QLVE vs. IQDY

Last updated Apr 1, 2026

Compare and contrast key facts about FlexShares Emerging Markets Quality Low Volatility Index Fund (QLVE) and FlexShares International Quality Dividend Dynamic Index Fund (IQDY).

QLVE and IQDY are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. QLVE is a passively managed fund by Northern Trust that tracks the performance of the Northern Trust Emerging Markets Quality Low Volatility Index. It was launched on Jul 15, 2019. IQDY is a passively managed fund by Northern Trust that tracks the performance of the Northern Trust International Quality Dividend Dynamic Index. It was launched on Apr 12, 2013. Both QLVE and IQDY are passive ETFs, meaning that they are not actively managed but aim to replicate the performance of the underlying index as closely as possible.

Performance

QLVE vs. IQDY - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in FlexShares Emerging Markets Quality Low Volatility Index Fund (QLVE) and FlexShares International Quality Dividend Dynamic Index Fund (IQDY). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

QLVE vs. IQDY - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019
QLVE FlexShares Emerging Markets Quality Low Volatility Index Fund	0.96%	21.87%	10.17%	8.53%	-13.10%	0.90%	4.16%	4.98%
IQDY FlexShares International Quality Dividend Dynamic Index Fund	3.79%	37.44%	5.97%	23.45%	-15.78%	12.00%	9.54%	10.12%

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, QLVE achieves a 0.96% return, which is significantly lower than IQDY's 3.79% return.

QLVE

• 1D: 3.42%
• 1M: -7.54%
• YTD: 0.96%
• 6M: 4.33%
• 1Y: 20.33%
• 3Y*: 12.69%
• 5Y*: 4.43%
• 10Y*: —

IQDY

• 1D: 3.03%
• 1M: -6.22%
• YTD: 3.79%
• 6M: 12.76%
• 1Y: 35.12%
• 3Y*: 19.63%
• 5Y*: 10.02%
• 10Y*: 10.52%

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

QLVE vs. IQDY - Expense Ratio Comparison

QLVE has a 0.40% expense ratio, which is lower than IQDY's 0.47% expense ratio.

IQDY

FlexShares International Quality Dividend Dynamic Index Fund

QLVE

FlexShares Emerging Markets Quality Low Volatility Index Fund

Return for Risk

QLVE vs. IQDY — Risk / Return Rank

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

QLVE

QLVE Risk / Return Rank: 71
QLVE Sharpe Ratio Rank: 71
QLVE Sortino Ratio Rank: 73
QLVE Omega Ratio Rank: 71
QLVE Calmar Ratio Rank: 70
QLVE Martin Ratio Rank: 72

IQDY

IQDY Risk / Return Rank: 90
IQDY Sharpe Ratio Rank: 89
IQDY Sortino Ratio Rank: 91
IQDY Omega Ratio Rank: 91
IQDY Calmar Ratio Rank: 88
IQDY Martin Ratio Rank: 91

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.

QLVE vs. IQDY - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for FlexShares Emerging Markets Quality Low Volatility Index Fund (QLVE) and FlexShares International Quality Dividend Dynamic Index Fund (IQDY). 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.

	QLVE	IQDY	Difference
Sharpe ratio Return per unit of total volatility	1.26	1.91	-0.65
Sortino ratio Return per unit of downside risk	1.83	2.59	-0.77
Omega ratio Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.26	1.39	-0.13
Calmar ratio Return relative to maximum drawdown	1.79	2.73	-0.94
Martin ratio Return relative to average drawdown	7.57	11.91	-4.35
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

QLVE vs. IQDY - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current QLVE Sharpe Ratio is 1.26, which is lower than the IQDY Sharpe Ratio of 1.91. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of QLVE and IQDY, offering insights into how both investments have performed under varying market conditions. These values are calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	QLVE	IQDY	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	1.26	1.91	-0.65
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.34	0.57	-0.23
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	—	0.58	—
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.34	0.45	-0.11

Correlation

The correlation between QLVE and IQDY is 0.81, 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.

Dividends

QLVE vs. IQDY - Dividend Comparison

QLVE's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.83%, less than IQDY's 3.14% yield.

	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
QLVE FlexShares Emerging Markets Quality Low Volatility Index Fund	2.83%	3.14%	3.11%	3.00%	2.48%	2.57%	1.66%	1.27%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
IQDY FlexShares International Quality Dividend Dynamic Index Fund	3.14%	3.26%	6.95%	6.45%	5.52%	3.89%	2.62%	3.85%	5.97%	3.57%	3.77%	4.08%

Drawdowns

QLVE vs. IQDY - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum QLVE drawdown since its inception was -29.96%, smaller than the maximum IQDY drawdown of -39.60%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for QLVE and IQDY.

Drawdown Indicators

	QLVE	IQDY	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-29.96%	-39.60%	+9.64%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-11.60%	-12.52%	+0.92%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-24.04%	-33.03%	+8.99%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	—	-39.60%	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-8.57%	-6.97%	-1.60%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-8.45%	-9.21%	+0.76%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	2.74%	2.87%	-0.13%

Volatility

QLVE vs. IQDY - Volatility Comparison

FlexShares Emerging Markets Quality Low Volatility Index Fund (QLVE) and FlexShares International Quality Dividend Dynamic Index Fund (IQDY) have volatilities of 8.82% and 8.49%, respectively, indicating that both stocks experience similar levels of price fluctuations. This suggests that the risk associated with both stocks, as measured by volatility, is nearly the same. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	QLVE	IQDY	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	8.82%	8.49%	+0.33%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	13.06%	11.93%	+1.13%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	16.25%	18.52%	-2.27%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	13.09%	17.61%	-4.52%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	15.62%	18.34%	-2.72%