IQDF vs. IQLT

Last updated Apr 1, 2026

Compare and contrast key facts about FlexShares International Quality Dividend Index Fund (IQDF) and iShares MSCI Intl Quality Factor ETF (IQLT).

IQDF and IQLT are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. IQDF is a passively managed fund by Northern Trust that tracks the performance of the Northern Trust International Quality Dividend Index. It was launched on Apr 12, 2013. IQLT is a passively managed fund by iShares that tracks the performance of the World ex USA Sector Neutral Quality. It was launched on Jan 13, 2015. Both IQDF and IQLT 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

IQDF vs. IQLT - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in FlexShares International Quality Dividend Index Fund (IQDF) and iShares MSCI Intl Quality Factor ETF (IQLT). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

IQDF vs. IQLT - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
IQDF FlexShares International Quality Dividend Index Fund	4.40%	35.42%	6.62%	20.10%	-14.69%	10.18%	3.54%	20.96%	-17.39%	23.87%
IQLT iShares MSCI Intl Quality Factor ETF	1.72%	25.42%	1.54%	18.73%	-15.22%	12.94%	12.48%	28.18%	-10.76%	24.04%

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, IQDF achieves a 4.40% return, which is significantly higher than IQLT's 1.72% return. Both investments have delivered pretty close results over the past 10 years, with IQDF having a 8.80% annualized return and IQLT not far ahead at 9.09%.

IQDF

• 1D: 2.86%
• 1M: -6.36%
• YTD: 4.40%
• 6M: 11.87%
• 1Y: 31.50%
• 3Y*: 19.06%
• 5Y*: 9.60%
• 10Y*: 8.80%

IQLT

• 1D: 3.15%
• 1M: -6.96%
• YTD: 1.72%
• 6M: 5.66%
• 1Y: 19.32%
• 3Y*: 12.17%
• 5Y*: 7.25%
• 10Y*: 9.09%

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

IQDF vs. IQLT - Expense Ratio Comparison

IQDF has a 0.47% expense ratio, which is higher than IQLT's 0.30% expense ratio.

IQDF

FlexShares International Quality Dividend Index Fund

IQLT

iShares MSCI Intl Quality Factor ETF

Return for Risk

IQDF vs. IQLT — Risk / Return Rank

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

IQDF

IQDF Risk / Return Rank: 89
IQDF Sharpe Ratio Rank: 89
IQDF Sortino Ratio Rank: 90
IQDF Omega Ratio Rank: 90
IQDF Calmar Ratio Rank: 86
IQDF Martin Ratio Rank: 89

IQLT

IQLT Risk / Return Rank: 69
IQLT Sharpe Ratio Rank: 68
IQLT Sortino Ratio Rank: 69
IQLT Omega Ratio Rank: 66
IQLT Calmar Ratio Rank: 72
IQLT Martin Ratio Rank: 69

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.

IQDF vs. IQLT - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for FlexShares International Quality Dividend Index Fund (IQDF) and iShares MSCI Intl Quality Factor ETF (IQLT). 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.

	IQDF	IQLT	Difference
Sharpe ratio Return per unit of total volatility	1.89	1.15	+0.74
Sortino ratio Return per unit of downside risk	2.53	1.69	+0.84
Omega ratio Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.38	1.23	+0.14
Calmar ratio Return relative to maximum drawdown	2.60	1.77	+0.84
Martin ratio Return relative to average drawdown	11.16	6.68	+4.48
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

IQDF vs. IQLT - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current IQDF Sharpe Ratio is 1.89, which is higher than the IQLT Sharpe Ratio of 1.15. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of IQDF and IQLT, 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

	IQDF	IQLT	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	1.89	1.15	+0.74
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.63	0.45	+0.18
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.53	0.54	-0.01
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.40	0.47	-0.07

Correlation

The correlation between IQDF and IQLT is 0.84, which is considered to be high. That indicates a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Having highly-correlated positions in a portfolio may signal a lack of diversification, potentially leading to increased risk during market downturns.

Dividends

IQDF vs. IQLT - Dividend Comparison

IQDF's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.07%, more than IQLT's 2.29% yield.

	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
IQDF FlexShares International Quality Dividend Index Fund	3.07%	3.27%	6.72%	6.06%	5.59%	4.13%	3.31%	4.46%	5.78%	3.89%	3.75%	4.27%
IQLT iShares MSCI Intl Quality Factor ETF	2.29%	2.33%	2.87%	2.27%	3.14%	2.24%	1.61%	2.28%	2.72%	2.36%	2.91%	2.78%

Drawdowns

IQDF vs. IQLT - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum IQDF drawdown since its inception was -39.83%, which is greater than IQLT's maximum drawdown of -32.21%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for IQDF and IQLT.

Drawdown Indicators

	IQDF	IQLT	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-39.83%	-32.21%	-7.62%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-11.77%	-10.38%	-1.39%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-30.34%	-30.24%	-0.10%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-39.83%	-32.21%	-7.62%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-7.04%	-7.02%	-0.02%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-9.44%	-6.29%	-3.15%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	2.75%	2.74%	+0.01%

Volatility

IQDF vs. IQLT - Volatility Comparison

FlexShares International Quality Dividend Index Fund (IQDF) and iShares MSCI Intl Quality Factor ETF (IQLT) have volatilities of 7.65% and 7.46%, respectively, indicating that both stocks experience similar levels of price fluctuations. This suggests that the risk associated with both stocks, as measured by volatility, is nearly the same. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	IQDF	IQLT	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	7.65%	7.46%	+0.19%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	10.83%	10.71%	+0.12%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	16.78%	16.93%	-0.15%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	15.28%	16.31%	-1.03%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	16.57%	16.92%	-0.35%