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 33 ETFs in the Large Cap Blend Equities category with lower expense ratios, going as low as 0.02%.
| Symbol | Name | Expense Ratio | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPMorgan BetaBuilders U.S. Equity ETF | 0.02% | 8.54B | Mar 2019 | QUAL vs BBUS | |
| Global X U.S. 500 ETF | 0.02% | 4.51M | Sep 2025 | QUAL vs GXLC | |
| Franklin U.S. Equity Index ETF | 0.03% | 1.98B | Jun 2016 | QUAL vs USPX | |
| iShares Core S&P Total U.S. Stock Market ETF | 0.03% | 93.53B | Jan 2004 | QUAL vs ITOT | |
| SPDR Portfolio S&P 1500 Composite Stock Market ETF | 0.03% | 13.55B | Oct 2000 | QUAL vs SPTM |
Best Risk-Adjusted Alternatives to QUAL
QUAL has a PortfoliosLab risk / return rank of 53. There are 125 ETFs in the Large Cap Blend Equities category with higher risk-adjusted ranks, going as high as 90.
| Symbol | Name | Risk / Return Rank | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Invesco RAFI Strategic US ETF | 90 | 1.04B | Sep 2018 | QUAL vs IUS | |
| Return Stacked US Stocks & Futures Yield ETF | 90 | — | May 2024 | QUAL vs RSSY | |
| Mohr Company Nav ETF | 84 | — | Sep 2024 | QUAL vs CNAV | |
| Longview Advantage ETF | 84 | 562.31M | Feb 2025 | QUAL vs EBI | |
| Pacer Swan SOS Conservative (December) ETF | 84 | 46.99M | Dec 2020 | QUAL vs PSCX |
Top Performing QUAL Alternatives (YTD)
QUAL is at 7.67% YTD. There are 142 ETFs in the Large Cap Blend Equities category with higher YTD returns, going as high as 46.16%.
| Symbol | Name | YTD Return | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mohr Company Nav ETF | 46.16% | — | Sep 2024 | QUAL vs CNAV | |
| Aztlan North America Nearshoring Stock Selection E... | 43.75% | 33.11M | Nov 2023 | QUAL vs NRSH | |
| iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF | 32.00% | 28.16B | Apr 2013 | QUAL vs MTUM | |
| ARS Focused Opportunities Strategy ETF | 31.60% | 293.98M | Jun 2025 | QUAL vs AFOS | |
| Return Stacked US Stocks & Futures Yield ETF | 29.90% | — | May 2024 | QUAL vs RSSY |
Lowest Volatility Alternatives to QUAL
QUAL has 12.14% 1-year volatility. There are 72 ETFs in the Large Cap Blend Equities category with lower 1-year volatility, going as low as 2.38%.
| Symbol | Name | Volatility 1Y | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FT Vest Laddered Max Buffer ETF | 2.38% | — | Jun 2025 | QUAL vs BUFH | |
| FT Vest Laddered Enhance & Moderate Buffer ETF | 4.05% | — | Jun 2025 | QUAL vs BUFX | |
| FT Cboe Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - June | 4.51% | 457.76M | Jun 2020 | QUAL vs DJUN | |
| Innovator U.S. Equity Ultra Buffer ETF - June | 4.60% | 171.95M | Jun 2019 | QUAL vs UJUN | |
| FT Cboe Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - May | 5.09% | 369.81M | May 2020 | QUAL vs DMAY |
Lowest Drawdown Alternatives to QUAL
QUAL has a 1-year max drawdown of -9.03%. There are 106 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% | 171.95M | Jun 2019 | QUAL vs UJUN | |
| FT Cboe Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - June | -3.15% | 457.76M | Jun 2020 | QUAL vs DJUN | |
| FT Cboe Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - May | -3.36% | 369.81M | May 2020 | QUAL vs DMAY | |
| Bridges Capital Tactical ETF | -4.03% | 42.09M | May 2023 | QUAL vs BDGS | |
| FT Cboe Vest U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - June | -4.13% | 1.89B | Jun 2020 | QUAL vs FJUN |
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 $838B.
| Symbol | Name | Category | Risk / Return Rank | YTD Return | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF | Ultrashort Bond | 100 | 1.71% | 95.28B | May 2020 | QUAL vs SGOV | |
| iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF | Cryptocurrency | 2 | -28.88% | 48.04B | Jan 2024 | QUAL vs IBIT | |
| iShares Core S&P 500 ETF | S&P 500 | 59 | 8.20% | 837.93B | May 2000 | QUAL vs IVV | |
| iShares Semiconductor ETF | Semiconductors, Technology Equities | 95 | 100.58% | 46.67B | Jul 2001 | QUAL vs SOXX | |
| iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF | Government Bonds, Long-Term Bond | 14 | 0.77% | 41.34B | Jul 2002 | QUAL vs TLT | |
| iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF | Large Cap Growth Equities, Dividend | 75 | 9.19% | 41.89B | Jun 2014 | QUAL vs DGRO | |
| iShares Silver Trust | Silver, Precious Metals | 31 | -13.49% | 32.53B | Apr 2006 | QUAL vs SLV | |
| iShares Gold Trust | Gold, Precious Metals | 22 | -4.73% | 64.29B | Jan 2005 | QUAL vs IAU | |
| iShares Russell 2000 ETF | Small Cap Blend Equities | 67 | 20.47% | 81.35B | May 2000 | QUAL vs IWM | |
| iShares MSCI ACWI ETF | Global Equities | 58 | 9.86% | 32.95B | Mar 2008 | QUAL vs ACWI |
Often Compared With QUAL
Investors most often compare QUAL with SPHQ, SPY, USMV. These 20 comparison targets span 6 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