Fund Evaluator:
DFA Large Cap International I (DFALX)
Follow This Fund
Best Performing in Foreign Large Blend Over the Last Year
| 35.2% | AB International Strat Eqs Z (STEZX) |
| 32.9% | NYLI WMC International Research Eq Cl I (MYIIX) |
| 31.4% | Nationwide Bailard Intl Eqs M (NWHLX) |
| 31.2% | Goldman Sachs Intl Eq Insghts Inv (GCITX) |
| 31.2% | Vanguard International Core Stock Adm (VZICX) |
Fund Details
DFA Large Cap International I Overview
DFA Large Cap International I (DFALX) is an actively managed International Equity Foreign Large Blend fund. Dimensional Fund Advisors launched the fund in 1991.
The investment seeks long-term capital appreciation. The Portfolio will invest at least 80% of its net assets in securities of large cap companies in the particular markets in which the Portfolio invests. The Advisor determines the minimum market capitalization of a large company with respect to each country or region in which the Portfolio invests. It also may purchase or sell futures contracts and options on futures contracts for foreign or U.S. equity securities and indices, to increase or decrease equity market exposure based on actual or expected cash inflows to or outflows from the Portfolio.
About DFA Large Cap International I (DFALX)
There are 3 members of the management team with an average tenure of 8.09 years: Jed Fogdall (2010), Joel Schneider (2020), Brendan McAndrews (2025). Management tenure is more important for actively managed funds than passive index funds.
The fund has 1 primary benchmark: MSCI World ex USA NR USD index with a weighting of 100%. DFA Large Cap International I has 1134 securities in its portfolio. The top 10 holdings constitute 13.9% of the fund’s assets. The fund meets the SEC requirement of being classified as a diversified fund. The fund is not considered to have an ESG focus with its investment selection and management.
DFA Large Cap International I is part of the Equity global asset class and is within the International Equity fund group. DFA Large Cap International I has 92.0% of its portfolio invested in foreign issues. The overall assets allocated to domestic stock is 1.8%. There is 92.0% allocated to foreign stock, and 0.0% is allocated to preferred stocks. The bond allocation as a percentage of total assets is 0.0% (0.0% domestic bond, 0.0% foreign bond and 0.0% convertible bond). DFA Large Cap International I has 6.2% of the portfolio in cash.
Assets Under Management
The fund has $8 billion in total assets, which is above the $2 billion average for the Foreign Large Blend category. Normally, lower assets under management translates to higher average expense ratios, and greater total assets are desired. However, for some investment categories, such as small-cap investing, it may be difficult for the manager to fully employ the desired active strategy if assets grow too large or too quickly.
DFALX Performance and Fees
The expense ratio measures how much of a fund’s assets are used for administrative expenses and operating expenses, including adviser fees and fees for the transfer agent and custodial services. The DFA Large Cap International I expense ratio is low compared to funds in the Foreign Large Blend category. DFA Large Cap International I has an expense ratio of 0.18%, which is 81% lower than its category average, making the fund expense ratio grade a A. While it is difficult to predict returns, it is known that high annual expense ratios reduce your rate of return, and excessive fees are difficult to overcome. Active management normally comes with higher expense ratios than passive index management. Certain investment categories such as small company and foreign also normally have higher expense ratios. It is best to compare fund expense ratios against the category averages for meaningful assessments.
High portfolio turnover can translate to higher expenses and lower aftertax returns. DFA Large Cap International I has a portfolio turnover rate of 8%, indicating that holds its assets around 0.1 years. By way of comparison, the average portfolio turnover is 62% for the Foreign Large Blend category.
Recently, in the month of July 2026, DFA Large Cap International I returned 2.0%, which earned it a grade of B, as the Foreign Large Blend category had an average return of 0.7%. The letter grades of A, B, C, D and F are based upon relative rankings within the investment category. A grade of A, for example, would indicate that the return is in the highest 20% for that time period compared to all funds in that category.
DFA Large Cap International I has a trailing yield of 2.80%, which is above the 2.17% category average. The fund normally distributes its income quarterly and its capital gains annually.
It’s natural to seek the best-performing investments, but you must consider the relationship between risk and return and the impact of costs and taxes on your realized returns.
DFA Large Cap International I Grades
Year to date, the fund has returned 12.4%, 0.8 percentage points better than the category, which translates into a grade of C. The fund has returned 27.5% over the past year (grade of B), 17.4% over the past three years (grade of B) and 10.3% per year over the past five years (grade of A) and 10.1% per year over the past 10 years (grade of A).
