0.29%
MSCI EmgMkt Dec260.28%
HDFC Bank Ltd0.26%
Industrial & Commercial Bank of China Ltd0.24%
SK Square Co Ltd0.23%
ICICI Bank Ltd0.22%
ASE Technology Holding Co Ltd0.22%
Manulife Financial Corp0.22%
Investor AB0.21%
L'Oreal SA0.19%
Nordea Bank Abp0.19%
Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co Ltd0.18%
Wheaton Precious Metals Corp0.18%
Pdd Holdings Inc0.18%
Hong Kong Exchanges & Clearing Ltd0.18%
Relx PLC0.17%
Bharti Airtel Ltd0.17%
United Microelectronics Corp0.17%
Xiaomi Corp0.17%
Bayer AG0.16%
Bank of China Ltd0.16%
Hoya Corp0.15%
London Stock Exchange Group PLC0.15%
Basf SE0.15%
Compass Group PLC0.15%
Meituan0.15%
Al Rajhi Bank0.15%
Usd/Jpy Fwd 202612160.15%
Unimicron Technology Corp0.15%
Lonza Group AG0.14%
Itau Unibanco Holding S-Pref0.14%
Generali0.14%
Ferrari NV0.14%
Elite Material Co Ltd0.14%
NetEase Inc0.13%

Weight gaps

The 100 widest of 1,680 Holdings in both funds.

