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EEMV vs. QUAL
Performance
Return for Risk
Drawdowns
Volatility
Dividends

EEMV vs. QUAL

Last updated Jun 16, 2026

EEMV (iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Min Vol Factor ETF) and QUAL (iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - EEMV is a Asia Pacific Equities fund tracking the MSCI Emerging Markets Minimum Volatility Index, while QUAL is a Large Cap Blend Equities fund tracking the MSCI USA Sector Neutral Quality Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, EEMV returned 7.04%/yr vs 14.62%/yr for QUAL. A 0.64 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. EEMV charges 0.25%/yr vs 0.15%/yr for QUAL.

Performance

EEMV vs. QUAL - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Min Vol Factor ETF (EEMV) and iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF (QUAL). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

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Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, EEMV achieves a 20.09% return, which is significantly higher than QUAL's 10.79% return. Over the past 10 years, EEMV has underperformed QUAL with an annualized return of 7.04%, while QUAL has yielded a comparatively higher 14.62% annualized return.

EEMV

1D
2.55%
1M
7.71%
YTD
20.09%
6M
21.21%
1Y
27.78%
3Y*
14.32%
5Y*
6.38%
10Y*
7.04%

QUAL

1D
1.24%
1M
4.34%
YTD
10.79%
6M
10.54%
1Y
24.39%
3Y*
19.23%
5Y*
12.44%
10Y*
14.62%
*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

EEMV vs. QUAL - Yearly Performance Comparison

2026 (YTD)202520242023202220212020201920182017
EEMV
iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Min Vol Factor ETF		20.09%13.45%7.98%7.75%-13.94%5.05%6.90%7.83%-5.81%27.28%
QUAL
iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF		10.79%12.65%22.29%30.88%-20.50%26.94%17.04%33.89%-5.70%22.26%

Correlation

The correlation between EEMV and QUAL is 0.70, which is moderate. They share some common price drivers but move independently often enough to provide real diversification benefit when combined.

Correlation
Correlation (1Y)
Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

0.70

Correlation (3Y)
Calculated over the trailing 3-year period

0.59

Correlation (5Y)
Calculated over the trailing 5-year period

0.60

Correlation (10Y)
Calculated over the trailing 10-year period

0.63

Correlation (All Time)
Calculated using the full available price history since Jul 18, 2013

0.64

The correlation between EEMV and QUAL shifts across timeframes, from 0.59 (3 years) to 0.70 (1 year), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.

EEMV vs. QUAL - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors
EEMV
QUAL

Technology

36.5%
38.8%

Financial Services

18.0%
10.8%

Communication Services

10.1%
11.8%

Industrials

6.6%
7.2%

Consumer Cyclical

6.2%
9.3%

Consumer Defensive

5.6%
4.4%

Healthcare

5.4%
8.7%

Utilities

4.4%
2.1%

Energy

3.6%
3.2%

Basic Materials

2.9%
1.9%

Real Estate

0.6%
1.8%

Technology

EEMV
36.5%
QUAL
38.8%

Financial Services

EEMV
18.0%
QUAL
10.8%

Communication Services

EEMV
10.1%
QUAL
11.8%

Industrials

EEMV
6.6%
QUAL
7.2%

Consumer Cyclical

EEMV
6.2%
QUAL
9.3%

Consumer Defensive

EEMV
5.6%
QUAL
4.4%

Healthcare

EEMV
5.4%
QUAL
8.7%

Utilities

EEMV
4.4%
QUAL
2.1%

Energy

EEMV
3.6%
QUAL
3.2%

Basic Materials

EEMV
2.9%
QUAL
1.9%

Real Estate

EEMV
0.6%
QUAL
1.8%

Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs

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iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Min Vol Factor ETF

iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF

Often compared with EEMV:
EEMV vs. EEMEEMV vs. IEMGEEMV vs. SPYEEMV vs. EFAVEEMV vs. MCHIEEMV vs. USMVEEMV vs. SPEM
Often compared with QUAL:
QUAL vs. SPHQQUAL vs. SPYQUAL vs. MTUMQUAL vs. USMVQUAL vs. VOOQUAL vs. IVVQUAL vs. SCHD

Return for Risk

EEMV vs. QUAL — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.
EEMV
EEMV Risk / Return Rank: 6666
Overall Rank
EEMV Sharpe Ratio Rank: 6363
Sharpe Ratio Rank
EEMV Sortino Ratio Rank: 6262
Sortino Ratio Rank
EEMV Omega Ratio Rank: 7373
Omega Ratio Rank
EEMV Calmar Ratio Rank: 6666
Calmar Ratio Rank
EEMV Martin Ratio Rank: 6565
Martin Ratio Rank
QUAL
QUAL Risk / Return Rank: 6868
Overall Rank
QUAL Sharpe Ratio Rank: 7070
Sharpe Ratio Rank
QUAL Sortino Ratio Rank: 7171
Sortino Ratio Rank
QUAL Omega Ratio Rank: 6767
Omega Ratio Rank
QUAL Calmar Ratio Rank: 6060
Calmar Ratio Rank
QUAL Martin Ratio Rank: 7373
Martin Ratio Rank
The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

EEMV vs. QUAL - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Min Vol Factor ETF (EEMV) and iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF (QUAL). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.

Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.

EEMVQUALDifference
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility
1.91
2.04

-0.13

Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk
2.64
2.87

-0.23

Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability

1.39

1.36

+0.03

Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown

3.03

2.71

+0.31

Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown

10.90

12.37

-1.48

EEMV vs. QUAL - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current EEMV Sharpe Ratio is 1.91, which is comparable to the QUAL Sharpe Ratio of 2.04. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of EEMV and QUAL, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

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Drawdowns

EEMV vs. QUAL - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum EEMV drawdown since its inception was -31.56%, smaller than the maximum QUAL drawdown of -34.06%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for EEMV and QUAL.

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Drawdown Indicators

EEMVQUALDifference

Max Drawdown

Largest peak-to-trough decline

-31.56%

-34.06%

+2.50%

Max Drawdown (1Y)

Largest decline over 1 year

-9.22%

-9.03%

-0.19%

Max Drawdown (3Y)

Largest decline over 3 years

-12.47%

-18.00%

+5.53%

Max Drawdown (5Y)

Largest decline over 5 years

-21.90%

-28.23%

+6.33%

Max Drawdown (10Y)

Largest decline over 10 years

-31.56%

-34.06%

+2.50%

Current Drawdown

Current decline from peak

0.00%

0.00%

0.00%

Average Drawdown

Average peak-to-trough decline

-7.96%

-4.10%

-3.86%

Ulcer Index

Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks

2.56%

1.98%

+0.58%

Volatility

EEMV vs. QUAL - Volatility Comparison

iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Min Vol Factor ETF (EEMV) has a higher volatility of 8.16% compared to iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF (QUAL) at 3.76%. This indicates that EEMV's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than QUAL based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

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Volatility by Period

EEMVQUALDifference

Volatility (1M)

Calculated over the trailing 1-month period

8.16%

3.76%

+4.40%

Volatility (6M)

Calculated over the trailing 6-month period

13.51%

9.47%

+4.04%

Volatility (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

14.67%

12.06%

+2.61%

Volatility (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized

12.22%

17.38%

-5.16%

Volatility (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized

13.99%

18.12%

-4.13%

EEMV vs. QUAL - Expense Ratio Comparison

EEMV has a 0.25% expense ratio, which is higher than QUAL's 0.15% expense ratio. However, both funds are considered low-cost compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios usually range from 0.3% to 0.9%.

Dividends

EEMV vs. QUAL - Dividend Comparison

EEMV's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.07%, more than QUAL's 1.04% yield.

PositionTTM20252024202320222021202020192018201720162015
EEMV
iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Min Vol Factor ETF		3.07%2.65%3.50%2.75%1.93%2.14%2.45%2.63%2.46%2.34%2.79%2.55%
QUAL
iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF		1.04%0.94%1.02%1.23%1.59%1.20%1.39%1.60%2.00%1.76%1.96%1.63%

Frequently Asked Questions

EEMV and QUAL have a correlation of 0.70, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

EEMV has higher volatility (8.16%) compared to QUAL (3.76%). In terms of maximum drawdown, EEMV dropped -31.56% vs QUAL's -34.06%.

On 10-year performance, QUAL leads with 14.62% vs 7.04% for EEMV. On fees, QUAL is cheaper at 0.15% per year. On volatility, QUAL has been the lower-risk option at 3.76%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Over the 10-year period, QUAL has performed better with a 14.62% return vs 7.04%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

QUAL is cheaper with a 0.15% expense ratio, compared with 0.25% for EEMV.

EEMV has the higher dividend yield at 3.07%, compared with 1.04% for QUAL.

EEMV is categorized as Asia Pacific Equities, while QUAL is Large Cap Blend Equities. EEMV tracks MSCI Emerging Markets Minimum Volatility Index, while QUAL tracks MSCI USA Sector Neutral Quality Index. Their fees differ too: 0.25% for EEMV and 0.15% for QUAL.

QUAL currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.04 vs 1.91), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.

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