QDEF vs. SCHB
Compare and contrast key facts about FlexShares Quality Dividend Defensive Index Fund (QDEF) and Schwab U.S. Broad Market ETF (SCHB).
QDEF and SCHB are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. QDEF is a passively managed fund by Northern Trust that tracks the performance of the Northern Trust Quality Dividend Defensive Index. It was launched on Dec 14, 2012. SCHB is a passively managed fund by Charles Schwab that tracks the performance of the Dow Jones U.S. Broad Stock Market Total Return Index. It was launched on Nov 3, 2009. Both QDEF and SCHB are passive ETFs, meaning that they are not actively managed but aim to replicate the performance of the underlying index as closely as possible.
Scroll down to visually compare performance, riskiness, drawdowns, and other indicators and decide which better suits your portfolio: QDEF or SCHB.
Key characteristics
| QDEF | SCHB | |
|---|---|---|
| YTD Return | 4.44% | 6.04% |
| 1Y Return | 18.08% | 25.88% |
| 3Y Return (Ann) | 7.38% | 6.51% |
| 5Y Return (Ann) | 8.93% | 12.55% |
| 10Y Return (Ann) | 9.76% | 11.92% |
| Sharpe Ratio | 1.71 | 2.09 |
| Daily Std Dev | 10.25% | 12.01% |
| Max Drawdown | -35.74% | -35.27% |
| Current Drawdown | -4.22% | -3.60% |
Correlation
The correlation between QDEF and SCHB is 0.90, 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.
Performance
QDEF vs. SCHB - Performance Comparison
In the year-to-date period, QDEF achieves a 4.44% return, which is significantly lower than SCHB's 6.04% return. Over the past 10 years, QDEF has underperformed SCHB with an annualized return of 9.76%, while SCHB has yielded a comparatively higher 11.92% annualized return. The chart below displays the growth of a $10,000 investment in both assets, with all prices adjusted for splits and dividends.
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QDEF vs. SCHB - Expense Ratio Comparison
QDEF has a 0.37% expense ratio, which is higher than SCHB's 0.03% expense ratio.
Risk-Adjusted Performance
QDEF vs. SCHB - Risk-Adjusted Performance Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for FlexShares Quality Dividend Defensive Index Fund (QDEF) and Schwab U.S. Broad Market ETF (SCHB). 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.
Dividends
QDEF vs. SCHB - Dividend Comparison
QDEF's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.11%, more than SCHB's 1.34% yield.
| TTM | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
QDEF FlexShares Quality Dividend Defensive Index Fund | 2.11% | 2.21% | 2.42% | 1.84% | 2.50% | 3.17% | 7.10% | 2.70% | 2.90% | 3.00% | 2.52% | 2.12% |
SCHB Schwab U.S. Broad Market ETF | 1.34% | 1.40% | 1.61% | 1.21% | 1.63% | 1.80% | 2.13% | 1.65% | 2.31% | 2.00% | 1.72% | 1.63% |
Drawdowns
QDEF vs. SCHB - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum QDEF drawdown since its inception was -35.74%, roughly equal to the maximum SCHB drawdown of -35.27%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for QDEF and SCHB. For additional features, visit the drawdowns tool.
Volatility
QDEF vs. SCHB - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for FlexShares Quality Dividend Defensive Index Fund (QDEF) is 3.17%, while Schwab U.S. Broad Market ETF (SCHB) has a volatility of 4.15%. This indicates that QDEF experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than SCHB based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.