Holding weights in DFSI and VSGX, widest gap first
Holding	Gap	DFSI	VSGX
Asml Holding NV	VSGX +2.04 points	0.05%	2.09%
Novartis AG	VSGX +0.80 points	<0.01%	0.80%
Astrazeneca PLCAZN.L	VSGX +0.63 points	0.10%	0.73%
Roche Holding AG	DFSI +0.57 points	1.45%	0.88%
Recruit Holdings Co Ltd	DFSI +0.51 points	0.94%	0.43%
Mitsubishi Ufj Financial	VSGX +0.43 points	0.33%	0.76%
Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Arge	VSGX +0.38 points	0.09%	0.47%
Ubs Group AG	VSGX +0.36 points	0.09%	0.45%
Shopify Inc- Class ASHOP	DFSI +0.36 points	0.36%	<0.01%
Swiss Re AG	DFSI +0.29 points	0.44%	0.15%
Bank of Nova Scotia/The	VSGX +0.29 points	0.05%	0.34%
L'oreal SA	DFSI +0.30 points	0.40%	0.10%
Koninklijke Kpn NV	DFSI +0.29 points	0.34%	0.05%
Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd	VSGX +0.28 points	<0.01%	0.28%
Swisscom AG	DFSI +0.27 points	0.33%	0.06%
Orange SA	DFSI +0.25 points	0.35%	0.10%
Ucb SA	DFSI +0.26 points	0.34%	0.08%
Intact Financial Corp	DFSI +0.24 points	0.33%	0.09%
Canadian Imperial Bank of	VSGX +0.24 points	0.07%	0.31%
Asr Nederland NV	DFSI +0.23 points	0.27%	0.04%
Murata Manufacturing Co L	VSGX +0.22 points	0.04%	0.26%
Banco Santander SA	VSGX +0.21 points	0.40%	0.61%
Mizuho Financial Group In	VSGX +0.21 points	0.19%	0.40%
Experian PLCEXPN.L	DFSI +0.20 points	0.29%	0.09%
Industria De Diseno Texti	DFSI +0.21 points	0.41%	0.20%
Sumitomo Mitsui Financial	VSGX +0.20 points	0.28%	0.48%
Nn Group NV	DFSI +0.20 points	0.27%	0.07%
Unicredit Spa	VSGX +0.19 points	0.21%	0.40%
Societe Generale SA	DFSI +0.19 points	0.35%	0.16%
Qbe Insurance Group Ltd	DFSI +0.19 points	0.26%	0.07%
Argenx SE	VSGX +0.18 points	<0.01%	0.18%
Commonwealth Bank of Aust	VSGX +0.17 points	0.36%	0.53%
Sony Group Corp	DFSI +0.17 points	0.59%	0.42%
Legal & General Group PLCLGEN.L	DFSI +0.17 points	0.23%	0.06%
Tokyo Electron Ltd	VSGX +0.16 points	0.34%	0.50%
Standard Chartered PLCSTAN.L	DFSI +0.16 points	0.32%	0.16%
Reckitt Benckiser Group PRKT.L	DFSI +0.15 points	0.28%	0.13%
Skandinaviska Enskilda Ba	DFSI +0.15 points	0.15%	<0.01%
Swiss Life Holding AG	DFSI +0.15 points	0.24%	0.09%
Genmab A/S	DFSI +0.15 points	0.21%	0.06%
St James's Place PLCSTJ.L	DFSI +0.15 points	0.17%	0.02%
Bawag Group AG	DFSI +0.14 points	0.19%	0.05%
Oversea-Chinese Banking C	VSGX +0.14 points	0.10%	0.24%
Next PLCNXT.L	DFSI +0.14 points	0.21%	0.07%
Endeavour Mining PLCEDV.L	DFSI +0.13 points	0.17%	0.04%
National Bank of Canada	DFSI +0.13 points	0.30%	0.17%
Panasonic Holdings Corp	VSGX +0.14 points	0.06%	0.20%
Zurich Insurance Group AG	DFSI +0.13 points	0.43%	0.30%
Bank of Ireland Group PLC	DFSI +0.13 points	0.19%	0.06%
Banco De Sabadell SA	DFSI +0.13 points	0.19%	0.06%
Bank of Montreal	VSGX +0.13 points	0.23%	0.36%
Ia Financial Corp Inc	DFSI +0.13 points	0.17%	0.04%
Gea Group AG	DFSI +0.13 points	0.16%	0.03%
Csl Ltd	VSGX +0.13 points	0.06%	0.18%
Partners Group Holding AG	DFSI +0.12 points	0.17%	0.05%
Teva Pharmaceutical Indus	VSGX +0.12 points	0.02%	0.14%
Finecobank Banca Fineco’s	DFSI +0.12 points	0.17%	0.05%
Allianz SE	DFSI +0.12 points	0.66%	0.54%
Fairfax Financial Holding	DFSI +0.12 points	0.22%	0.10%
Deutsche Boerse AG	DFSI +0.12 points	0.30%	0.18%
Kbc Group NV	DFSI +0.12 points	0.22%	0.10%
Astellas Pharma Inc	DFSI +0.12 points	0.20%	0.08%
Iamgold CorpIAG	DFSI +0.12 points	0.12%	<0.01%
Dollarama Inc	DFSI +0.12 points	0.22%	0.10%
Givaudan SA	DFSI +0.12 points	0.21%	0.09%
The Sage Group PLCSGE.L	DFSI +0.11 points	0.15%	0.04%
Daiwa House Industry Co L	DFSI +0.12 points	0.17%	0.05%
Admiral Group PLCADM.L	DFSI +0.11 points	0.15%	0.04%
Caixabank SA	DFSI +0.11 points	0.27%	0.16%
Deutsche Telekom AG	VSGX +0.12 points	0.19%	0.31%
Kesko Oyj	DFSI +0.11 points	0.13%	0.02%
Julius Baer Group Ltd	DFSI +0.12 points	0.17%	0.05%
United Utilities Group PlUU.L	DFSI +0.11 points	0.15%	0.04%
Geberit AG	DFSI +0.12 points	0.18%	0.06%
Baycurrent Inc	DFSI +0.11 points	0.13%	0.02%
Publicis Groupe SA	DFSI +0.11 points	0.19%	0.08%
Marks & Spencer Group PLCMKS.L	DFSI +0.11 points	0.14%	0.03%
Amadeus It Group SA	DFSI +0.11 points	0.18%	0.07%
Aia Group Ltd	VSGX +0.11 points	0.18%	0.29%
Shin-Etsu Chemical Co Ltd	VSGX +0.11 points	0.10%	0.21%
Sonova Holding AG	DFSI +0.11 points	0.15%	0.04%
Volvo Ab	DFSI +0.11 points	0.25%	0.14%
Boliden Ab	DFSI +0.11 points	0.15%	0.04%
Dcc Energy PLCDCC.L	DFSI +0.10 points	0.12%	0.02%
Essilorluxottica SA	VSGX +0.11 points	0.04%	0.15%
Amundi SA	DFSI +0.10 points	0.12%	0.02%
Nutrien Ltd	VSGX +0.10 points	0.00%	0.10%
Asics Corp	DFSI +0.11 points	0.16%	0.05%
Nokia Oyj	VSGX +0.10 points	0.05%	0.15%
Keyence Corp	VSGX +0.10 points	0.19%	0.29%
Bunzl PLCBNZL.L	DFSI +0.10 points	0.13%	0.03%
Abn Amro Bank NV	DFSI +0.10 points	0.19%	0.09%
Renesas Electronics Corp	VSGX +0.10 points	0.01%	0.11%
Aritzia Inc	DFSI +0.10 points	0.12%	0.02%
Suzuki Motor Corp	DFSI +0.09 points	0.16%	0.07%
Natwest Group PLCNWG.L	VSGX +0.10 points	0.12%	0.22%
Sampo PLC	DFSI +0.09 points	0.16%	0.07%
Intesa Sanpaolo Spa	VSGX +0.09 points	0.25%	0.34%
Metro Inc/Cn	DFSI +0.09 points	0.13%	0.04%
Sap SE	VSGX +0.09 points	0.53%	0.62%

