iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF (QUAL) Alternatives
iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF (QUAL) belongs to the Large Cap Blend Equities category. Below you'll find alternative ETFs from the same category, ranked by key criteria, plus funds that investors commonly compare with QUAL. Use the tables to find lower-cost options, better risk-adjusted returns, or funds that fit a different role in your portfolio.
Cheapest Alternatives to QUAL
QUAL charges 0.15% annually. Among ETFs in the Large Cap Blend Equities category, these options have the lowest expense ratios among QUAL alternatives.
| Symbol | Name | Expense Ratio | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin U.S. Equity Index ETF | 0.03% | Jun 1, 2016 | QUAL vs USPX | |
| SPDR Portfolio S&P 1500 Composite Stock Market ETF | 0.03% | Oct 4, 2000 | QUAL vs SPTM | |
| Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF | 0.03% | Jun 27, 2016 | QUAL vs VTI | |
| Schwab U.S. Large-Cap ETF | 0.03% | Nov 3, 2009 | QUAL vs SCHX | |
| Vanguard Mega Cap ETF | 0.05% | Dec 17, 2007 | QUAL vs MGC |
Best Risk-Adjusted Alternatives to QUAL
Among ETFs in the Large Cap Blend Equities category, these options rank highest on PortfoliosLab's risk-adjusted score, which accounts for volatility, drawdown, and return consistency over a 1-year period.
| Symbol | Name | Risk / Return Rank | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strategas Macro Thematic Opportunities ETF | 90 | Jan 25, 2022 | QUAL vs SAMT | |
| Blackrock Large Cap Core ETF | 86 | Oct 24, 2023 | QUAL vs BLCR | |
| THOR Equal Weight Low Volatility ETF | 86 | Sep 12, 2022 | QUAL vs THLV | |
| FT Cboe Vest Nasdaq-100 Buffer ETF - March | 84 | Mar 19, 2021 | QUAL vs QMAR | |
| WealthTrust DBS Long Term Growth ETF | 83 | Dec 6, 2021 | QUAL vs WLTG |
Top Performing QUAL Alternatives (YTD)
QUAL alternatives from the Large Cap Blend Equities category, sorted by year-to-date return.
| Symbol | Name | YTD Return | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Trust Bloomberg Inflation Sensitive Equity E... | 19.07% | Mar 13, 2023 | QUAL vs FTIF | |
| Return Stacked US Stocks & Futures Yield ETF | 16.06% | May 28, 2024 | QUAL vs RSSY | |
| First Trust Indxx Global Agriculture ETF | 12.78% | Mar 12, 2010 | QUAL vs FTAG | |
| iShares Texas Equity ETF | 11.72% | Jun 23, 2025 | QUAL vs TEXN | |
| Avantis Inflation Focused Equity ETF | 10.59% | Sep 27, 2022 | QUAL vs AVIE |
Lowest Volatility Alternatives to QUAL
QUAL alternatives from the Large Cap Blend Equities category, sorted by annualized volatility over the past year.
| Symbol | Name | Volatility 1Y | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Innovator U.S. Equity Ultra Buffer ETF - November | 8.51% | Nov 1, 2019 | QUAL vs UNOV | |
| Pacer Swan SOS Conservative (December) ETF | 8.83% | Dec 22, 2020 | QUAL vs PSCX | |
| Azoria 500 Meritocracy ETF | 9.34% | Jul 7, 2025 | QUAL vs SPXM | |
| Pacer Swan SOS Moderate (December) ETF | 10.09% | Dec 22, 2020 | QUAL vs PSMD | |
| FT Cboe Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - June | 10.23% | Jun 19, 2020 | QUAL vs DJUN |
Lowest Drawdown Alternatives to QUAL
QUAL alternatives from the Large Cap Blend Equities category, sorted by maximum drawdown over the past year.
| Symbol | Name | Max Drawdown 1Y | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bridges Capital Tactical ETF | -4.03% | May 10, 2023 | QUAL vs BDGS | |
| Innovator U.S. Equity Ultra Buffer ETF - November | -5.78% | Nov 1, 2019 | QUAL vs UNOV | |
| Pacer Swan SOS Conservative (December) ETF | -6.15% | Dec 22, 2020 | QUAL vs PSCX | |
| THOR Equal Weight Low Volatility ETF | -6.66% | Sep 12, 2022 | QUAL vs THLV | |
| FT Cboe Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - June | -7.33% | Jun 19, 2020 | QUAL vs DJUN |
Other ETFs from iShares
Most popular iShares ETFs on PortfoliosLab, across asset classes.
| Symbol | Name | Category | Risk / Return Rank | YTD Return | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF | Ultrashort Bond | 100 | 0.92% | May 26, 2020 | QUAL vs SGOV | |
| iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF | Cryptocurrency | 5 | -23.52% | Jan 5, 2024 | QUAL vs IBIT | |
| iShares Core S&P 500 ETF | S&P 500 | 54 | -3.54% | May 15, 2000 | QUAL vs IVV | |
| iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF | Government Bonds, Long-Term Bond | 10 | 0.69% | Jul 22, 2002 | QUAL vs TLT | |
| iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF | Large Cap Growth Equities, Dividend | 58 | 1.76% | Jun 10, 2014 | QUAL vs DGRO | |
| iShares Silver Trust | Precious Metals | 81 | 2.13% | Apr 21, 2006 | QUAL vs SLV | |
| iShares Semiconductor ETF | Semiconductors, Technology Equities | 91 | 12.84% | Jul 10, 2001 | QUAL vs SOXX | |
| iShares Gold Trust | Gold, Precious Metals | 80 | 8.34% | Jan 21, 2005 | QUAL vs IAU | |
| iShares Russell 2000 ETF | Small Cap Blend Equities | 60 | 2.27% | May 22, 2000 | QUAL vs IWM | |
| iShares MSCI ACWI ETF | Large Cap Growth Equities | 65 | -1.45% | Mar 26, 2008 | QUAL vs ACWI |
Often Compared With QUAL
What investors most often compare with QUAL, based on PortfoliosLab usage data.
Compare QUAL with Any Fund or Stock
Compare QUAL with any ETF, mutual fund, or stock using PortfoliosLab's comparison tool.