IWQU.L vs. SMEA.L

Last updated Jun 16, 2026

IWQU.L (iShares MSCI World Quality Factor UCITS) and SMEA.L (iShares Core MSCI Europe UCITS ETF EUR (Acc)) are both exchange-traded funds - IWQU.L is a Global Equities fund tracking the MSCI ACWI NR USD, while SMEA.L is a Europe Equities fund tracking the MSCI Europe NR EUR. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, IWQU.L returned 12.84%/yr vs 10.16%/yr for SMEA.L. A 0.78 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. IWQU.L charges 0.30%/yr vs 0.12%/yr for SMEA.L.

Performance

IWQU.L vs. SMEA.L - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in iShares MSCI World Quality Factor UCITS (IWQU.L) and iShares Core MSCI Europe UCITS ETF EUR (Acc) (SMEA.L). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Different Trading Currencies

IWQU.L is traded in USD, while SMEA.L is traded in GBp. To make them comparable, the SMEA.L values have been converted to USD using the latest available exchange rates.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, IWQU.L achieves a 9.80% return, which is significantly higher than SMEA.L's 7.90% return. Over the past 10 years, IWQU.L has outperformed SMEA.L with an annualized return of 12.84%, while SMEA.L has yielded a comparatively lower 10.16% annualized return.

IWQU.L

• 1D: 1.00%
• 1M: 3.39%
• YTD: 9.80%
• 6M: 10.71%
• 1Y: 22.55%
• 3Y*: 17.48%
• 5Y*: 10.38%
• 10Y*: 12.84%

SMEA.L

• 1D: 0.42%
• 1M: 4.88%
• YTD: 7.90%
• 6M: 9.43%
• 1Y: 19.83%
• 3Y*: 15.95%
• 5Y*: 9.14%
• 10Y*: 10.16%

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

IWQU.L vs. SMEA.L - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
IWQU.L iShares MSCI World Quality Factor UCITS	9.80%	15.28%	17.17%	25.90%	-19.26%	23.70%	14.95%	29.64%	-7.53%	23.57%
SMEA.L iShares Core MSCI Europe UCITS ETF EUR (Acc)	7.90%	35.38%	1.96%	19.34%	-13.80%	15.88%	5.57%	24.39%	-14.58%	25.86%

Correlation

The correlation between IWQU.L and SMEA.L is 0.82, indicating a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Combining them offers limited diversification - they tend to fall together during downturns.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.83
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.73
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.77
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.77
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Oct 6, 2014	0.78

The correlation between IWQU.L and SMEA.L has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.73 to 0.82 - a consistent structural relationship.

IWQU.L vs. SMEA.L - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors	IWQU.L	SMEA.L
Technology	31.2%	8.6%
Financial Services	14.7%	23.3%
Industrials	10.3%	19.7%
Communication Services	9.6%	3.7%
Consumer Cyclical	9.2%	6.3%
Healthcare	8.8%	13.1%
Consumer Defensive	4.8%	8.4%
Energy	3.9%	5.4%
Basic Materials	3.4%	5.6%
Utilities	2.5%	5.1%
Real Estate	1.7%	0.8%

Return for Risk

IWQU.L vs. SMEA.L — Risk / Return Rank

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

IWQU.L

IWQU.L Risk / Return Rank: 65
IWQU.L Sharpe Ratio Rank: 65
IWQU.L Sortino Ratio Rank: 74
IWQU.L Omega Ratio Rank: 64
IWQU.L Calmar Ratio Rank: 58
IWQU.L Martin Ratio Rank: 66

SMEA.L

SMEA.L Risk / Return Rank: 52
SMEA.L Sharpe Ratio Rank: 56
SMEA.L Sortino Ratio Rank: 56
SMEA.L Omega Ratio Rank: 58
SMEA.L Calmar Ratio Rank: 43
SMEA.L Martin Ratio Rank: 47

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.

IWQU.L vs. SMEA.L - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares MSCI World Quality Factor UCITS (IWQU.L) and iShares Core MSCI Europe UCITS ETF EUR (Acc) (SMEA.L). 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.

	IWQU.L	SMEA.L	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	1.93	1.37	+0.57
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	2.99	2.01	+0.97
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.35	1.25	+0.10
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	2.63	1.69	+0.94
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	10.90	6.02	+4.88

IWQU.L vs. SMEA.L - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current IWQU.L Sharpe Ratio is 1.93, which is higher than the SMEA.L Sharpe Ratio of 1.37. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of IWQU.L and SMEA.L, 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

IWQU.L vs. SMEA.L - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum IWQU.L drawdown since its inception was -33.05%, smaller than the maximum SMEA.L drawdown of -36.21%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for IWQU.L and SMEA.L.

Drawdown Indicators

	IWQU.L	SMEA.L	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-33.05%	-36.21%	+3.16%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-8.53%	-11.68%	+3.15%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-16.09%	-14.39%	-1.70%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-27.70%	-31.25%	+3.55%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-33.05%	-36.21%	+3.16%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	0.00%	-0.35%	+0.35%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-4.58%	-9.19%	+4.61%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	2.06%	3.27%	-1.21%

Volatility

IWQU.L vs. SMEA.L - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for iShares MSCI World Quality Factor UCITS (IWQU.L) is 3.29%, while iShares Core MSCI Europe UCITS ETF EUR (Acc) (SMEA.L) has a volatility of 4.14%. This indicates that IWQU.L experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than SMEA.L based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	IWQU.L	SMEA.L	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	3.29%	4.14%	-0.85%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	9.15%	12.07%	-2.92%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	11.64%	14.48%	-2.84%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	15.62%	21.00%	-5.38%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	15.76%	19.46%	-3.70%

IWQU.L vs. SMEA.L - Expense Ratio Comparison

IWQU.L has a 0.30% expense ratio, which is higher than SMEA.L's 0.12% expense ratio.

Dividends

IWQU.L vs. SMEA.L - Dividend Comparison

Neither IWQU.L nor SMEA.L has paid dividends to shareholders.

Tickers have no history of dividend payments

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both IWQU.L and SMEA.L in my portfolio?

IWQU.L and SMEA.L have a correlation of 0.82, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which ETF is better, IWQU.L or SMEA.L?

On fees, SMEA.L is cheaper at 0.12% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF is cheaper, IWQU.L or SMEA.L?

SMEA.L is cheaper with a 0.12% expense ratio, compared with 0.30% for IWQU.L.

What is the main difference between IWQU.L and SMEA.L?

IWQU.L is categorized as Global Equities, while SMEA.L is Europe Equities. IWQU.L tracks MSCI ACWI NR USD, while SMEA.L tracks MSCI Europe NR EUR. Their fees differ too: 0.30% for IWQU.L and 0.12% for SMEA.L.