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 a closer substitute for your current allocation.
Cheapest Alternatives to QUAL
QUAL charges 0.15% annually. There are 26 ETFs in the Large Cap Blend Equities category with lower expense ratios, going as low as 0.03%.
| Symbol | Name | Expense Ratio | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SPDR Portfolio S&P 1500 Composite Stock Market ETF | 0.03% | 13.61B | Oct 2000 | QUAL vs SPTM | |
| iShares Core S&P Total U.S. Stock Market ETF | 0.03% | 93.42B | Jan 2004 | QUAL vs ITOT | |
| Schwab U.S. Large-Cap ETF | 0.03% | 72.63B | Nov 2009 | QUAL vs SCHX | |
| Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF | 0.03% | 2.20T | May 2001 | QUAL vs VTI | |
| Schwab U.S. Broad Market ETF | 0.03% | 43.31B | Nov 2009 | QUAL vs SCHB |
Best Risk-Adjusted Alternatives to QUAL
QUAL has a PortfoliosLab risk / return rank of 53. There are 129 ETFs in the Large Cap Blend Equities category with higher risk-adjusted ranks, going as high as 93.
| Symbol | Name | Risk / Return Rank | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Return Stacked US Stocks & Futures Yield ETF | 93 | — | May 2024 | QUAL vs RSSY | |
| Invesco RAFI Strategic US ETF | 91 | 860.84M | Sep 2018 | QUAL vs IUS | |
| Blackrock Large Cap Core ETF | 87 | 6.04B | Oct 2023 | QUAL vs BLCR | |
| Mohr Company Nav ETF | 87 | — | Sep 2024 | QUAL vs CNAV | |
| Pacer Swan SOS Conservative (December) ETF | 85 | 47.28M | Dec 2020 | QUAL vs PSCX |
Top Performing QUAL Alternatives (YTD)
QUAL is at 8.80% YTD. There are 148 ETFs in the Large Cap Blend Equities category with higher YTD returns, going as high as 47.92%.
| Symbol | Name | YTD Return | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aztlan North America Nearshoring Stock Selection E... | 47.92% | 20.80M | Nov 2023 | QUAL vs NRSH | |
| Mohr Company Nav ETF | 47.26% | — | Sep 2024 | QUAL vs CNAV | |
| Return Stacked US Stocks & Futures Yield ETF | 32.45% | — | May 2024 | QUAL vs RSSY | |
| ARS Focused Opportunities Strategy ETF | 32.04% | 194.17M | Jun 2025 | QUAL vs AFOS | |
| iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF | 31.75% | 26.66B | Apr 2013 | QUAL vs MTUM |
Lowest Volatility Alternatives to QUAL
QUAL has 11.83% 1-year volatility. There are 78 ETFs in the Large Cap Blend Equities category with lower 1-year volatility, going as low as 2.37%.
| Symbol | Name | Volatility 1Y | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FT Vest Laddered Max Buffer ETF | 2.37% | — | Jun 2025 | QUAL vs BUFH | |
| FT Vest Laddered Enhance & Moderate Buffer ETF | 3.98% | — | Jun 2025 | QUAL vs BUFX | |
| Innovator U.S. Equity Ultra Buffer ETF - June | 4.25% | 78.22M | Jun 2019 | QUAL vs UJUN | |
| FT Cboe Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - May | 4.73% | 354.49M | May 2020 | QUAL vs DMAY | |
| FT Cboe Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - June | 5.04% | 320.45M | Jun 2020 | QUAL vs DJUN |
Lowest Drawdown Alternatives to QUAL
QUAL has a 1-year max drawdown of -9.03%. There are 102 ETFs in the Large Cap Blend Equities category with shallower 1-year drawdowns, going as shallow as -2.84%.
| Symbol | Name | Max Drawdown 1Y | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Innovator U.S. Equity Ultra Buffer ETF - June | -2.84% | 78.22M | Jun 2019 | QUAL vs UJUN | |
| Calvert US Select Equity ETF | -3.08% | 25.16M | Jan 2023 | QUAL vs CVSE | |
| FT Cboe Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - June | -3.15% | 320.45M | Jun 2020 | QUAL vs DJUN | |
| FT Cboe Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - May | -3.36% | 354.49M | May 2020 | QUAL vs DMAY | |
| Siren DIVCON Dividend Defender ETF | -3.44% | 8.98M | Jan 2016 | QUAL vs DFND |
Other ETFs from iShares
The 10 most viewed iShares ETFs shown here include SGOV, IBIT, IVV and span 14 categories. AUM among these funds goes as high as $855B.
| Symbol | Name | Category | Risk / Return Rank | YTD Return | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF | Ultrashort Bond | 100 | 1.51% | 91.90B | May 2020 | QUAL vs SGOV | |
| iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF | Cryptocurrency | 2 | -25.48% | 58.12B | Jan 2024 | QUAL vs IBIT | |
| iShares Core S&P 500 ETF | S&P 500 | 70 | 10.85% | 854.92B | May 2000 | QUAL vs IVV | |
| iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF | Government Bonds, Long-Term Bond | 16 | -0.27% | 42.90B | Jul 2002 | QUAL vs TLT | |
| iShares Semiconductor ETF | Semiconductors, Technology Equities | 97 | 104.57% | 38.37B | Jul 2001 | QUAL vs SOXX | |
| iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF | Large Cap Growth Equities, Dividend | 71 | 8.76% | 40.46B | Jun 2014 | QUAL vs DGRO | |
| iShares Silver Trust | Silver, Precious Metals | 47 | 2.78% | 36.82B | Apr 2006 | QUAL vs SLV | |
| iShares Gold Trust | Gold, Precious Metals | 32 | 2.98% | 69.92B | Jan 2005 | QUAL vs IAU | |
| iShares Russell 2000 ETF | Small Cap Blend Equities | 62 | 17.07% | 80.93B | May 2000 | QUAL vs IWM | |
| iShares MSCI ACWI ETF | Global Equities | 66 | 12.13% | 32.93B | Mar 2008 | QUAL vs ACWI |
Often Compared With QUAL
Investors most often compare QUAL with SPHQ, SPY, USMV. These 20 comparison targets span 7 categories, 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.
Pair QUAL with funds that move differently
iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF alternatives help with substitution. Diversifiers are the next step when you want funds with lower historical correlation to QUAL.
Explore QUAL Diversifiers