USMV vs. QLV

Last updated Apr 1, 2026

Compare and contrast key facts about iShares MSCI USA Minimum Volatility Factor ETF (USMV) and FlexShares US Quality Low Volatility Index Fund (QLV).

USMV and QLV are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. USMV is a passively managed fund by iShares that tracks the performance of the MSCI USA Minimum Volatility Index. It was launched on Oct 18, 2011. QLV is a passively managed fund by Northern Trust that tracks the performance of the Northern Trust Quality Low Volatility Index. It was launched on Jul 15, 2019. Both USMV and QLV 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

USMV vs. QLV - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in iShares MSCI USA Minimum Volatility Factor ETF (USMV) and FlexShares US Quality Low Volatility Index Fund (QLV). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

USMV vs. QLV - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019
USMV iShares MSCI USA Minimum Volatility Factor ETF	-1.10%	7.65%	15.74%	10.33%	-9.43%	20.85%	5.64%	4.62%
QLV FlexShares US Quality Low Volatility Index Fund	0.10%	12.28%	18.08%	13.71%	-9.97%	26.08%	9.63%	6.24%

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, USMV achieves a -1.10% return, which is significantly lower than QLV's 0.10% return.

USMV

• 1D: 1.15%
• 1M: -4.79%
• YTD: -1.10%
• 6M: -1.72%
• 1Y: 0.57%
• 3Y*: 10.28%
• 5Y*: 7.61%
• 10Y*: 9.65%

QLV

• 1D: 1.54%
• 1M: -3.92%
• YTD: 0.10%
• 6M: 0.74%
• 1Y: 10.86%
• 3Y*: 13.76%
• 5Y*: 10.52%
• 10Y*: —

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

USMV vs. QLV - Expense Ratio Comparison

USMV has a 0.15% expense ratio, which is lower than QLV's 0.22% expense ratio. Despite the difference, both funds are considered low-cost compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios usually range from 0.3% to 0.9%.

QLV

FlexShares US Quality Low Volatility Index Fund

USMV

iShares MSCI USA Minimum Volatility Factor ETF

Return for Risk

USMV vs. QLV — Risk / Return Rank

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

USMV

USMV Risk / Return Rank: 15
USMV Sharpe Ratio Rank: 14
USMV Sortino Ratio Rank: 12
USMV Omega Ratio Rank: 13
USMV Calmar Ratio Rank: 17
USMV Martin Ratio Rank: 19

QLV

QLV Risk / Return Rank: 52
QLV Sharpe Ratio Rank: 48
QLV Sortino Ratio Rank: 50
QLV Omega Ratio Rank: 53
QLV Calmar Ratio Rank: 47
QLV Martin Ratio Rank: 63

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.

USMV vs. QLV - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares MSCI USA Minimum Volatility Factor ETF (USMV) and FlexShares US Quality Low Volatility Index Fund (QLV). 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.

	USMV	QLV	Difference
Sharpe ratio Return per unit of total volatility	0.05	0.86	-0.81
Sortino ratio Return per unit of downside risk	0.15	1.31	-1.16
Omega ratio Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.02	1.19	-0.17
Calmar ratio Return relative to maximum drawdown	0.18	1.19	-1.01
Martin ratio Return relative to average drawdown	0.79	6.18	-5.40
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

USMV vs. QLV - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current USMV Sharpe Ratio is 0.05, which is lower than the QLV Sharpe Ratio of 0.86. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of USMV and QLV, 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

	USMV	QLV	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.05	0.86	-0.81
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.62	0.83	-0.21
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.67	—	—
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.85	0.65	+0.20

Correlation

The correlation between USMV and QLV is 0.94, 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

USMV vs. QLV - Dividend Comparison

USMV's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.58%, less than QLV's 1.60% yield.

	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
USMV iShares MSCI USA Minimum Volatility Factor ETF	1.58%	1.49%	1.67%	1.82%	1.62%	1.26%	1.81%	1.88%	2.12%	1.77%	2.22%	2.02%
QLV FlexShares US Quality Low Volatility Index Fund	1.60%	1.60%	1.66%	1.60%	1.74%	0.96%	1.24%	0.58%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%

Drawdowns

USMV vs. QLV - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum USMV drawdown since its inception was -33.10%, roughly equal to the maximum QLV drawdown of -33.71%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for USMV and QLV.

Drawdown Indicators

	USMV	QLV	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-33.10%	-33.71%	+0.61%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-8.91%	-9.75%	+0.84%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-17.93%	-17.93%	0.00%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-33.10%	—	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-4.79%	-4.29%	-0.50%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-2.88%	-4.08%	+1.20%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	2.00%	1.88%	+0.12%

Volatility

USMV vs. QLV - Volatility Comparison

iShares MSCI USA Minimum Volatility Factor ETF (USMV) and FlexShares US Quality Low Volatility Index Fund (QLV) have volatilities of 3.03% and 3.18%, 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

	USMV	QLV	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	3.03%	3.18%	-0.15%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	6.08%	5.81%	+0.27%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	12.54%	12.74%	-0.20%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	12.39%	12.73%	-0.34%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	14.51%	16.75%	-2.24%