GQRE vs. QLC

Last updated Apr 2, 2026

Compare and contrast key facts about FlexShares Global Quality Real Estate Index Fund (GQRE) and FlexShares US Quality Large Cap Index Fund (QLC).

GQRE and QLC are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. GQRE is a passively managed fund by Northern Trust that tracks the performance of the Northern Trust Global Quality Real Estate (NR). It was launched on Nov 6, 2013. QLC is a passively managed fund by Northern Trust that tracks the performance of the Northern Trust Quality Large Cap Index. It was launched on Sep 24, 2015. Both GQRE and QLC are passive ETFs, meaning that they are not actively managed but aim to replicate the performance of the underlying index as closely as possible.

Performance

GQRE vs. QLC - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in FlexShares Global Quality Real Estate Index Fund (GQRE) and FlexShares US Quality Large Cap Index Fund (QLC). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

GQRE vs. QLC - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
GQRE FlexShares Global Quality Real Estate Index Fund	2.77%	8.27%	6.09%	9.21%	-27.22%	32.01%	-9.17%	21.84%	-8.88%	13.60%
QLC FlexShares US Quality Large Cap Index Fund	-2.48%	23.26%	26.71%	26.02%	-17.21%	28.46%	13.64%	24.51%	-8.12%	21.73%

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, GQRE achieves a 2.77% return, which is significantly higher than QLC's -2.48% return. Over the past 10 years, GQRE has underperformed QLC with an annualized return of 3.46%, while QLC has yielded a comparatively higher 13.39% annualized return.

GQRE

• 1D: 1.11%
• 1M: -6.92%
• YTD: 2.77%
• 6M: 1.77%
• 1Y: 8.97%
• 3Y*: 8.46%
• 5Y*: 2.96%
• 10Y*: 3.46%

QLC

• 1D: 0.87%
• 1M: -3.84%
• YTD: -2.48%
• 6M: 1.47%
• 1Y: 24.41%
• 3Y*: 21.52%
• 5Y*: 13.73%
• 10Y*: 13.39%

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

GQRE vs. QLC - Expense Ratio Comparison

GQRE has a 0.45% expense ratio, which is higher than QLC's 0.32% expense ratio.

GQRE

FlexShares Global Quality Real Estate Index Fund

QLC

FlexShares US Quality Large Cap Index Fund

Return for Risk

GQRE vs. QLC — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.

GQRE

GQRE Risk / Return Rank: 31
GQRE Sharpe Ratio Rank: 31
GQRE Sortino Ratio Rank: 30
GQRE Omega Ratio Rank: 29
GQRE Calmar Ratio Rank: 31
GQRE Martin Ratio Rank: 34

QLC

QLC Risk / Return Rank: 76
QLC Sharpe Ratio Rank: 72
QLC Sortino Ratio Rank: 74
QLC Omega Ratio Rank: 76
QLC Calmar Ratio Rank: 75
QLC Martin Ratio Rank: 82

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.

GQRE vs. QLC - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for FlexShares Global Quality Real Estate Index Fund (GQRE) 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.

	GQRE	QLC	Difference
Sharpe ratio Return per unit of total volatility	0.62	1.34	-0.72
Sortino ratio Return per unit of downside risk	0.94	1.95	-1.01
Omega ratio Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.13	1.30	-0.17
Calmar ratio Return relative to maximum drawdown	0.82	2.08	-1.26
Martin ratio Return relative to average drawdown	3.25	9.76	-6.51
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

GQRE vs. QLC - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current GQRE Sharpe Ratio is 0.62, which is lower than the QLC Sharpe Ratio of 1.34. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of GQRE and QLC, offering insights into how both investments have performed under varying market conditions. These values are calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	GQRE	QLC	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.62	1.34	-0.72
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.18	0.82	-0.64
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.20	0.73	-0.53
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.28	0.73	-0.45

Correlation

The correlation between GQRE and QLC is 0.59, which is considered to be moderate. This suggests that the two assets have some degree of positive relationship in their price movements. Moderate correlation can be acceptable for portfolio diversification, offering a balance between risk and potential returns.

Dividends

GQRE vs. QLC - Dividend Comparison

GQRE's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.55%, more than QLC's 1.00% yield.

	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
GQRE FlexShares Global Quality Real Estate Index Fund	4.55%	4.75%	3.77%	2.91%	2.56%	2.36%	2.05%	4.29%	3.22%	1.97%	4.16%	2.32%
QLC FlexShares US Quality Large Cap Index Fund	1.00%	0.94%	1.03%	1.26%	1.46%	0.96%	1.40%	1.91%	1.82%	1.29%	1.80%	0.64%

Drawdowns

GQRE vs. QLC - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum GQRE drawdown since its inception was -41.87%, which is greater than QLC's maximum drawdown of -35.86%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for GQRE and QLC.

Drawdown Indicators

	GQRE	QLC	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-41.87%	-35.86%	-6.01%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-11.19%	-11.92%	+0.73%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-35.08%	-23.81%	-11.27%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-41.87%	-35.86%	-6.01%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-7.24%	-5.40%	-1.84%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-9.33%	-4.60%	-4.73%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	2.83%	2.55%	+0.28%

Volatility

GQRE vs. QLC - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for FlexShares Global Quality Real Estate Index Fund (GQRE) is 4.75%, while FlexShares US Quality Large Cap Index Fund (QLC) has a volatility of 5.17%. This indicates that GQRE 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.

Volatility by Period

	GQRE	QLC	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	4.75%	5.17%	-0.42%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	8.29%	9.94%	-1.65%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	14.59%	18.34%	-3.75%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	16.43%	16.81%	-0.38%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	17.65%	18.39%	-0.74%