FlexShares Quality Dividend Defensive Index Fund (QDEF) belongs to the Quality Factor 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 30 ETFs in the Quality Factor category with lower expense ratios, going as low as 0.12%.
| Symbol | Name | Expense Ratio | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPMorgan U.S. Quality Factor ETF | 0.12% | 8.22B | Nov 2017 | QDEF vs JQUA | |
| Vanguard U.S. Quality Factor ETF | 0.13% | 473.70M | Feb 2018 | QDEF vs VFQY | |
| iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF | 0.15% | 46.53B | Jul 2013 | QDEF vs QUAL | |
| iShares MSCI USA Quality GARP ETF | 0.15% | 2.63B | Jan 2020 | QDEF vs GARP | |
| Invesco S&P 500 Quality ETF | 0.15% | 19.45B | Dec 2005 | QDEF vs SPHQ |
Best Risk-Adjusted Alternatives to QDEF
QDEF has a PortfoliosLab risk / return rank of 85. There are 5 ETFs in the Quality Factor category with higher risk-adjusted ranks, going as high as 90.
| Symbol | Name | Risk / Return Rank | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xtrackers Russell 1000 US Quality at a Reasonable ... | 90 | 76.03M | Apr 2018 | QDEF vs QARP | |
| Astoria US Equal Weight Quality Kings ETF | 88 | 164.26M | Jul 2023 | QDEF vs ROE | |
| SRH U.S. Quality ETF | 87 | 170.62M | Oct 2022 | QDEF vs SRHQ | |
| Natixis Gateway Quality Income ETF | 86 | 173.80M | Dec 2023 | QDEF vs GQI | |
| Royce Quant Small-Cap Quality Value ETF | 86 | 29.20M | Jul 2017 | QDEF vs SQLV |
Top Performing QDEF Alternatives (YTD)
QDEF is at 10.48% YTD. There are 35 ETFs in the Quality Factor category with higher YTD returns, going as high as 26.27%.
| Symbol | Name | YTD Return | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Invesco S&P International Developed High Quality E... | 26.27% | 939.30M | Jun 2007 | QDEF vs IDHQ | |
| Royce Quant Small-Cap Quality Value ETF | 23.57% | 29.20M | Jul 2017 | QDEF vs SQLV | |
| WisdomTree Emerging Markets Quality Dividend Growt... | 22.89% | 141.38M | Aug 2013 | QDEF vs DGRE | |
| iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Quality Factor ETF | 22.86% | 11.86M | Sep 2024 | QDEF vs EQLT | |
| WisdomTree U.S. SmallCap Quality Dividend Growth F... | 21.67% | 405.81M | Jul 2013 | QDEF vs DGRS |
Lowest Volatility Alternatives to QDEF
QDEF has 9.85% 1-year volatility. There is 1 ETF in the Quality Factor category with lower 1-year volatility, going as low as 7.88%.
| Symbol | Name | Volatility 1Y | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FlexShares US Quality Low Volatility Index Fund | 7.88% | 163.65M | Jul 2019 | QDEF vs QLV | |
| Natixis Gateway Quality Income ETF | 9.99% | 173.80M | Dec 2023 | QDEF vs GQI | |
| OShares U.S. Quality Dividend ETF | 10.27% | 747.95M | Jul 2015 | QDEF vs OUSA | |
| WisdomTree U.S. Quality Dividend Growth Fund | 10.44% | 16.52B | May 2013 | QDEF vs DGRW | |
| FlexShares Developed Markets ex-US Quality Low Vol... | 10.60% | 54.80M | Jul 2019 | QDEF vs QLVD |
Lowest Drawdown Alternatives to QDEF
QDEF has a 1-year max drawdown of -6.95%. There are 3 ETFs in the Quality Factor category with shallower 1-year drawdowns, going as shallow as -6.19%.
| Symbol | Name | Max Drawdown 1Y | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FlexShares US Quality Low Volatility Index Fund | -6.19% | 163.65M | Jul 2019 | QDEF vs QLV | |
| SRH U.S. Quality ETF | -6.31% | 170.62M | Oct 2022 | QDEF vs SRHQ | |
| Indexperts Quality Earnings Focused ETF | -6.92% | 34.97M | Dec 2024 | QDEF vs QIDX | |
| Natixis Gateway Quality Income ETF | -6.96% | 173.80M | Dec 2023 | QDEF vs GQI | |
| JPMorgan U.S. Quality Factor ETF | -7.13% | 8.22B | Nov 2017 | QDEF vs JQUA |
Other ETFs from FlexShares
The 7 most viewed FlexShares ETFs shown here include NFRA, QDF, RAVI and span 10 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... | Infrastructure Equities, Utilities Equities | 55 | 8.91% | 3.00B | Oct 2013 | QDEF vs NFRA | |
| FlexShares Quality Dividend Index Fund | Quality Factor, Large Cap Value Equities, Dividend | 83 | 12.96% | 2.21B | Dec 2012 | QDEF vs QDF | |
| FlexShares Ultra-Short Income ETF | Ultrashort Bond | 99 | 2.16% | 1.49B | Oct 2012 | QDEF vs RAVI | |
| FlexShares ESG & Climate Developed Markets ex-US C... | Foreign Large Cap Equities | 58 | 11.05% | 79.10M | Sep 2021 | QDEF vs FEDM | |
| FlexShares Morningstar US Market Factor Tilt Index... | Large Cap Blend Equities | 78 | 11.94% | 2.18B | Sep 2011 | QDEF vs TILT | |
| FlexShares ESG & Climate US Large Cap Core Index F... | Large Cap Blend Equities | 63 | 10.07% | 111.98M | Sep 2021 | QDEF vs FEUS | |
| FlexShares ESG & Climate Investment Grade Corporat... | Corporate Bonds, Investment Grade Bonds | 23 | -1.05% | 47.97M | Sep 2021 | QDEF vs FEIG |
Often Compared With QDEF
Investors most often compare QDEF with SCHD, ^SP500TR, QDIV. These 20 comparison targets span 10 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