QUAL vs. BUI
QUAL (iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF) is Large Cap Blend Equities fund tracking the MSCI USA Sector Neutral Quality Index, while BUI (BlackRock Utilities, Infrastructure & Power Opportunities Trust) is a stock. Over the past 10 years, QUAL returned 14.19%/yr vs 11.23%/yr for BUI. At a 0.39 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.
Performance
QUAL vs. BUI - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, QUAL achieves a 7.89% return, which is significantly lower than BUI's 11.75% return. Over the past 10 years, QUAL has outperformed BUI with an annualized return of 14.19%, while BUI has yielded a comparatively lower 11.23% annualized return.
QUAL
- 1D
- 0.32%
- 1M
- 1.62%
- YTD
- 7.89%
- 6M
- 8.26%
- 1Y
- 19.70%
- 3Y*
- 19.43%
- 5Y*
- 11.82%
- 10Y*
- 14.19%
BUI
- 1D
- 0.00%
- 1M
- 0.12%
- YTD
- 11.75%
- 6M
- 15.59%
- 1Y
- 26.50%
- 3Y*
- 15.62%
- 5Y*
- 8.51%
- 10Y*
- 11.23%
QUAL vs. BUI - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
QUAL iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF | 7.89% | 12.65% | 22.29% | 30.88% | -20.50% | 26.94% | 17.04% | 33.89% | -5.70% | 22.26% |
BUI BlackRock Utilities, Infrastructure & Power Opportunities Trust | 11.75% | 21.79% | 14.62% | 12.29% | -16.77% | 12.48% | 20.30% | 20.60% | -1.81% | 26.06% |
Correlation
The correlation between QUAL and BUI is 0.32, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.32 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.36 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.43 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.38 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jul 18, 2013 | 0.39 |
The correlation between QUAL and BUI shifts across timeframes, from 0.32 (1 year) to 0.43 (5 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
QUAL vs. BUI — Risk / Return Rank
QUAL
BUI
QUAL vs. BUI - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF (QUAL) and BlackRock Utilities, Infrastructure & Power Opportunities Trust (BUI). 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.
| QUAL | BUI | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.11 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.18 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.29 | 1.34 | -0.05 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.19 | 1.96 | +0.23 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 9.96 | 5.62 | +4.34 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
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Sharpe Ratios by Period
| QUAL | BUI | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.65 | 1.76 | -0.11 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.68 | 0.50 | +0.18 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.79 | 0.52 | +0.27 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.80 | 0.51 | +0.29 |
Drawdowns
QUAL vs. BUI - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum QUAL drawdown since its inception was -34.06%, smaller than the maximum BUI drawdown of -46.49%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for QUAL and BUI.
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Drawdown Indicators
| QUAL | BUI | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -34.06% | -46.49% | +12.43% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -9.03% | -13.57% | +4.54% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -18.00% | -18.27% | +0.27% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -28.23% | -27.41% | -0.82% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -34.06% | -46.49% | +12.43% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -1.61% | -7.16% | +5.55% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -4.10% | -6.02% | +1.92% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 1.98% | 4.72% | -2.74% |
Volatility
QUAL vs. BUI - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF (QUAL) is 3.12%, while BlackRock Utilities, Infrastructure & Power Opportunities Trust (BUI) has a volatility of 3.67%. This indicates that QUAL experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than BUI based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| QUAL | BUI | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 3.12% | 3.67% | -0.55% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 9.28% | 12.28% | -3.00% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 12.01% | 15.15% | -3.14% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 17.35% | 17.04% | +0.31% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 18.11% | 21.82% | -3.71% |
Dividends
QUAL vs. BUI - Dividend Comparison
QUAL's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.88%, less than BUI's 9.57% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BUI BlackRock Utilities, Infrastructure & Power Opportunities Trust | 9.57% | 10.39% | 6.26% | 6.65% | 6.99% | 5.45% | 5.80% | 6.51% | 7.35% | 6.72% | 7.89% | 8.65% |
QUAL iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF | 0.88% | 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
QUAL and BUI have a correlation of 0.32, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
BUI has higher volatility (3.67%) compared to QUAL (3.12%). In terms of maximum drawdown, QUAL dropped -34.06% vs BUI's -46.49%.
BUI currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.76 vs 1.65), 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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