QFHD vs. QUAL

Last updated Aug 1, 2026

QFHD (Pacer S&P 500 Quality FCF High Dividend ETF) and QUAL (iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF) are both Quality Factor funds - QFHD tracks the S&P 500 Quality FCF High Dividend Index while QUAL tracks the MSCI USA Sector Neutral Quality Index. Both are passively managed. Their 0.30 correlation means their historical movements had little consistent relationship. QFHD charges 0.49%/yr vs 0.15%/yr for QUAL.

Performance

QFHD vs. QUAL - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Pacer S&P 500 Quality FCF High Dividend ETF (QFHD) and iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF (QUAL). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

QFHD

• 1D: -0.29%
• 1M: 1.83%
• 6M: 8.33%
• YTD: —
• 1Y: —
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —
• ALL TIME*: —

QUAL

• 1D: 0.18%
• 1M: 0.41%
• 6M: 8.77%
• YTD: 10.86%
• 1Y: 21.43%
• 3Y*: 17.38%
• 5Y*: 11.11%
• 10Y*: 14.15%
• ALL TIME*: 13.66%

*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)
QFHD Pacer S&P 500 Quality FCF High Dividend ETF	$8.06K	$29.95K	$25.81K
QUAL iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF	$216.39M	$244.32M	$382.94M

QFHD vs. QUAL - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)
QFHD Pacer S&P 500 Quality FCF High Dividend ETF	11.66%
QUAL iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF	7.81%

Correlation

The correlation between QFHD and QUAL is 0.30, which is low. Their historical price movements had little consistent relationship.

	Correlation
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jan 13, 2026	0.30

Return for Risk

QFHD vs. QUAL — Risk / Return Rank

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

QFHD

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

QUAL

QUAL Risk / Return Rank: 72
QUAL Sharpe Ratio Rank: 74
QUAL Sortino Ratio Rank: 74
QUAL Omega Ratio Rank: 71
QUAL Calmar Ratio Rank: 65
QUAL Martin Ratio Rank: 79

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.

QFHD vs. QUAL - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Pacer S&P 500 Quality FCF High Dividend ETF (QFHD) and iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF (QUAL). 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.

	QFHD	QUAL	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	—	1.65	—
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	—	2.36	—
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	—	1.29	—
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	—	2.25	—
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	—	10.08	—

Drawdowns

QFHD vs. QUAL - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum QFHD drawdown since its inception was -5.52%, smaller than the maximum QUAL drawdown of -34.06%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for QFHD and QUAL.

Drawdown Indicators

	QFHD	QUAL	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-5.52%	-34.06%	+28.54%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	—	-9.03%	—
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	—	-18.00%	—
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	—	-28.23%	—
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	—	-34.06%	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-1.91%	-0.61%	-1.30%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-1.77%	-4.07%	+2.30%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	—	2.01%	—

Volatility

Volatility by Period

	QFHD	QUAL	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	—	2.88%	—
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	—	9.72%	—
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	10.91%	12.33%	-1.42%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	10.91%	17.38%	-6.47%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	10.91%	18.09%	-7.18%

QFHD vs. QUAL - Expense Ratio Comparison

QFHD has a 0.49% expense ratio, which is higher than QUAL's 0.15% expense ratio.

Dividends

QFHD vs. QUAL - Dividend Comparison

QFHD's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.29%, more than QUAL's 0.86% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
QFHD Pacer S&P 500 Quality FCF High Dividend ETF	1.29%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
QUAL iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF	0.86%	0.94%	1.02%	1.23%	1.59%	1.20%	1.39%	1.60%	2.00%	1.76%	1.96%	1.63%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both QFHD and QUAL in my portfolio?

QFHD and QUAL have a correlation of 0.30, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which ETF is better, QFHD or QUAL?

On fees, QUAL is cheaper at 0.15% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF is cheaper, QFHD or QUAL?

QUAL is cheaper with a 0.15% expense ratio, compared with 0.49% for QFHD.

Which ETF pays a higher dividend yield, QFHD or QUAL?

QFHD has the higher dividend yield at 1.29%, compared with 0.86% for QUAL.

What is the main difference between QFHD and QUAL?

QFHD tracks S&P 500 Quality FCF High Dividend Index, while QUAL tracks MSCI USA Sector Neutral Quality Index. They also come from different issuers: Pacer and iShares. Their fees differ too: 0.49% for QFHD and 0.15% for QUAL.