QUAL vs. BTC-USD
QUAL (iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF) is Large Cap Blend Equities fund tracking the MSCI USA Sector Neutral Quality Index, while BTC-USD (Bitcoin) is a cryptocurrency. Over the past 10 years, QUAL returned 14.39%/yr vs 56.84%/yr for BTC-USD. At a 0.13 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.
Performance
QUAL vs. BTC-USD - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, QUAL achieves a 8.93% return, which is significantly higher than BTC-USD's -27.34% return. Over the past 10 years, QUAL has underperformed BTC-USD with an annualized return of 14.39%, while BTC-USD has yielded a comparatively higher 56.84% annualized return.
QUAL
- 1D
- 1.68%
- 1M
- 2.62%
- YTD
- 8.93%
- 6M
- 7.97%
- 1Y
- 20.75%
- 3Y*
- 19.36%
- 5Y*
- 11.86%
- 10Y*
- 14.39%
BTC-USD
- 1D
- 3.47%
- 1M
- -21.00%
- YTD
- -27.34%
- 6M
- -31.30%
- 1Y
- -41.49%
- 3Y*
- 34.89%
- 5Y*
- 12.33%
- 10Y*
- 56.84%
QUAL vs. BTC-USD - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
QUAL iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF | 8.93% | 12.65% | 22.29% | 30.88% | -20.50% | 26.94% | 17.04% | 33.89% | -5.70% | 22.26% |
BTC-USD Bitcoin | -27.34% | -6.27% | 120.76% | 155.82% | -64.23% | 59.40% | 304.57% | 94.10% | -73.37% | 1,324.24% |
Correlation
The correlation between QUAL and BTC-USD is 0.31, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.31 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.21 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.28 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.17 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jul 18, 2013 | 0.13 |
The correlation between QUAL and BTC-USD shifts across timeframes, from 0.13 (all time) to 0.31 (1 year), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
QUAL vs. BTC-USD — Risk / Return Rank
QUAL
BTC-USD
QUAL vs. BTC-USD - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF (QUAL) and Bitcoin (BTC-USD). 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.
| QUAL | BTC-USD | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +2.69 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +3.83 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.30 | 0.86 | +0.45 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.31 | -0.81 | +3.12 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 10.45 | -1.42 | +11.87 |
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Drawdowns
QUAL vs. BTC-USD - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum QUAL drawdown since its inception was -34.06%, smaller than the maximum BTC-USD drawdown of -85.30%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for QUAL and BTC-USD.
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Drawdown Indicators
| QUAL | BTC-USD | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -34.06% | -85.30% | +51.24% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -9.03% | -51.21% | +42.18% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -18.00% | -51.21% | +33.21% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -28.23% | -76.67% | +48.44% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -34.06% | -83.80% | +49.74% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.66% | -49.02% | +48.36% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -4.10% | -42.34% | +38.24% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 1.99% | 34.89% | -32.90% |
Volatility
QUAL vs. BTC-USD - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF (QUAL) is 3.61%, while Bitcoin (BTC-USD) has a volatility of 12.11%. This indicates that QUAL experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than BTC-USD based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| QUAL | BTC-USD | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 3.61% | 12.11% | -8.50% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 9.43% | 34.67% | -25.24% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 12.10% | 35.64% | -23.54% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 17.37% | 44.75% | -27.38% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 18.11% | 56.63% | -38.52% |
Frequently Asked Questions
QUAL and BTC-USD have a correlation of 0.31, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
BTC-USD has higher volatility (12.11%) compared to QUAL (3.61%). In terms of maximum drawdown, QUAL dropped -34.06% vs BTC-USD's -85.30%.
QUAL currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.72 vs -0.97), 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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