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QUAL vs SQLT

iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF

QUALACboe

iShares MSCI USA Small-Cap Quality Factor ETF

SQLTBCboe

Overlap

Expense ratio

QUAL −0.05pt a year

QUAL0.15%SQLT0.20%

Avg volume · 30D

QUAL 3975.8×the volume

QUAL1.03MSQLT260

QUAL vs SQLT Performance

Jul 31, 2026 – Oct 30, 2026

+1.7%QUAL−1.2%SQLT

Jul 31, 2026 to Oct 30, 2026. QUAL +1.7%. SQLT −1.2%. Use the arrow keys to read each point.−2%0%4%Jul 2026Sep 2026Oct 2026
Expense ratio
QUAL 0.15%, better
SQLT 0.20%
Fund size
QUAL $48B
SQLT $7M
1Y total return
QUAL +14.4%
SQLT No data
Yield (12M)
QUAL 0.85%
SQLT No data
Holdings
QUAL 121
SQLT 488
Avg volume (30D)
QUAL 1.03M sh, better
SQLT 260 sh
NAV per share
QUAL $222.43
SQLT $28.26
52W range

ETF.net Grade

QUAL: Cost 84, Risk 64, Mission 94, Tradability 96, Holdings 35, Durability 96. SQLT: Cost 70, Risk 81, Mission not scored, Tradability 7, Holdings 92, Durability 33.
Pillar letters and Scores for QUAL, SQLT, with each pillar’s weight
PillarQUALSQLT
Cost30% weightA84HigherA70
Mission25% weightA94Not scored
Risk15% weightB64A81Higher
Tradability15% weightA96HigherF7
Holdings10% weightD35A92Higher
Durability5% weightA96HigherD33

Rank among US Quality Index funds

How we build Categories ›
Same Category. Both funds are graded against the same funds, so their Grades compare head to head.

Same Category. QUAL and SQLT are both graded against the same 26 US Quality Index funds, so their Grades compare head to head.

US Quality Index⁠

Category · 26 funds
See all 26 ›

QUAL ranks 1st and SQLT 10th of 26 funds in the US Quality Index Category.

  1. Rank 1AJQUAJPMorgan U.S. Quality Factor ETFScore 81
  2. Rank 1AQUALiShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETFScore 81
  3. Rank 3AFQALFidelity Quality Factor ETFScore 75
  4. Rank 9BVFLOVictoryShares Free Cash Flow ETFScore 63
  5. Rank 10BSQLTiShares MSCI USA Small-Cap Quality Factor ETFScore 60
  6. Rank 11CAVUQAvantis U.S. Quality ETFScore 55

Our read on each fund

ETF.net Research

QUALAiShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF

SQLTBiShares MSCI USA Small-Cap Quality Factor ETF

In short

QUAL QUAL screens US large and mid caps for high return on equity, low debt and steady earnings, then does it sector by sector, so the portfolio stays spread across the market instead of piling into whichever sector looks healthiest.

SQLT No data

Stated mandate

QUAL The fund tracks an index of U.S. large- and mid-capitalization stocks selected for quality characteristics, including high return on equity, stable earnings, and low debt.

SQLT No data

Why people hold it

  • QUAL At 0.15%, it undercuts the typical quality-factor fund, where the cohort median sits at 0.29%.
  • Sector neutral by design: companies are ranked on return on equity, leverage and earnings variability against rivals in their own GICS sector.msci.comishares.com
  • Running since 2013, now a $25B-$100B fund that trades actively, with returns that stay close to its index.

SQLT No data

Worth knowing

  • QUAL About 120 large and mid caps, leaning on the same familiar giants as a broad US index fund. This is a tilt on core equity, not new ground.
  • Sector neutrality cuts both ways: it keeps a foot in every sector rather than stepping away from ones with weak fundamentals.msci.com
  • Cheap, not cheapest. JQUA (0.12%) and VFQY (0.13%) shave a basis point or three off the fee.

SQLT No data

Full QUAL profile⁠

Full SQLT profile⁠

QUAL vs SQLT Holdings

How we measure overlap

Each holding counts at its smaller weight in the two funds, summed over the full Holdings. Sector, country and asset class use the same rule on each fund’s split. Cash, FX and derivative lines stay out of the counts. Two bond funds get no overlap figure.

