QUAL vs. SIZE

Last updated Apr 4, 2026

Compare and contrast key facts about iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF (QUAL) and iShares MSCI USA Size Factor ETF (SIZE).

QUAL and SIZE are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. QUAL is a passively managed fund by iShares that tracks the performance of the MSCI USA Sector Neutral Quality Index. It was launched on Jul 18, 2013. SIZE is a passively managed fund by iShares that tracks the performance of the MSCI USA Low Size Index. It was launched on Apr 16, 2013. Both QUAL and SIZE 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

QUAL vs. SIZE - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF (QUAL) and iShares MSCI USA Size Factor ETF (SIZE). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

QUAL vs. SIZE - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
QUAL iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF	-2.54%	12.65%	22.29%	30.88%	-20.50%	26.94%	17.04%	33.89%	-5.70%	22.26%
SIZE iShares MSCI USA Size Factor ETF	-0.37%	10.51%	14.37%	17.78%	-15.86%	25.05%	16.26%	28.97%	-6.59%	18.76%

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, QUAL achieves a -2.54% return, which is significantly lower than SIZE's -0.37% return. Over the past 10 years, QUAL has outperformed SIZE with an annualized return of 13.06%, while SIZE has yielded a comparatively lower 11.07% annualized return.

QUAL

• 1D: 0.20%
• 1M: -4.85%
• YTD: -2.54%
• 6M: -1.17%
• 1Y: 18.50%
• 3Y*: 17.00%
• 5Y*: 10.75%
• 10Y*: 13.06%

SIZE

• 1D: 0.38%
• 1M: -4.15%
• YTD: -0.37%
• 6M: -0.20%
• 1Y: 16.41%
• 3Y*: 12.60%
• 5Y*: 7.35%
• 10Y*: 11.07%

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

QUAL vs. SIZE - Expense Ratio Comparison

Both QUAL and SIZE have an expense ratio of 0.15%, making them cost-effective options compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios typically range from 0.3% to 0.9%.

QUAL

iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF

SIZE

iShares MSCI USA Size Factor ETF

Return for Risk

QUAL vs. SIZE — Risk / Return Rank

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

QUAL

QUAL Risk / Return Rank: 39
QUAL Sharpe Ratio Rank: 37
QUAL Sortino Ratio Rank: 40
QUAL Omega Ratio Rank: 39
QUAL Calmar Ratio Rank: 35
QUAL Martin Ratio Rank: 44

SIZE

SIZE Risk / Return Rank: 30
SIZE Sharpe Ratio Rank: 28
SIZE Sortino Ratio Rank: 30
SIZE Omega Ratio Rank: 30
SIZE Calmar Ratio Rank: 28
SIZE Martin Ratio Rank: 35

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.

QUAL vs. SIZE - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF (QUAL) and iShares MSCI USA Size Factor ETF (SIZE). 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	SIZE	Difference
Sharpe ratio Return per unit of total volatility	0.76	0.58	+0.18
Sortino ratio Return per unit of downside risk	1.21	0.96	+0.24
Omega ratio Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.17	1.14	+0.04
Calmar ratio Return relative to maximum drawdown	1.21	0.93	+0.27
Martin ratio Return relative to average drawdown	5.43	4.25	+1.18
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

QUAL vs. SIZE - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current QUAL Sharpe Ratio is 0.76, which is higher than the SIZE Sharpe Ratio of 0.58. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of QUAL and SIZE, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	QUAL	SIZE	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.76	0.58	+0.18
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.62	0.42	+0.20
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.72	0.59	+0.13
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.75	0.65	+0.10

Correlation

The correlation between QUAL and SIZE is 0.84, 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

QUAL vs. SIZE - Dividend Comparison

QUAL's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.98%, less than SIZE's 1.55% yield.

	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
QUAL iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF	0.98%	0.94%	1.02%	1.23%	1.59%	1.20%	1.39%	1.60%	2.00%	1.76%	1.96%	1.63%
SIZE iShares MSCI USA Size Factor ETF	1.55%	1.50%	1.53%	1.42%	1.59%	1.19%	1.43%	1.35%	2.43%	1.58%	1.88%	1.95%

Drawdowns

QUAL vs. SIZE - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum QUAL drawdown since its inception was -34.06%, smaller than the maximum SIZE drawdown of -39.15%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for QUAL and SIZE.

Drawdown Indicators

	QUAL	SIZE	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-34.06%	-39.15%	+5.09%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-9.03%	-7.97%	-1.06%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-28.23%	-24.03%	-4.20%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-34.06%	-39.15%	+5.09%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-5.78%	-5.03%	-0.75%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-4.15%	-4.23%	+0.08%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	2.56%	2.81%	-0.25%

Volatility

QUAL vs. SIZE - Volatility Comparison

iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF (QUAL) has a higher volatility of 5.32% compared to iShares MSCI USA Size Factor ETF (SIZE) at 5.03%. This indicates that QUAL's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than SIZE based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	QUAL	SIZE	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	5.32%	5.03%	+0.29%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	9.27%	9.89%	-0.62%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	17.46%	18.91%	-1.45%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	17.33%	17.37%	-0.04%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	18.08%	18.66%	-0.58%