DFAI ETF — Dimensional International Core Equity Market ETF

Dimensional International Core Equity Market ETF (DFAI)

Updated November 13, 2026.

DFAI is a low-cost ETF. Its distribution rate is 1.77%, its trailing-12-month yield is 2.43%, its expense ratio is 0.18%. Dividend Vision Distribution Safety Score™ is 90/100 (Safe). Total return is 92.8% over the past 6 years, 37.6 points behind SPY at 130.4%.

At the current 1.77% distribution rate, a $10,000 investment would generate approximately $177 per year, or about $44.25 per quarter if the next payment matches the last regular one.

Dimensional International Core Equity Market ETF is an actively managed fund investing in international equities across all market capitalizations, with systematic tilts toward smaller companies, lower valuations, and higher profitability, while also adjusting positions based on factors like price momentum and investment characteristics. The fund distributes quarterly at a modest yield and carries an expense ratio of 0.18%. It appeals to income-seeking investors with international equity exposure who prefer an active management approach combined with quantitative factor considerations.

DFAI performance versus SPY

As of Nov 12, 2026

Total return is 92.8% over the past 6 years, 37.6 points behind SPY at 130.4%. Over the past year its total return — price change plus distributions reinvested — is 13.6%. Its deepest 1-year drawdown was 11.0%.

DFAI key facts

Distribution Safety Score™

90 · Safe

Safety-Adjusted Yield

1.59%

Issuer

Dimensional

Asset type

ETF

Asset class

Equity

Inception date

11/17/2020

Expense ratio

0.18%

Distribution rate

1.77%

Distribution frequency

Quarterly

Trailing yield

2.43%

Last close

$41.64 (as of 2026-11-13)

AUM

$18,351,161,835

Average volume

1,719,828

Dividend

$0.184

Ex-dividend date

09/22/2026

Payment date

09/24/2026

Beta

0.9

How Dividend Vision calculates yield and returns

Distribution rate (1.77%) uses latest regular dividend ($0.184) × 4 ÷ market price dated 2026-11-13; one-off specials excluded; identified recurring supplementals included. Issuer rates can use a different denominator and date, including ex-date NAV. Trailing-12-month yield (2.43%) is the sum of split-adjusted cash distributions with ex-dates in the last 12 months, divided by the published price. It lags a recent raise or cut. Total return uses split-adjusted close with distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date (a modeling convention, not the cash-settlement date) from the first stored bar on or after inception through the latest bar, compared with the same window on the benchmark. That is the security's total return, not your personal gain/loss.

Yield and safety methodology · Distribution rate methodology · Distribution Safety Score methodology

Sources and review

Primary sources: Dimensional or company page; prices and distributions from Dividend Vision, derived from vendor EOD data.

Reviewed by Bert Sweet, CEO and Co-owner of Dividend Vision. Methodology: Distribution Safety Score.

DFAI risks and drawbacks

DFAI's current distribution rate is moderate, not a high-yield payout — the strategy is dividend quality more than maximum income. Payments are quarterly, so cash flow is lumpy versus a monthly fund. Total return has trailed SPY over the available window. The deepest 1-year drawdown on record here is 11.0%.

Who may consider DFAI — and who may not

DFAI may suit someone looking for low-cost broad dividend exposure, a high Distribution Safety Score. It is a weaker fit for investors who need monthly cash flow (DFAI pays quarterly); investors hunting double-digit covered-call yields; investors whose main goal is matching SPY total return. This is educational context, not a recommendation to buy or sell.

More on DFAI

• DFAI dividend calendar
• DFAI dividend history
• ETFs going ex-dividend this week
• All tickers starting with D

Tagged: Basket, International, Active.

Frequently asked questions

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