FlexShares Quality Dividend Defensive Index Fund (QDEF) belongs to the Large Cap Value Equities category. Below you'll find alternative ETFs from the same category, ranked by key criteria, plus funds that investors commonly compare with QDEF. Use the tables to find lower-cost options, better risk-adjusted returns, or a closer substitute for your current allocation.
Cheapest Alternatives to QDEF
QDEF charges 0.37% annually. There are 64 ETFs in the Large Cap Value Equities category with lower expense ratios, going as low as 0.04%.
| Symbol | Name | Expense Ratio | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 Value ETF | 0.04% | 35.82B | Sep 2000 | QDEF vs SPYV | |
| iShares Morningstar Value ETF | 0.04% | 1.30B | Jun 2004 | QDEF vs ILCV | |
| iShares Core S&P U.S. Value ETF | 0.04% | 27.02B | Jul 2000 | QDEF vs IUSV | |
| Vanguard Value ETF | 0.04% | 245.00B | Jan 2004 | QDEF vs VTV | |
| Schwab U.S. Large-Cap Value ETF | 0.04% | 15.78B | Dec 2009 | QDEF vs SCHV |
Best Risk-Adjusted Alternatives to QDEF
QDEF has a PortfoliosLab risk / return rank of 78. There are 64 ETFs in the Large Cap Value Equities category with higher risk-adjusted ranks, going as high as 96.
| Symbol | Name | Risk / Return Rank | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| iShares MSCI USA Value Factor ETF | 96 | 9.78B | Apr 2013 | QDEF vs VLUE | |
| Invesco Dynamic Large Cap Value ETF | 95 | 1.62B | Mar 2005 | QDEF vs PWV | |
| SEI Enhanced US Large Cap Value Factor ETF | 94 | 956.28M | May 2022 | QDEF vs SEIV | |
| Avantis U.S. Large Cap Value ETF | 93 | 16.76B | Sep 2021 | QDEF vs AVLV | |
| Schwab Fundamental U.S. Large Company Index ETF | 93 | 26.25B | Aug 2013 | QDEF vs FNDX |
Top Performing QDEF Alternatives (YTD)
QDEF is at 9.23% YTD. There are 114 ETFs in the Large Cap Value Equities category with higher YTD returns, going as high as 42.84%.
| Symbol | Name | YTD Return | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| iShares MSCI USA Value Factor ETF | 42.84% | 9.78B | Apr 2013 | QDEF vs VLUE | |
| Clough Select Equity ETF | 24.90% | 56.12M | Nov 2020 | QDEF vs CBSE | |
| Eventide High Dividend ETF | 22.35% | 150.61M | Sep 2024 | QDEF vs ELCV | |
| iShares Core Dividend ETF | 22.13% | 1.59B | Nov 2017 | QDEF vs DIVB | |
| VictoryShares Free Cash Flow ETF | 21.96% | 8.17B | Jun 2023 | QDEF vs VFLO |
Lowest Volatility Alternatives to QDEF
QDEF has 9.75% 1-year volatility. There are 11 ETFs in the Large Cap Value Equities category with lower 1-year volatility, going as low as 4.16%.
| Symbol | Name | Volatility 1Y | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KraneShares Wahed Alternative Income Index ETF | 4.16% | 60.27M | Oct 2025 | QDEF vs KWIN | |
| WisdomTree U.S. LargeCap Dividend Fund | 8.96% | 6.21B | Jun 2006 | QDEF vs DLN | |
| Bahl & Gaynor Income Growth ETF | 8.98% | 342.03M | Sep 2023 | QDEF vs BGIG | |
| Morgan Dempsey Large Cap Value ETF | 9.02% | 32.39M | Apr 2023 | QDEF vs MDLV | |
| Absolute Select Value ETF | 9.11% | 142.20M | Jan 2020 | QDEF vs ABEQ |
Lowest Drawdown Alternatives to QDEF
QDEF has a 1-year max drawdown of -6.95%. There are 63 ETFs in the Large Cap Value Equities category with shallower 1-year drawdowns, going as shallow as -4.05%.
| Symbol | Name | Max Drawdown 1Y | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Invesco Dynamic Large Cap Value ETF | -4.05% | 1.62B | Mar 2005 | QDEF vs PWV | |
| Morgan Dempsey Large Cap Value ETF | -4.27% | 32.39M | Apr 2023 | QDEF vs MDLV | |
| First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fun... | -4.27% | 7.48B | Mar 2006 | QDEF vs FDL | |
| Hartford US Value ETF | -4.93% | 48.88M | Dec 2023 | QDEF vs VMAX | |
| Eventide High Dividend ETF | -5.05% | 150.61M | Sep 2024 | QDEF vs ELCV |
Other ETFs from FlexShares
The 7 most viewed FlexShares ETFs shown here include NFRA, QDF, RAVI and span 7 categories. AUM among these funds goes as high as $3B.
| Symbol | Name | Category | Risk / Return Rank | YTD Return | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FlexShares STOXX Global Broad Infrastructure Index... | Utilities Equities | 46 | 9.36% | 2.99B | Oct 2013 | QDEF vs NFRA | |
| FlexShares Quality Dividend Index Fund | Large Cap Value Equities, Dividend | 77 | 11.99% | 2.21B | Dec 2012 | QDEF vs QDF | |
| FlexShares Ultra-Short Income ETF | Ultrashort Bond | 99 | 1.88% | 1.46B | Oct 2012 | QDEF vs RAVI | |
| FlexShares ESG & Climate Developed Markets ex-US C... | Foreign Large Cap Equities | 37 | 7.39% | 76.94M | Sep 2021 | QDEF vs FEDM | |
| FlexShares Morningstar US Market Factor Tilt Index... | Large Cap Blend Equities | 72 | 11.64% | 2.19B | Sep 2011 | QDEF vs TILT | |
| FlexShares ESG & Climate US Large Cap Core Index F... | Large Cap Blend Equities | 61 | 9.96% | 112.66M | Sep 2021 | QDEF vs FEUS | |
| FlexShares ESG & Climate Investment Grade Corporat... | Corporate Bonds | 28 | -0.45% | 50.44M | Sep 2021 | QDEF vs FEIG |
Often Compared With QDEF
Investors most often compare QDEF with SCHD, DGRW, ^SP500TR. These 20 comparison targets span 9 categories, based on PortfoliosLab usage data.
Compare QDEF with Any Fund or Stock
Compare QDEF with any ETF, mutual fund, or stock using PortfoliosLab's comparison tool.
Pair QDEF with funds that move differently
FlexShares Quality Dividend Defensive Index Fund alternatives help with substitution. Diversifiers are the next step when you want funds with lower historical correlation to QDEF.
Explore QDEF Diversifiers