QUAL vs SQLT Cost

Overpaying SQLT vs QUAL

$1,018

On $10,000 over 30 years. 7% growth a year before fees, expense ratio only.

  • QUAL 0.15%

    $3,137

  • SQLT 0.20%

    $4,155

$10,000
30 years

Cost over time

  • QUAL 0.15%
  • SQLT 0.20%
  • Overpaying
One line per fund, from year 0 to year 30. Use the arrow keys to read each point.$0$1K$2K$3K$4K$5K051015202530SQLT $4,155QUAL $3,137

Year by year

YearQUALSQLTOverpaying
10$274$365$91
20$1,071$1,421$350
30$3,137$4,155$1,018

Expense ratio

  • 0.15%QUAL, cheaper
  • 0.20%SQLT
  • Middle half of US Quality Index funds
  • Median 0.39%

QUAL 3rd cheapest of 26 funds

SQLT 8th cheapest of 26 funds

QUAL vs SQLT Dividends

Last 12 months to Oct 30, 2026
Yield (12M)
QUAL 0.85%
SQLT No data
Payout (12M)
QUAL $1.89
SQLT No data
Last payment
QUAL $0.47
SQLT $0.08
Ex-dividend
QUAL Sep 15, 2026
SQLT Sep 15, 2026
Paid on
QUAL Sep 18, 2026
SQLT Sep 18, 2026
Frequency
QUAL Quarterly
SQLT Quarterly

Distribution history

Per share, 2017 to 2026, same scale for both

QUALQuarterly · 40 paymentsAll QUAL payments⁠
One bar per payment. 40 payments from 2017 to 2026 YTD. Mar 24, 2017 $0.35; Jun 27, 2017 $0.39; Sep 26, 2017 $0.34; Dec 21, 2017 $0.38; Mar 22, 2018 $0.38; Jun 26, 2018 $0.38; Sep 26, 2018 $0.37; Dec 17, 2018 $0.41; Mar 20, 2019 $0.35; Jun 17, 2019 $0.45; Sep 24, 2019 $0.37; Dec 16, 2019 $0.44; Mar 25, 2020 $0.41; Jun 15, 2020 $0.36; Sep 23, 2020 $0.44; Dec 14, 2020 $0.41; Mar 25, 2021 $0.54; Jun 10, 2021 $0.38; Sep 24, 2021 $0.42; Dec 13, 2021 $0.41; Mar 24, 2022 $0.38; Jun 9, 2022 $0.42; Sep 26, 2022 $0.53; Dec 13, 2022 $0.48; Mar 23, 2023 $0.37; Jun 7, 2023 $0.38; Sep 26, 2023 $0.51; Dec 20, 2023 $0.45; Dec 28, 2023 $0.10; Mar 21, 2024 $0.37; Jun 11, 2024 $0.35; Sep 25, 2024 $0.54; Dec 17, 2024 $0.55; Mar 18, 2025 $0.39; Jun 16, 2025 $0.39; Sep 16, 2025 $0.47; Dec 16, 2025 $0.61; Mar 17, 2026 $0.42; Jun 15, 2026 $0.39; Sep 15, 2026 $0.47. Use the arrow keys to read each point.$0$0.502017202020232026YTD
SQLTQuarterly · 2 paymentsAll SQLT payments⁠
One bar per payment. 2 payments from 2017 to 2026 YTD. Jun 15, 2026 $0.06; Sep 15, 2026 $0.08. Use the arrow keys to read each point.$0$0.502017202020232026YTD

QUAL vs SQLT Risk

Fall from peak · 5 years

This chart needs five years of history for both funds.

Risk facts

VolatilityStd dev, 3 years
QUAL 11.7%SQLT No data
Return per unit of riskSharpe ratio, 3 years
QUAL 1.32SQLT No data
Worst fallMax drawdown, 5 years
QUAL −28.2%SQLT No data
Market sensitivityBeta, 5 years
QUAL 0.90SQLT −0.34

QUAL and SQLT in the news

All news⁠

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