FLOT vs. QLC
FLOT (iShares Floating Rate Bond ETF) and QLC (FlexShares US Quality Large Cap Index Fund) are both exchange-traded funds - FLOT is a Ultrashort Bond fund tracking the Bloomberg US Floating Rate Note < 5 Years Index, while QLC is a Large Cap Blend Equities fund tracking the Northern Trust Quality Large Cap Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, FLOT returned 3.03%/yr vs 15.08%/yr for QLC. At a 0.19 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. FLOT charges 0.15%/yr vs 0.25%/yr for QLC.
Performance
FLOT vs. QLC - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, FLOT achieves a 1.99% return, which is significantly lower than QLC's 11.97% return. Over the past 10 years, FLOT has underperformed QLC with an annualized return of 3.03%, while QLC has yielded a comparatively higher 15.08% annualized return.
FLOT
- 1D
- 0.00%
- 1M
- 0.43%
- YTD
- 1.99%
- 6M
- 2.21%
- 1Y
- 4.87%
- 3Y*
- 5.60%
- 5Y*
- 4.22%
- 10Y*
- 3.03%
QLC
- 1D
- 1.63%
- 1M
- 3.02%
- YTD
- 11.97%
- 6M
- 12.35%
- 1Y
- 33.81%
- 3Y*
- 24.25%
- 5Y*
- 15.50%
- 10Y*
- 15.08%
FLOT vs. QLC - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FLOT iShares Floating Rate Bond ETF | 1.99% | 4.91% | 6.53% | 6.43% | 1.28% | 0.45% | 0.87% | 3.97% | 1.48% | 1.65% |
QLC FlexShares US Quality Large Cap Index Fund | 11.97% | 23.26% | 26.71% | 26.02% | -17.21% | 28.46% | 13.64% | 24.51% | -8.12% | 21.73% |
Correlation
The correlation between FLOT and QLC is 0.33, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.33 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.31 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.30 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.20 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Sep 24, 2015 | 0.19 |
The correlation between FLOT and QLC shifts across timeframes, from 0.19 (all time) to 0.33 (1 year), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
FLOT vs. QLC — Risk / Return Rank
FLOT
QLC
FLOT vs. QLC - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Floating Rate Bond ETF (FLOT) and FlexShares US Quality Large Cap Index Fund (QLC). 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.
| FLOT | QLC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +3.92 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +8.26 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 3.23 | 1.47 | +1.76 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 11.32 | 3.84 | +7.48 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 105.27 | 17.56 | +87.71 |
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Drawdowns
FLOT vs. QLC - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum FLOT drawdown since its inception was -13.54%, smaller than the maximum QLC drawdown of -35.86%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for FLOT and QLC.
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Drawdown Indicators
| FLOT | QLC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -13.54% | -35.86% | +22.32% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -0.43% | -8.84% | +8.41% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -1.57% | -18.49% | +16.92% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -2.36% | -23.81% | +21.45% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -13.54% | -35.86% | +22.32% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | 0.00% | -0.22% | +0.22% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -0.21% | -4.53% | +4.32% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.05% | 1.93% | -1.88% |
Volatility
FLOT vs. QLC - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for iShares Floating Rate Bond ETF (FLOT) is 0.21%, while FlexShares US Quality Large Cap Index Fund (QLC) has a volatility of 4.70%. This indicates that FLOT experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than QLC based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| FLOT | QLC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 0.21% | 4.70% | -4.49% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 0.63% | 10.29% | -9.66% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.75% | 12.90% | -12.15% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 1.77% | 16.92% | -15.15% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 4.15% | 18.46% | -14.31% |
FLOT vs. QLC - Expense Ratio Comparison
FLOT has a 0.15% expense ratio, which is lower than QLC's 0.25% expense ratio. Despite the difference, both funds are considered low-cost compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios usually range from 0.3% to 0.9%.
Dividends
FLOT vs. QLC - Dividend Comparison
FLOT's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.53%, more than QLC's 0.87% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FLOT iShares Floating Rate Bond ETF | 4.53% | 4.84% | 5.82% | 5.66% | 2.06% | 0.43% | 1.25% | 2.78% | 2.41% | 1.46% | 0.97% | 0.53% |
QLC FlexShares US Quality Large Cap Index Fund | 0.87% | 0.94% | 1.03% | 1.26% | 1.46% | 0.96% | 1.40% | 1.91% | 1.82% | 1.29% | 1.80% | 0.64% |
Frequently Asked Questions
FLOT and QLC have a correlation of 0.33, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
QLC has higher volatility (4.70%) compared to FLOT (0.21%). In terms of maximum drawdown, FLOT dropped -13.54% vs QLC's -35.86%.
On 10-year performance, QLC leads with 15.08% vs 3.03% for FLOT. On fees, FLOT is cheaper at 0.15% per year. On volatility, FLOT has been the lower-risk option at 0.21%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 10-year period, QLC has performed better with a 15.08% return vs 3.03%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
FLOT is cheaper with a 0.15% expense ratio, compared with 0.25% for QLC.
FLOT has the higher dividend yield at 4.53%, compared with 0.87% for QLC.
FLOT is categorized as Ultrashort Bond, while QLC is Large Cap Blend Equities. FLOT tracks Bloomberg US Floating Rate Note < 5 Years Index, while QLC tracks Northern Trust Quality Large Cap Index. They also come from different issuers: iShares and Northern Trust. Their fees differ too: 0.15% for FLOT and 0.25% for QLC.
FLOT currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (6.56 vs 2.64), 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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