What this ETF is trying to do

The Dimensional Emerging Core Equity Market ETF (DFAE) is an exchange-traded fund designed to provide exposure to the emerging markets. This means it invests in companies located in developing parts of the world.

What the numbers show

The data shows that DFAE has experienced significant growth over different time periods. When looking at the share price alone (the price return), the ETF grew by approximately 25.27% over the last year.

It is important to distinguish between price return and total return. Price return only tracks the change in the share price. Total return includes both the price change and any cash distributions paid out to investors. For DFAE, the one-year total return was approximately 27.80%, which is higher than the price return.

Looking at longer periods, the three-year total return was approximately 91.10%. Year-to-date (YTD), the price return is approximately 23.43%, while the YTD total return is approximately 25.10%.

Based on estimated prices from roughly one year ago, the share price was approximately $32.09. The current price is $40.20.

Income and distribution explanation

DFAE provides cash distributions to investors. The distribution yield is approximately 1.84%. This number describes the cash paid out relative to the current ETF price.

The fund usually pays distributions on a quarterly basis. Over the last 12 months, there were 4 payouts. The trailing distributions were approximately $0.74 per share.

NAV erosion explanation

NAV erosion refers to a decline in the Net Asset Value (the actual value of the assets held by the fund). The supplied data is sufficient to evaluate price erosion, but it does not include enough historical NAV-per-share data to confirm or rule out NAV erosion.

However, regarding price erosion (the decline in the market price of the shares), the fund has an erosion score of 100. This is labeled as "No price erosion detected," and the erosion severity is rated as "good." There is no severe erosion-risk flag for this ETF.

Top Holdings

The following are the top holdings in the portfolio (note that this is a partial list):

• PDD Holdings Inc ADR: 0.81%

• ICICI Bank Ltd ADR: 0.71%

• HDFC Bank Ltd ADR: 0.46%

• Infosys Ltd ADR: 0.45%

• Reliance Industries Ltd GDR 144A: 0.40%

• Vale SA ADR: 0.27%

• Alibaba Group Holding Ltd ADR: 0.24%

• Yum China Holdings Inc: 0.24%

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd DR: 0.22%

• Gold Fields Ltd ADR: 0.18%

Holdings can change over time. This data was updated on October 7, 2026.

Pros

• Strong historical total returns over one, three, and five-year periods.

• No detected price erosion based on the current erosion score.

Cons

• The distribution yield is relatively low compared to some high-income funds.

• Investing in emerging markets can involve different risks than investing in established markets.

Beginner takeaway

DFAE is an ETF focused on emerging market companies. While it pays a modest distribution, its recent history has been defined more by share-price growth (price return) than by high cash payouts. Always remember that total return is the most complete way to see how much value an investment has created, as it combines both price changes and distributions.