IQLT vs. IEFA
Compare and contrast key facts about iShares MSCI Intl Quality Factor ETF (IQLT) and iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF (IEFA).
IQLT and IEFA are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. 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. IEFA is a passively managed fund by iShares that tracks the performance of the MSCI EAFE Investable Market Index. It was launched on Oct 18, 2012. Both IQLT and IEFA 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
IQLT vs. IEFA - Performance Comparison
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IQLT vs. IEFA - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IQLT iShares MSCI Intl Quality Factor ETF | 3.12% | 25.42% | 1.54% | 18.73% | -15.22% | 12.94% | 12.48% | 28.18% | -10.76% | 24.04% |
IEFA iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF | 2.74% | 32.08% | 3.26% | 17.95% | -15.24% | 11.63% | 8.18% | 22.64% | -14.14% | 26.57% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, IQLT achieves a 3.12% return, which is significantly higher than IEFA's 2.74% return. Both investments have delivered pretty close results over the past 10 years, with IQLT having a 9.25% annualized return and IEFA not far behind at 9.02%.
IQLT
- 1D
- 1.38%
- 1M
- -4.11%
- YTD
- 3.12%
- 6M
- 6.06%
- 1Y
- 20.63%
- 3Y*
- 12.68%
- 5Y*
- 7.54%
- 10Y*
- 9.25%
IEFA
- 1D
- 1.52%
- 1M
- -4.68%
- YTD
- 2.74%
- 6M
- 6.58%
- 1Y
- 25.75%
- 3Y*
- 15.08%
- 5Y*
- 8.12%
- 10Y*
- 9.02%
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IQLT vs. IEFA - Expense Ratio Comparison
IQLT has a 0.30% expense ratio, which is higher than IEFA's 0.07% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
IQLT vs. IEFA — Risk / Return Rank
IQLT
IEFA
IQLT vs. IEFA - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares MSCI Intl Quality Factor ETF (IQLT) and iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF (IEFA). 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.
| IQLT | IEFA | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.22 | 1.46 | -0.24 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.79 | 2.07 | -0.29 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.25 | 1.30 | -0.05 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.02 | 2.27 | -0.25 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 7.57 | 8.75 | -1.18 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
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Sharpe Ratios by Period
| IQLT | IEFA | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.22 | 1.46 | -0.24 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.46 | 0.50 | -0.03 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.55 | 0.52 | +0.02 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.48 | 0.49 | -0.01 |
Correlation
The correlation between IQLT and IEFA is 0.89, 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
IQLT vs. IEFA - Dividend Comparison
IQLT's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.26%, less than IEFA's 3.46% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IQLT iShares MSCI Intl Quality Factor ETF | 2.26% | 2.33% | 2.87% | 2.27% | 3.14% | 2.24% | 1.61% | 2.28% | 2.72% | 2.36% | 2.91% | 2.78% |
IEFA iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF | 3.46% | 3.55% | 3.47% | 3.20% | 2.70% | 3.32% | 1.90% | 3.18% | 3.46% | 2.57% | 2.96% | 2.63% |
Drawdowns
IQLT vs. IEFA - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum IQLT drawdown since its inception was -32.21%, smaller than the maximum IEFA drawdown of -34.78%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for IQLT and IEFA.
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Drawdown Indicators
| IQLT | IEFA | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -32.21% | -34.78% | +2.57% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -10.38% | -11.50% | +1.12% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -30.24% | -30.41% | +0.17% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -32.21% | -34.78% | +2.57% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -5.73% | -6.75% | +1.02% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -6.29% | -6.74% | +0.45% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.77% | 2.98% | -0.21% |
Volatility
IQLT vs. IEFA - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for iShares MSCI Intl Quality Factor ETF (IQLT) is 7.07%, while iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF (IEFA) has a volatility of 7.51%. This indicates that IQLT experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than IEFA based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| IQLT | IEFA | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 7.07% | 7.51% | -0.44% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 10.78% | 11.14% | -0.36% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 16.95% | 17.67% | -0.72% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 16.31% | 16.36% | -0.05% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 16.92% | 17.24% | -0.32% |