IQSI vs. ESMV
IQSI (IQ Candriam ESG International Equity ETF) and ESMV (iShares ESG MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - IQSI is a Foreign Large Cap Equities fund tracking the IQ Candriam ESG International Equity Index, while ESMV is a Large Cap Blend Equities fund tracking the MSCI USA Minimum Volatility Extended ESG Reduced Carbon Target Index - Benchmark TR Gross. Both are passively managed. Over the past 3 years, IQSI returned 15.29%/yr vs 11.27%/yr for ESMV. A 0.64 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. IQSI charges 0.15%/yr vs 0.18%/yr for ESMV.
Performance
IQSI vs. ESMV - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, IQSI achieves a 9.26% return, which is significantly higher than ESMV's 5.28% return.
IQSI
- 1D
- -0.28%
- 1M
- 4.63%
- YTD
- 9.26%
- 6M
- 11.32%
- 1Y
- 19.37%
- 3Y*
- 15.29%
- 5Y*
- 7.66%
- 10Y*
- —
ESMV
- 1D
- -0.78%
- 1M
- 3.36%
- YTD
- 5.28%
- 6M
- 5.39%
- 1Y
- 6.76%
- 3Y*
- 11.27%
- 5Y*
- —
- 10Y*
- —
IQSI vs. ESMV - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IQSI IQ Candriam ESG International Equity ETF | 9.26% | 26.95% | 4.84% | 16.21% | -14.76% | -1.54% |
ESMV iShares ESG MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF | 5.28% | 5.34% | 13.06% | 12.20% | -11.08% | 3.20% |
Correlation
The correlation between IQSI and ESMV is 0.57, which is moderate. They share some common price drivers but move independently often enough to provide real diversification benefit when combined.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.57 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.62 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Nov 5, 2021 | 0.64 |
The correlation between IQSI and ESMV has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.57 to 0.64 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
IQSI vs. ESMV — Risk / Return Rank
IQSI
ESMV
IQSI vs. ESMV - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for IQ Candriam ESG International Equity ETF (IQSI) and iShares ESG MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF (ESMV). 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.
| IQSI | ESMV | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.61 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.86 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.23 | 1.13 | +0.10 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.62 | 0.97 | +0.65 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 5.94 | 2.97 | +2.97 |
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
| IQSI | ESMV | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.28 | 0.67 | +0.61 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.47 | — | — |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.50 | 0.44 | +0.07 |
Drawdowns
IQSI vs. ESMV - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum IQSI drawdown since its inception was -31.90%, which is greater than ESMV's maximum drawdown of -19.77%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for IQSI and ESMV.
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Drawdown Indicators
| IQSI | ESMV | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -31.90% | -19.77% | -12.13% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -12.00% | -7.01% | -4.99% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -14.02% | -12.16% | -1.86% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -29.86% | — | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -1.14% | -0.78% | -0.36% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -6.50% | -5.33% | -1.17% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.27% | 2.28% | +0.99% |
Volatility
IQSI vs. ESMV - Volatility Comparison
IQ Candriam ESG International Equity ETF (IQSI) has a higher volatility of 4.89% compared to iShares ESG MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF (ESMV) at 2.25%. This indicates that IQSI's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than ESMV based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| IQSI | ESMV | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 4.89% | 2.25% | +2.64% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 12.58% | 6.26% | +6.32% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 15.22% | 10.06% | +5.16% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 16.32% | 13.24% | +3.08% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 19.00% | 13.24% | +5.76% |
IQSI vs. ESMV - Expense Ratio Comparison
IQSI has a 0.15% expense ratio, which is lower than ESMV's 0.18% expense ratio. Despite the difference, both funds are considered low-cost compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios usually range from 0.3% to 0.9%.
Dividends
IQSI vs. ESMV - Dividend Comparison
IQSI's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.50%, more than ESMV's 1.58% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ESMV iShares ESG MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF | 1.58% | 1.56% | 1.71% | 1.75% | 1.66% | 0.24% | 0.00% |
IQSI IQ Candriam ESG International Equity ETF | 2.50% | 2.75% | 2.79% | 2.98% | 2.89% | 2.75% | 1.65% |
Frequently Asked Questions
IQSI and ESMV have a correlation of 0.57, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
IQSI has higher volatility (4.89%) compared to ESMV (2.25%). In terms of maximum drawdown, IQSI dropped -31.90% vs ESMV's -19.77%.
On 3-year performance, IQSI leads with 15.29% vs 11.27% for ESMV. On fees, IQSI is cheaper at 0.15% per year. On volatility, ESMV has been the lower-risk option at 2.25%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 3-year period, IQSI has performed better with a 15.29% return vs 11.27%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
IQSI is cheaper with a 0.15% expense ratio, compared with 0.18% for ESMV.
IQSI has the higher dividend yield at 2.50%, compared with 1.58% for ESMV.
IQSI is categorized as Foreign Large Cap Equities, while ESMV is Large Cap Blend Equities. IQSI tracks IQ Candriam ESG International Equity Index, while ESMV tracks MSCI USA Minimum Volatility Extended ESG Reduced Carbon Target Index - Benchmark TR Gross. They also come from different issuers: New York Life and iShares. Their fees differ too: 0.15% for IQSI and 0.18% for ESMV.
IQSI currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.28 vs 0.67), 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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