Category Review
Infrastructure ETFs lagged stocks, and large construction funds fell hardest in the quarter
Northern Trust Emerging Markets Quality Low Volatility ETF
The ETF.net QLVE Grade
B
Score 61 out of 100
- 7 of 20
Score 61 of 100 falls in the B 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 20Mission
Whether the fund did what it promised, tested against its stated mandate.A93 out of 100Rank 2 of 3Risk
How the fund held up when markets fell: downside volatility, drawdowns and tail loss.B66 out of 100Rank 4 of 19Tradability
How easy the fund is to trade: daily volume, and how far its price strays from net asset value.F11 out of 100Rank 20 of 20Holdings
How concentrated the fund is, and how complete and current its disclosed holdings are.D32 out of 100Rank 18 of 20Durability
Whether the fund is likely to stay open, judged by its age, its assets and its issuer’s assets.D33 out of 100Rank 18 of 20
Our read on QLVE
In short
BMost emerging-markets factor funds chase value. QLVE goes the other way: cut the weakest fifth on quality, then optimize what is left toward lower volatility. Cost is 0.18% net of a waiver through March 1, 2027.
Stated mandate
The Fund is designed for investors seeking emerging-markets exposure with an emphasis on quality and low volatility. It seeks to match, before fees and expenses, the performance of the Northern Trust Emerging Markets Quality Low Volatility Index.
Why people hold it
Worth knowing
QLVE 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.
QLVE$11,117
Returns run to the Oct 30, 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 | QLVE |
|---|---|
| Year to date | +11.0% |
| 1 month | −4.6% |
| 3 months | −1.7% |
| 1 year | +11.2% |
| 3 years | +17.4% |
| 5 years | +7.0% |
| 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 | QLVE |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 YTD | +11.0% | |
| 2025 | +21.8% | |
| 2024 | +10.2% | |
| 2023 | +8.5% | |
| 2022 | −13.1% | |
| 2021 | +0.9% | |
| 2020 | +4.1% |
QLVE in the news
QLVE Dividends
- 3.17%
- $1.02
- $0.34 per share
- Quarterly
QLVE Risk
- 11.0%
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.
- 1.11
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.
- −23.6%
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.
- 0.83
How it’s calculated: beta
The beta figure is supplied by FMP. The comparison index depends on the fund’s broad asset class.
FMP measures it over up to five years of monthly returns.
QLVE Cost
Cheapest in Emerging Markets Multifactor
$3,749
On $10,000 over 30 years. 7% growth a year before fees, expense ratio only.
QLVE 0.18%
$3,749
Cost over time
Year by year
| Year | QLVE |
|---|---|
| 10 | $328 |
| 20 | $1,281 |
| 30 | $3,749 |
You pay 0.18%Waived by FlexShares 0.01%
Full fee 0.19% waiver 0.01% you pay 0.18%
Other funds in Emerging Markets Multifactor
- BDFEVDimensional Emerging Markets Value ETFExpense ratio 0.43%1 year return +21.7%
- BJPEMJPMorgan Diversified Return Emerging Markets Equity ETFExpense ratio 0.44%1 year return +6.8%
- BROAMHartford Multifactor Emerging Markets ETFExpense ratio 0.44%1 year return +19.6%
- BGEMGoldman Sachs ActiveBeta Emerging Markets Equity ETFExpense ratio 0.35%1 year return +13.2%
- CUEVMVictoryShares Emerging Markets Value Momentum ETFExpense ratio 0.45%1 year return +3.4%
