ICF vs. QUAL
ICF (iShares Cohen & Steers REIT ETF) and QUAL (iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - ICF is a REIT fund tracking the Cohen & Steers Realty Majors 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, ICF returned 5.99%/yr vs 14.46%/yr for QUAL. A 0.54 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. ICF charges 0.34%/yr vs 0.15%/yr for QUAL.
Performance
ICF vs. QUAL - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, ICF achieves a 16.93% return, which is significantly higher than QUAL's 9.44% return. Over the past 10 years, ICF has underperformed QUAL with an annualized return of 5.99%, while QUAL has yielded a comparatively higher 14.46% annualized return.
ICF
- 1D
- 0.96%
- 1M
- 3.62%
- YTD
- 16.93%
- 6M
- 17.09%
- 1Y
- 15.91%
- 3Y*
- 11.06%
- 5Y*
- 3.38%
- 10Y*
- 5.99%
QUAL
- 1D
- 0.47%
- 1M
- 2.14%
- YTD
- 9.44%
- 6M
- 9.29%
- 1Y
- 22.87%
- 3Y*
- 19.30%
- 5Y*
- 11.97%
- 10Y*
- 14.46%
ICF vs. QUAL - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ICF iShares Cohen & Steers REIT ETF | 16.93% | 1.85% | 5.30% | 10.36% | -26.12% | 44.17% | -5.43% | 25.48% | -2.55% | 4.90% |
QUAL iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF | 9.44% | 12.65% | 22.29% | 30.88% | -20.50% | 26.94% | 17.04% | 33.89% | -5.70% | 22.26% |
Correlation
The correlation between ICF and QUAL 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 | 0.43 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.55 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.53 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jul 18, 2013 | 0.54 |
Over the past year, the correlation between ICF and QUAL has dropped to 0.33 - well below their long-term average of 0.54, suggesting their price drivers have been diverging.
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Return for Risk
ICF vs. QUAL — Risk / Return Rank
ICF
QUAL
ICF vs. QUAL - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Cohen & Steers REIT ETF (ICF) 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.
| ICF | QUAL | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.66 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.95 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.19 | 1.31 | -0.11 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.82 | 2.32 | -0.50 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 5.18 | 10.60 | -5.42 |
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Drawdowns
ICF vs. QUAL - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum ICF drawdown since its inception was -76.74%, which is greater than QUAL's maximum drawdown of -34.06%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for ICF and QUAL.
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Drawdown Indicators
| ICF | QUAL | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -76.74% | -34.06% | -42.68% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -8.20% | -9.03% | +0.83% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -17.25% | -18.00% | +0.75% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -34.74% | -28.23% | -6.51% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -40.22% | -34.06% | -6.16% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | 0.00% | -0.19% | +0.19% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -14.16% | -4.10% | -10.06% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.89% | 1.99% | +0.90% |
Volatility
ICF vs. QUAL - Volatility Comparison
iShares Cohen & Steers REIT ETF (ICF) has a higher volatility of 4.74% compared to iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF (QUAL) at 3.63%. This indicates that ICF'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
| ICF | QUAL | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 4.74% | 3.63% | +1.11% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 10.33% | 9.43% | +0.90% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 13.94% | 12.10% | +1.84% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 18.95% | 17.36% | +1.59% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 20.60% | 18.11% | +2.49% |
ICF vs. QUAL - Expense Ratio Comparison
ICF has a 0.34% expense ratio, which is higher than QUAL's 0.15% expense ratio.
Dividends
ICF vs. QUAL - Dividend Comparison
ICF's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.38%, more than QUAL's 0.87% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ICF iShares Cohen & Steers REIT ETF | 2.38% | 2.88% | 2.66% | 2.76% | 2.64% | 1.82% | 2.38% | 2.55% | 3.20% | 3.10% | 4.21% | 3.30% |
QUAL iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF | 0.87% | 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
ICF and QUAL 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.
ICF has higher volatility (4.74%) compared to QUAL (3.63%). In terms of maximum drawdown, ICF dropped -76.74% vs QUAL's -34.06%.
On 10-year performance, QUAL leads with 14.46% vs 5.99% for ICF. On fees, QUAL is cheaper at 0.15% per year. On volatility, QUAL has been the lower-risk option at 3.63%. 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 14.46% return vs 5.99%. 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 0.34% for ICF.
ICF has the higher dividend yield at 2.38%, compared with 0.87% for QUAL.
ICF is categorized as REIT, while QUAL is Large Cap Blend Equities. ICF tracks Cohen & Steers Realty Majors Index, while QUAL tracks MSCI USA Sector Neutral Quality Index. Their fees differ too: 0.34% for ICF and 0.15% for QUAL.
QUAL currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.74 vs 1.07), 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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