IQSU vs. NISM

Last updated Aug 2, 2026

IQSU (IQ Candriam ESG U.S. Equity ETF) and NISM (NYLI International Small-Mid Cap Equity ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - IQSU is a Large Cap Growth Equities fund tracking the IQ Candriam ESG US Equity Index, while NISM is a Foreign Small & Mid Cap Equities fund actively managed by New York Life. IQSU is passively managed, while NISM is actively managed. Their 0.77 correlation means they have sometimes moved together and sometimes differently. IQSU charges 0.09%/yr vs 0.70%/yr for NISM.

Performance

IQSU vs. NISM - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in IQ Candriam ESG U.S. Equity ETF (IQSU) and NYLI International Small-Mid Cap Equity ETF (NISM). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

IQSU

• 1D: 0.74%
• 1M: -0.97%
• 6M: 11.18%
• YTD: 12.56%
• 1Y: 26.07%
• 3Y*: 16.79%
• 5Y*: 11.42%
• 10Y*: —
• ALL TIME*: 15.73%

NISM

• 1D: -0.48%
• 1M: 0.90%
• 6M: —
• YTD: —
• 1Y: —
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —
• ALL TIME*: —

*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)
IQSU IQ Candriam ESG U.S. Equity ETF	$149.00K	$251.27K	$317.14K
NISM NYLI International Small-Mid Cap Equity ETF	$2.13K	$1.70K	$7.87K

IQSU vs. NISM - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)
IQSU IQ Candriam ESG U.S. Equity ETF	2.69%
NISM NYLI International Small-Mid Cap Equity ETF	-0.61%

Correlation

The correlation between IQSU and NISM is 0.77, which is moderate. They have sometimes moved together and sometimes differently, sharing some price drivers without tracking each other closely.

	Correlation
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since May 13, 2026	0.77

Return for Risk

IQSU vs. NISM — Risk / Return Rank

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

IQSU

IQSU Risk / Return Rank: 71
IQSU Sharpe Ratio Rank: 76
IQSU Sortino Ratio Rank: 76
IQSU Omega Ratio Rank: 71
IQSU Calmar Ratio Rank: 62
IQSU Martin Ratio Rank: 70

NISM

Risk / return metrics aren't available yet — we need at least 12 months of trading data to calculate them.

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.

IQSU vs. NISM - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for IQ Candriam ESG U.S. Equity ETF (IQSU) and NYLI International Small-Mid Cap Equity ETF (NISM). 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.

	IQSU	NISM	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	1.73	—	—
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	2.47	—	—
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.30	—	—
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	2.19	—	—
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	8.63	—	—

Drawdowns

IQSU vs. NISM - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum IQSU drawdown since its inception was -31.29%, which is greater than NISM's maximum drawdown of -4.35%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for IQSU and NISM.

Drawdown Indicators

	IQSU	NISM	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-31.29%	-4.35%	-26.94%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-11.18%	—	—
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-20.96%	—	—
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-26.76%	—	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-2.02%	-0.68%	-1.34%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-5.88%	-1.80%	-4.08%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	2.83%	—	—

Volatility

Volatility by Period

	IQSU	NISM	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	4.47%	—	—
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	11.58%	—	—
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	14.19%	14.26%	-0.07%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	18.08%	14.26%	+3.82%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	20.62%	14.26%	+6.36%

IQSU vs. NISM - Expense Ratio Comparison

IQSU has a 0.09% expense ratio, which is lower than NISM's 0.70% expense ratio.

Dividends

IQSU vs. NISM - Dividend Comparison

IQSU's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.99%, more than NISM's 0.24% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020
IQSU IQ Candriam ESG U.S. Equity ETF	0.99%	1.09%	1.12%	1.15%	1.47%	1.07%	0.98%
NISM NYLI International Small-Mid Cap Equity ETF	0.24%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both IQSU and NISM in my portfolio?

IQSU and NISM have a correlation of 0.77, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which ETF is better, IQSU or NISM?

On fees, IQSU is cheaper at 0.09% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF is cheaper, IQSU or NISM?

IQSU is cheaper with a 0.09% expense ratio, compared with 0.70% for NISM.

Which ETF pays a higher dividend yield, IQSU or NISM?

IQSU has the higher dividend yield at 0.99%, compared with 0.24% for NISM.

What is the main difference between IQSU and NISM?

IQSU is categorized as Large Cap Growth Equities, while NISM is Foreign Small & Mid Cap Equities. Their fees differ too: 0.09% for IQSU and 0.70% for NISM.