What Is DFIS? Dimensional International Small Cap ETF
Last updated July 2026
Short answer
DFIS is Dimensional International Small Cap ETF, an ETF that tracks Actively managed, no tracked index at a 0.39% expense ratio. DFIS is actively managed rather than tracking an index, and invests in developed-markets ex-US small and mid-cap equities. It charges 0.39%. The distribution yield is about 2.04%. It is relatively new, launched in 2022. Holdings are spread widely, with the ten largest coming to about 4% of assets.
DFIS is issued by Dimensional Fund Advisors and tracks Actively managed, no tracked index. It charges a 0.39% expense ratio, holds approximately $5.8B in assets under management, yields about 2.04%, and launched in 2022.
What is DFIS?
DFIS is Dimensional International Small Cap ETF, an ETF that tracks Actively managed, no tracked index at a 0.39% expense ratio. DFIS is actively managed rather than tracking an index, and invests in developed-markets ex-US small and mid-cap equities. It charges 0.39%. The distribution yield is about 2.04%. It is relatively new, launched in 2022. Holdings are spread widely, with the ten largest coming to about 4% of assets.
DFIS is issued by Dimensional Fund Advisors and tracks Actively managed, no tracked index, so a single ticker gives you the whole portfolio of underlying holdings weighted by the index's methodology rather than by any active stock-picking.
What does DFIS hold?
DFIS is weighted toward its largest constituents. As of August 2026, the top holdings are:
| Rank | Ticker | Company | % of DFIS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Telecom Italia SpA | 0.5% | ||
| 2 | VAT Group AG | 0.5% | ||
| 3 | Bawag Group AG Ordinary Shares | 0.5% | ||
| 4 | QGEN | Qiagen NV | 0.4% | |
| 5 | Finning International Inc | 0.4% | ||
| 6 | Shibaura Mechatronics Corp | 0.4% | ||
| 7 | Hudbay Minerals Inc | 0.4% | ||
| 8 | Mercari Inc | 0.4% | ||
| 9 | Rexel SA | 0.3% | ||
| 10 | Games Workshop Group PLC | 0.3% |
The remaining holdings make up the balance of the fund, with weights tapering off below the top names. Because the index reconstitutes on a rolling basis, the roster stays current without active management. Each ticker above links to its individual stock guide in Walnut.
How do I invest in DFIS?
There are three common ways to get DFIS exposure. Buy shares (or fractional shares) of DFIS directly at any major broker that lists it. Hold it as a core position and layer more concentrated ideas on top. Or build it into a thematic portfolio in Walnut, so DFIS sits alongside other holdings that express the same thesis, with target weights you can rebalance toward. DFIS trades like a stock during market hours, so you buy it the same way you would any listed share.
New to buying funds? See how to buy an ETF, step by step.
Is DFIS a good buy?
Whether DFIS is a good buy depends less on any single call and more on your time horizon and what you already hold: it tracks Actively managed, no tracked index, so the real question is whether you want that exposure in your mix and at what weight. We walk through valuation, concentration, and what would have to be true for it to outperform from here in is DFIS a buy?
The bottom line on DFIS
DFIS gives you Actively managed, no tracked index exposure in one ticker at a 0.39% expense ratio. Most investors use it as a core holding and layer more concentrated thematic portfolios on top.
More on DFIS
Whether DFIS is worth buying today depends more on your time horizon and what you already hold than on any single call. We walk through valuation, concentration, and what would have to be true for it to outperform from here in is DFIS a buy?
DFIS yields 2.04% as of August 2026, paid by passing through the dividends of its underlying holdings. For the payout schedule, history, and how the distributions are taxed, see DFIS dividend: yield and schedule.
New to funds like DFIS? Start with what an ETF is, then how to buy an ETF, or browse the full guide to ETF investing.
Wondering how DFIS fits the portfolio you already own? Walnut is an AI investing app that connects your brokerage read-only and answers questions like that about your actual holdings: overlap, concentration, and how each position tracks the S&P 500. Compare the best AI portfolio analyzers or see the best AI investing apps in 2026.
Investing in DFIS with AI
Connect the broker you already use and ask Walnut's AI how DFIS fits what you actually hold: what it overlaps with, what it leaves you exposed to, and how it has tracked the S&P 500. Read-only by default, and you approve anything before it reaches your broker.
FAQ
What is DFIS's ticker symbol?
+
DFIS, Dimensional International Small Cap ETF. Issued by Dimensional Fund Advisors; tracks Actively managed, no tracked index. Trades during US market hours, available at every major US brokerage.
What is DFIS's expense ratio?
+
0.39% as of August 2026.
What are DFIS's top holdings?
+
Top holdings as of August 2026: , , , QGEN, and others. See the full holdings table above.
How can I invest in DFIS through Walnut?
+
Walnut isn't a broker. Connect a brokerage and Walnut sits on top to help you build and track thematic portfolios. DFIS can be a constituent alongside individual stocks.
How do I compare DFIS to similar ETFs?
+
Put a few fields side by side: the expense ratio (fees compound over decades), the index or strategy it tracks, the top holdings and how much they overlap with what you already own, the dividend yield, and the AUM, liquidity, and bid-ask spread that affect trading costs. For index funds, tracking error (how closely it follows its index) and tax efficiency matter too. DFIS's figures are above; the full method is in Walnut's guide on how to compare ETFs.
Related ETFs
Walnut is informational, not investment advice. Holdings weights and fund statistics on this page are approximations stamped to August 2026; verify current figures against Dimensional Fund Advisors's fund page or your broker before investing.