All 2,902 DFSI holdings⁠All 6,648 VSGX 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.

DFSI vs VSGX Cost

Overpaying DFSI vs VSGX

$2,653

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

DFSI 0.23%
$4,759
VSGX 0.10%
$2,106

Amount$10,000

Years30 years

Cost over time

DFSI 0.23%
VSGX 0.10%
Overpaying

Year by year

Year	DFSI	VSGX	Overpaying
10	$419	$183	$236
20	$1,630	$717	$913
30	$4,759	$2,106	$2,653

Expense ratio

0.23%DFSI
0.10%VSGX, cheaper

VSGX0.10%DFSI0.23%

0.10%0.95%

Middle half of International ESG & Values Index funds
Median 0.23%

VSGX cheapest of 18 funds

DFSI 9th cheapest of 18 funds

DFSI vs VSGX Dividends

Last 12 months to Nov 9, 2026

Yield (12M): DFSI 2.25%; VSGX 3.07%, better
Payout (12M): DFSI $1.04; VSGX $2.43
Last payment: DFSI $0.18; VSGX $0.47
Ex-dividend: DFSI Sep 22, 2026; VSGX Sep 18, 2026
Paid on: DFSI Sep 24, 2026; VSGX Sep 22, 2026
Frequency: DFSI Quarterly; VSGX Quarterly

Distribution history

Per share, 2018 to 2026, same scale for both

DFSIQuarterly · 16 paymentsAll DFSI payments⁠

VSGXQuarterly · 31 paymentsAll VSGX payments⁠

DFSI vs VSGX Risk

Fall from peak · 5 years

This chart needs five years of history for both funds.

Risk facts

VolatilityStd dev, 3 years: DFSI 12.6%, betterVSGX 12.8%
Return per unit of riskSharpe ratio, 3 years: DFSI 1.20VSGX 1.20
Worst fallMax drawdown, 5 years: DFSI −12.8%since Nov 2022VSGX −31.2%
Market sensitivityBeta, 5 years: DFSI 0.97VSGX 0.97; Market = 1

DFSI and VSGX in the news

All news⁠

ETF Filings
Calamos to liquidate its Giannis Antetokounmpo sustainable ETF
Sep 11, 2026VSGX

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DFSI vs VSGX

In short

Stated mandate

Why people hold it

Worth knowing

How DFSI and VSGX differ

Level by level

Sector

Country, concentration and asset class

Country by domicile

Concentration

Asset class

Holdings

Only in DFSI

Only in VSGX

Weight gaps

Cost over time

Year by year

Distribution history

Fall from peak · 5 years

Risk facts

Calamos to liquidate its Giannis Antetokounmpo sustainable ETF

How DFSI and VSGX differ

Level by level

Sector

Country, concentration and asset class

Country by domicile

Concentration

Asset class

Holdings

Only in DFSI

Only in VSGX

Weight gaps