First-Year Review
Cambria Global EW ETF's largest holding is another fund, about 25 times an equal share
Northern Trust US Quality Low Volatility ETF
$80.50+0.04 (+0.05%)
- 0.09%
- $170M
- +15.0%
- 1.46%
- 0M sh
- $80.11
- low $70.46high $80.63
The ETF.net QLV Grade
A
Score 75 out of 100
- 2 of 16
Score 75 of 100 falls in the A band. A is 70 or higher, B 55 to under 70, C 40 to under 55, D 25 to under 40, F under 25.
Cost
The fund’s net expense ratio, ranked against its category.A100 out of 100Rank 1 of 16Mission
Whether the fund did what it promised, tested against its stated mandate.A76 out of 100Rank 10 of 16Risk
How the fund held up when markets fell: downside volatility, drawdowns and tail loss.A79 out of 100Rank 1 of 16Tradability
How easy the fund is to trade: daily volume, and how far its price strays from net asset value.B65 out of 100Rank 5 of 16Holdings
How concentrated the fund is, and how complete and current its disclosed holdings are.D35 out of 100Rank 12 of 16Durability
Whether the fund is likely to stay open, judged by its age, its assets and its issuer’s assets.D33 out of 100Rank 14 of 16
Our read on QLV
AMost low-volatility funds just chase calm. QLV tracks a Northern Trust index that screens for quality characteristics too, and charges nine basis points, well under the typical fee in its low-vol peer group.
The fund seeks to track the Northern Trust Quality Low Volatility Index and provide exposure to U.S. companies selected for lower overall volatility and quality characteristics.
Why people hold it
- At 0.09%, it undercuts the low-vol field, sitting below LGLV (0.12%) and USMV (0.15%) and under half the peer group's typical fee.
- Two screens, not one: the Northern Trust Quality Low Volatility Index selects US companies on quality characteristics as well as lower volatility.flexshares.com
- Simple plumbing: a 1940 Act index fund holding roughly 120 US stocks, with distributions paid quarterly.
- Low fee plus close index tracking make it one of the stronger packages in its low-volatility peer group.
Worth knowing
- It trades lightly next to the category giants, so spreads can run wider and big orders can push the price around more.
- A smaller fund that launched in 2019, so it carries a shorter history and thinner asset base than the low-vol veterans.
- Low volatility means a smoother ride, not a shield. The fund stays invested in US stocks and moves with them.
QLV Holdings
- Stocks
- 122
- 37%
- MSFT
Sectors
- Technology32.2%
- Health Care13.7%
- Financials12.1%
- Consumer Staples8.1%
- Energy7.2%
- Consumer Discretionary6.8%
- Communication6.5%
- Industrials5.7%
- Utilities5.7%
- Real Estate1.3%
- Materials0.7%
Geography
- United States95.11%
- Bermuda1.10%
- Israel0.91%
- Canada0.69%
- Ireland0.68%
- Switzerland0.67%
- United Kingdom0.61%
- Singapore0.24%
QLV Performance
Shows how $10,000 changes over the selected period, with cash distributions reinvested at the closing price on each ex-dividend date.
Not enough history yet.
QLV$11,504
Returns run to the Oct 12, 2026 close, with cash distributions reinvested. Each period starts on the same date that many months or years earlier. Periods over one year show the average yearly return.
| Period | QLV |
|---|---|
| Year to date | +12.9% |
| 1 month | +1.8% |
| 3 months | +4.7% |
| 1 year | +15.0% |
| 3 years | +17.3% |
| 5 years | +11.3% |
| 10 years | — |
Calendar-year total return with cash distributions hypothetically reinvested at the ex-dividend date’s closing price. The current year shows year to date.
| Year | Return bar | QLV |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 YTD | +12.9% | |
| 2025 | +12.3% | |
| 2024 | +18.1% | |
| 2023 | +13.7% | |
| 2022 | −10.0% | |
| 2021 | +26.1% | |
| 2020 | +9.7% |
QLV in the news
QLV Dividends
- 1.46%
- $1.18
- $0.28 per share
- Quarterly
Distribution history
QLV Risk
- 8.5%
How it’s calculated: standard deviation
The sample standard deviation of monthly total returns, multiplied by the square root of 12.
Uses up to 36 complete months, with at least 12 required. Total returns include reinvested distributions.
- 1.38
How it’s calculated: Sharpe ratio
Subtract each month’s Treasury-bill return from the fund’s monthly total return.
Divide the average of those excess returns by their sample standard deviation, then multiply by the square root of 12.
Uses up to 36 complete months, with at least 12 required. Each month uses the Treasury yield quoted at the end of the previous month.
- −17.9%
How it’s calculated: maximum drawdown
The largest percentage decline from an earlier peak, using total returns with reinvested distributions.
Uses up to five years through the last close, with at least 12 months required.
- 0.58
How it’s calculated: beta
The beta figure is supplied by FMP. The comparison index depends on the fund’s broad asset class.
QLV Cost
0.09%
QLV0.09%
- The middle half of US Low Volatility Index funds
- Median 0.20%
No US Low Volatility Index fund charges less.
Other funds in US Low Volatility Index
- ALGLVState Street SPDR US Large Cap Low Volatility Index ETFExpense ratio 0.12%1 year return +5.0%
- AUSMViShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETFExpense ratio 0.15%1 year return +8.8%
- BSMLVState Street SPDR US Small Cap Low Volatility Index ETFExpense ratio 0.12%1 year return +25.1%
- BONEVState Street SPDR Russell 1000 Low Volatility Focus ETFExpense ratio 0.20%1 year return +12.0%
- BFDLOFidelity Low Volatility Factor ETF Expense ratio 0.15%1 year return +14.9%