For more mutual fund grades, analysis and screening tools to help your investment discovery, join AAII for a $2, full-access trial. Learn more here: https://invest.aaii.com/membership.
Otherwise, for more information about DFA Large Cap International I, including its riskiness, submit your email to unlock the rest of the article.
Gain access to exclusive AAII member-only content.
DFALX Trailing NAV Total Returns Data as of 7/31/26
| Last Month |
Last Quarter |
Ann'l. 1Yr |
Ann'l. 3Yr |
Ann'l. 5Yr |
Ann'l. 10Yr |
|
| DFALX Return (NAV) | 2.0% | 3.6% | 27.5% | 17.4% | 10.3% | 10.1% |
| DFALX Grade | B | D | B | B | A | A |
| +/- Category | 1.3% | -0.8% | 3.3% | 1.5% | 1.9% | 1.0% |
| Foreign Large Blend Avg | 0.7% | 4.4% | 24.2% | 15.9% | 8.4% | 9.1% |
| DFALX Tax Cost Ratio | na | na | 1.0% | 0.9% | 0.9% | 0.8% |
DFALX Annual NAV Total ReturnsData as of 7/31/26
| 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |
| DFALX Return (NAV) | 12.4% | 33.9% | 4.6% | 17.9% | -13.0% | 12.8% | 8.1% | 22.0% | -14.1% | 25.4% | 3.2% |
| DFALX Grade | C | B | C | B | A | A | D | C | B | C | B |
| +/- Category | 0.8% | 3.4% | -0.3% | 1.6% | 3.4% | 2.7% | -3.7% | -0.9% | 1.1% | -1.0% | 2.2% |
| Foreign Large Blend Avg | 11.6% | 30.5% | 4.9% | 16.2% | -16.4% | 10.2% | 11.8% | 22.9% | -15.2% | 26.4% | 1.0% |
| Risk Measures | |
| Standard Deviation: | 12.5% |
| Total Risk Index: | 1.02 - Average |
| Category Risk Index: | 0.96 - Below Average |
| Category Risk Grade: | B (29% Rank) |
| Beta: | 0.84 |
| R-Squared: | 87% |
| Leveraged Fund: | No |
| Inverse Fund: | No |
| Portfolio Characteristics | |
| Equity Investment Style: | Large-Cap Blend |
| Bond Investment Style: | na |
| Yield: | 2.8% |
| Dividend Distribution: | Quarterly |
| Cap Gains Distribution: | Annually |
| Total Assets: | $8901 Mil |
| Fund Total Assets: | $8,901 Mil |
| Share Class Type: | Inst |
| Portfolio Turnover: | 8% |
Management Team
| Number of Managers: 3 | |||
| Longest Tenure: 16.4 years | |||
| Average Tenure: 8.1 years | |||
| Managers (Year): Fogdall Jed (2010), Schneider Joel (2020), McAndrews Brendan (2025) | |||
Portfolio Composition (as of 5/31/26)
| # of Holdings: | 1134 |
| % in Top 10 Holdings: | 13.9% |
| Fund is Non-Diversified: | No |
| % in Foreign Issues: | 92.0% |
Portfolio Allocation |
|
| Domestic Stock: | 1.8% |
| Foreign Stock: | 92.0% |
| Preferred Stock: | 0.0% |
| Domestic Bond: | 0.0% |
| Foreign Bond: | 0.0% |
| Convertible Bond: | 0.0% |
| Other: | 0.0% |
| Cash: | 6.2% |
Purchase Information
| Fund Family: | Dimensional Fund Advisors |
| Phone Number: | 888-576-1167 |
| Website: | www.dimensional.com |
| Status: | Open |
| Inception Date: | July 17, 1991 |
| Min. Initial Purchase: | $ 0 |
| Min. Initial IRA Purchase: | $ 0 |
| True No-Load: | Yes |
| Front Load Maximum: | 0.00% |
| Deferred Charge Maximum: | 0.00% |
| Redemption Charge Maximum: | 0.00% |
| 12b-1 Fee: | na |
Expenses and Fees | |
| Expense Ratio (%): | 0.18% ( Rating : Low ) |
| Category Average Expense Ratio (%): | 0.94% |
| Share Class: | DFA Large Cap International I |
| Min. Subsequent Purchase: | $ 0 |
| Min. Subsequent IRA Purchase: | $ 0 |
