QLV vs. IBIC
QLV (FlexShares US Quality Low Volatility Index Fund) and IBIC (iShares iBonds Oct 2026 Term TIPS ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - QLV is a Volatility Hedged Equity fund tracking the Northern Trust Quality Low Volatility Index, while IBIC is a Inflation-Protected Bonds fund tracking the ICE 2026 Maturity US Inflation-Linked Treasury Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past year, QLV returned 12.78% vs 4.42% for IBIC. At a correlation of -0.01, they often move in opposite directions. QLV charges 0.22%/yr vs 0.10%/yr for IBIC.
Performance
QLV vs. IBIC - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, QLV achieves a 4.13% return, which is significantly higher than IBIC's 2.43% return.
QLV
- 1D
- 0.43%
- 1M
- -2.08%
- YTD
- 4.13%
- 6M
- 3.50%
- 1Y
- 12.78%
- 3Y*
- 14.34%
- 5Y*
- 10.02%
- 10Y*
- —
IBIC
- 1D
- 0.04%
- 1M
- 0.12%
- YTD
- 2.43%
- 6M
- 2.57%
- 1Y
- 4.42%
- 3Y*
- —
- 5Y*
- —
- 10Y*
- —
QLV vs. IBIC - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
QLV FlexShares US Quality Low Volatility Index Fund | 4.13% | 12.28% | 18.08% | 5.28% |
IBIC iShares iBonds Oct 2026 Term TIPS ETF | 2.43% | 4.96% | 5.25% | 2.17% |
Correlation
The correlation between QLV and IBIC is -0.13, meaning they tend to move in opposite directions. This is especially valuable for risk management - when one declines, the other has historically tended to hold steady or rise.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | -0.13 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Sep 15, 2023 | -0.01 |
The correlation between QLV and IBIC shifts across timeframes, from -0.13 (1 year) to -0.01 (all time), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
QLV vs. IBIC — Risk / Return Rank
QLV
IBIC
QLV vs. IBIC - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for FlexShares US Quality Low Volatility Index Fund (QLV) and iShares iBonds Oct 2026 Term TIPS ETF (IBIC). 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.
| QLV | IBIC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -3.30 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -6.55 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.30 | 2.22 | -0.93 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.07 | 16.56 | -14.49 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 8.63 | 58.67 | -50.04 |
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Drawdowns
QLV vs. IBIC - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum QLV drawdown since its inception was -33.71%, which is greater than IBIC's maximum drawdown of -0.90%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for QLV and IBIC.
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Drawdown Indicators
| QLV | IBIC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -33.71% | -0.90% | -32.81% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -6.19% | -0.27% | -5.92% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -12.05% | — | — |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -17.93% | — | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -2.08% | -0.08% | -2.00% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -3.98% | -0.10% | -3.88% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 1.48% | 0.08% | +1.40% |
Volatility
QLV vs. IBIC - Volatility Comparison
FlexShares US Quality Low Volatility Index Fund (QLV) has a higher volatility of 2.05% compared to iShares iBonds Oct 2026 Term TIPS ETF (IBIC) at 0.17%. This indicates that QLV's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than IBIC based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| QLV | IBIC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 2.05% | 0.17% | +1.88% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 5.53% | 0.67% | +4.86% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 7.66% | 0.89% | +6.77% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 12.63% | 1.56% | +11.07% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 16.52% | 1.56% | +14.96% |
QLV vs. IBIC - Expense Ratio Comparison
QLV has a 0.22% expense ratio, which is higher than IBIC's 0.10% expense ratio. However, both funds are considered low-cost compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios usually range from 0.3% to 0.9%.
Dividends
QLV vs. IBIC - Dividend Comparison
QLV's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.60%, less than IBIC's 3.58% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IBIC iShares iBonds Oct 2026 Term TIPS ETF | 3.58% | 4.43% | 4.65% | 0.83% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
QLV FlexShares US Quality Low Volatility Index Fund | 1.60% | 1.60% | 1.66% | 1.60% | 1.74% | 0.96% | 1.24% | 0.58% |
Frequently Asked Questions
QLV and IBIC have a correlation of -0.13, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
QLV has higher volatility (2.05%) compared to IBIC (0.17%). In terms of maximum drawdown, QLV dropped -33.71% vs IBIC's -0.90%.
On 1-year performance, QLV leads with 12.78% vs 4.42% for IBIC. On fees, IBIC is cheaper at 0.10% per year. On volatility, IBIC has been the lower-risk option at 0.17%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 1-year period, QLV has performed better with a 12.78% return vs 4.42%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
IBIC is cheaper with a 0.10% expense ratio, compared with 0.22% for QLV.
IBIC has the higher dividend yield at 3.58%, compared with 1.60% for QLV.
QLV is categorized as Volatility Hedged Equity, while IBIC is Inflation-Protected Bonds. QLV tracks Northern Trust Quality Low Volatility Index, while IBIC tracks ICE 2026 Maturity US Inflation-Linked Treasury Index. They also come from different issuers: Northern Trust and iShares. Their fees differ too: 0.22% for QLV and 0.10% for IBIC.
IBIC currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (4.99 vs 1.69), 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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