The takeaway
Dimensional International Core Equity Market ETF shows a moderate seasonal pattern over 6 years of data — strongest in November (+2.7%) and softest in September (−1.8%).
Right now
In July, the fund has risen 80% of years, averaging +2.0% — essentially in line with the S&P 500.
The full picture
Dimensional International Core Equity Market ETF's most dependable month has been November, higher in 5 of 6 years; September has been its least reliable, up just 40% of the time.
| Year | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
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| Median return % | ||||||||||||
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| 2020 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Month by month
The fund's clearest edge over the S&P 500 lands in January (+1.9 pts); it has trailed the market most in April (−2.2 pts).
“vs S&P” is Dimensional International Core Equity Market ETF’s average for a month minus the S&P 500’s average for that same month — isolating Dimensional International Core Equity Market ETF’s own seasonal edge from broad market drift.
Reality check
Over the last 5 years, November has closed higher 80% of the time versus 83% across the last 6 years — the pattern is holding.
Figures are the typical (median) November return and how often it rose — the last 5 years versus the last 6(the heatmap’s default window). This verdict stays anchored to that 6-year window even if you zoom the chart, so it never disagrees with the badges above.
In plain English
This is a fund you can almost set a calendar by, and November is the anchor — it has closed higher in 5 of 6 Novembers, the steadiest beat on its year.
A typical November brings +1.6%, a shade under the +2.7% average. Set against the S&P 500, mind, November is close to a wash — the gain mirrors the market more than it beats it. Few peers keep such company in November — the typical stock clears it just 62% of the time.
November anchors a run, too: the October-through-May window has been the fund's reliable season. The weaker half of the year is plainer: September has been the soft spot — the weakest of 3 months that average a loss (−1.8%), and the edge isn't year-round — the fund has trailed the S&P 500 in April, June, and September.
Reassuringly, the tendency has held its shape: the recent five years still track the years behind them.
For a fund this dependable in November, the sharper question is the rest of the year — outside its strong stretch, the calendar gives far less to lean on. With a short 6-year record, the signal is best held loosely.
Short answers on the fund's best month (November), its worst (September), and whether it really trades seasonally.
Yes, to a moderate degree. Since 2020 its best month (November, +2.7%) has run well ahead of its worst (September, −1.8%) — the heatmap above shows how steady that gap has been year to year.
November has been the strongest, averaging +2.7% and closing higher in 5 of 6 years since 2020.
It's the weakest, averaging −1.8% — historically a soft spot, though it still varies from year to year.
Explore
These names have the strongest July track records on record — a starting point for comparison.
Before you trade