ILOW vs. MCSE

Last updated Aug 4, 2026

ILOW (AB International Low Volatility Equity ETF) and MCSE (Franklin Sustainable International Equity ETF) are both Foreign Large Cap Equities funds. Both are actively managed. Over the past year, ILOW returned 16.32% vs 4.30% for MCSE. Their 0.60 correlation means they have sometimes moved together and sometimes differently. ILOW charges 0.50%/yr vs 0.59%/yr for MCSE.

Performance

ILOW vs. MCSE - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in AB International Low Volatility Equity ETF (ILOW) and Franklin Sustainable International Equity ETF (MCSE). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, ILOW achieves a 9.56% return, which is significantly higher than MCSE's 1.12% return.

ILOW

• 1D: 0.13%
• 1M: 1.67%
• 6M: 5.69%
• YTD: 9.56%
• 1Y: 16.32%
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —
• ALL TIME*: 16.59%

MCSE

• 1D: 0.00%
• 1M: 0.00%
• 6M: 0.00%
• YTD: 1.12%
• 1Y: 4.30%
• 3Y*: 0.74%
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —
• ALL TIME*: 6.06%

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

Liquidity Comparison

Position	Avg. Volume Value (2W)	Avg. Volume Value (1M)	Avg. Volume Value (3M)
ILOW AB International Low Volatility Equity ETF	$2.04M	$2.12M	$2.25M
MCSE Franklin Sustainable International Equity ETF	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00

ILOW vs. MCSE - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024
ILOW AB International Low Volatility Equity ETF	9.56%	26.99%	-1.53%
MCSE Franklin Sustainable International Equity ETF	1.12%	7.79%	-13.50%

Correlation

The correlation between ILOW and MCSE is 0.43, which is low. Their historical price movements had little consistent relationship.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most.	0.43
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jul 15, 2024	0.60

The correlation between ILOW and MCSE shifts across timeframes, from 0.43 (1 year) to 0.60 (all time), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.

ILOW vs. MCSE - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors	ILOW	MCSE
Financial Services	28.0%	2.1%
Industrials	14.5%	18.1%
Technology	10.0%	31.1%
Healthcare	8.6%	20.1%
Consumer Defensive	8.2%	5.0%
Consumer Cyclical	6.5%	13.8%
Communication Services	5.1%	4.7%
Energy	3.4%	-
Real Estate	2.3%	-
Basic Materials	1.7%	5.1%
Utilities	1.3%	-

Return for Risk

ILOW vs. MCSE — Risk / Return Rank

Compare historical risk-adjusted metric ranks over the past 12 months.

ILOW

ILOW Risk / Return Rank: 46
ILOW Sharpe Ratio Rank: 45
ILOW Sortino Ratio Rank: 47
ILOW Omega Ratio Rank: 44
ILOW Calmar Ratio Rank: 44
ILOW Martin Ratio Rank: 52

MCSE

MCSE Risk / Return Rank: 20
MCSE Sharpe Ratio Rank: 20
MCSE Sortino Ratio Rank: 19
MCSE Omega Ratio Rank: 24
MCSE Calmar Ratio Rank: 18
MCSE Martin Ratio Rank: 18

The rank (0–100) uses a weighted average of the Sharpe, Sortino, Omega, Calmar, and Martin percentile ranks for the trailing 12 months. Higher means stronger historical risk-adjusted performance within the peer group.

ILOW vs. MCSE - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for AB International Low Volatility Equity ETF (ILOW) and Franklin Sustainable International Equity ETF (MCSE). 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.

	ILOW	MCSE	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	1.20	0.46	+0.74
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	1.81	0.70	+1.11
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.22	1.12	+0.10
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	1.67	0.45	+1.22
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	6.62	1.13	+5.48

ILOW vs. MCSE - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current ILOW Sharpe Ratio is 1.20, which is higher than the MCSE Sharpe Ratio of 0.46. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of ILOW and MCSE, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Drawdowns

ILOW vs. MCSE - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum ILOW drawdown since its inception was -10.37%, smaller than the maximum MCSE drawdown of -26.36%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for ILOW and MCSE.

Drawdown Indicators

	ILOW	MCSE	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-10.37%	-26.36%	+15.99%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-9.80%	-10.42%	+0.62%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	—	-26.36%	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-0.49%	-10.51%	+10.02%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-2.03%	-8.80%	+6.77%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	2.47%	4.37%	-1.90%

Volatility

ILOW vs. MCSE - Volatility Comparison

AB International Low Volatility Equity ETF (ILOW) has a higher volatility of 3.45% compared to Franklin Sustainable International Equity ETF (MCSE) at 0.00%. This indicates that ILOW's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than MCSE based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	ILOW	MCSE	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	3.45%	0.00%	+3.45%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	11.80%	1.87%	+9.93%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	13.68%	10.29%	+3.39%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	14.43%	19.07%	-4.64%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	14.43%	19.07%	-4.64%

ILOW vs. MCSE - Expense Ratio Comparison

ILOW has a 0.50% expense ratio, which is lower than MCSE's 0.59% expense ratio.

Dividends

ILOW vs. MCSE - Dividend Comparison

ILOW's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.46%, less than MCSE's 3.74% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022
ILOW AB International Low Volatility Equity ETF	1.46%	1.60%	0.78%	0.00%	0.00%
MCSE Franklin Sustainable International Equity ETF	3.74%	3.78%	0.63%	0.57%	0.48%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both ILOW and MCSE in my portfolio?

ILOW and MCSE have a correlation of 0.43, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, ILOW or MCSE?

ILOW has higher volatility (3.45%) compared to MCSE (0.00%). In terms of maximum drawdown, ILOW dropped -10.37% vs MCSE's -26.36%.

Which ETF is better, ILOW or MCSE?

On 1-year performance, ILOW leads with 16.32% vs 4.30% for MCSE. On fees, ILOW is cheaper at 0.50% per year. On volatility, MCSE has been the lower-risk option at 0.00%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF has performed better, ILOW or MCSE?

Over the 1-year period, ILOW has performed better with a 16.32% return vs 4.30%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

Which ETF is cheaper, ILOW or MCSE?

ILOW is cheaper with a 0.50% expense ratio, compared with 0.59% for MCSE.

Which ETF pays a higher dividend yield, ILOW or MCSE?

MCSE has the higher dividend yield at 3.74%, compared with 1.46% for ILOW.

What is the main difference between ILOW and MCSE?

They also come from different issuers: AllianceBernstein and Franklin. Their fees differ too: 0.50% for ILOW and 0.59% for MCSE.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

ILOW currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.20 vs 0.46), 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.