QDEF - ETF AI Analysis
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FlexShares Quality Dividend Defensive Index Fund (QDEF)
Rating:74Outperform
Price Target:―
Positive Factors
Strong Recent Performance
The fund has delivered solid gains over the year so far, supported by steady results in recent months.
High-Quality Tech Leaders
Several of the largest technology holdings, such as major chip and software companies, have shown strong performance and helped drive returns.
Defensive Sector Mix
Meaningful exposure to health care, consumer defensive, and utilities stocks adds a defensive tilt that can help cushion market downturns.
Negative Factors
Heavy Technology Concentration
With a large share of assets in the technology sector, the fund is sensitive to swings in tech stocks.
Single-Country Exposure
Almost all of the fund’s holdings are in U.S. companies, offering little diversification across global markets.
Moderate Expense Ratio
The fund’s fees are not especially low, which can slightly reduce long-term returns compared with cheaper ETFs.
QDEF vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)
AUM553.40M
RegionNorth America
Expense Ratio0.39%
Beta0.75
IssuerNorthern Trust
Inception DateDec 14, 2012
Dividend Yield1.55%
Asset ClassEquity
Index TrackedNorthern Trust Quality Dividend Defensive (TR)
Share Statistics
EPS (TTM)N/A
Shares OutstandingN/A
10 Day Avg. Volume4,105
30 Day Avg. Volume8,185
Financial Highlights & Ratios
PEG RatioN/A
Price to Book (P/B)N/A
Price to Sales (P/S)N/A
P/FCF RatioN/A
Enterprise Value/Market CapN/A
Enterprise Value/RevenueN/A
Enterprise Value/Gross ProfitN/A
Enterprise Value/EbitdaN/A
Forecast
1Y Price Target
106.41Price Target Upside― Downside
Rating ConsensusModerate Buy
Number of Analyst Covering154
EPS Forecast (FY)N/A
Revenue Forecast (FY)N/A
QDEF Summary
QDEF, the FlexShares Quality Dividend Defensive Index Fund, follows the Northern Trust Quality Dividend Defensive Index, focusing on U.S. companies that pay steady dividends and have strong finances. It holds many well-known names like Apple and Microsoft, with a big tilt toward technology but also exposure to health care, financials, and consumer companies. Investors might consider QDEF if they want a mix of income from dividends and potential long-term growth in a single, diversified fund. A key risk is that it is heavily invested in tech stocks, so its price can rise and fall sharply with the tech sector and overall stock market.
How much will it cost me?The expense ratio for QDEF is 0.37%, which means you’ll pay $3.70 per year for every $1,000 invested. This is slightly higher than average because the fund is passively managed but focuses on a specific niche of high-quality, dividend-paying stocks with defensive characteristics.
What would affect this ETF?QDEF's focus on high-quality dividend-paying stocks in defensive sectors like Health Care and Consumer Defensive could benefit from economic uncertainty, as investors often seek stability and income during volatile times. However, its significant exposure to Technology, including top holdings like Apple and Nvidia, makes it sensitive to interest rate hikes and regulatory changes, which could negatively impact growth-oriented companies. Additionally, its U.S.-centric portfolio may face risks from domestic economic slowdowns or benefit from favorable U.S. market conditions.
QDEF Top 10 Holdings
QDEF leans heavily on U.S. Big Tech, with Apple, Nvidia, Microsoft, and Broadcom steering the ship. Microsoft has been a standout, rising steadily on the back of cloud and AI strength, while Nvidia remains a powerful but more mixed engine, with recent choppiness after a strong run. Apple and Broadcom look a bit tired lately, losing some steam and modestly holding back momentum. Balancing that tech tilt, steady dividend names like AbbVie and Johnson & Johnson in health care help smooth the ride, giving the fund a defensive backbone despite its growth-heavy, U.S.-centric profile.
Name | Company Name | Weight % | Market Value | Market Cap | Yearly Gain | Overall Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple | 8.96% | $49.25M | $4.85T | 41.95% | 79 Outperform | |
| Nvidia | 6.95% | $38.24M | $5.26T | 22.76% | 76 Outperform | |
| Microsoft | 4.37% | $24.04M | $3.68T | -2.80% | 79 Outperform | |
| Johnson & Johnson | 2.86% | $15.75M | $640.02B | 49.15% | 78 Outperform | |
| Broadcom | 2.79% | $15.34M | $1.73T | 0.59% | 76 Outperform | |
| Alphabet Class A | 2.34% | $12.85M | $4.12T | 40.57% | 85 Outperform | |
| JPMorgan Chase | 2.14% | $11.78M | $946.93B | 16.07% | 72 Outperform | |
| Philip Morris | 2.09% | $11.47M | $297.79B | 15.02% | 61 Neutral | |
| Alphabet Class C | 1.87% | $10.27M | $4.12T | 38.97% | 82 Outperform | |
| Eli Lilly & Co | 1.79% | $9.84M | $1.05T | 47.70% | 72 Outperform |
QDEF Technical Analysis
Neutral
―
Price Trends
89.92
Positive
88.05
Positive
84.73
Positive
Market Momentum
0.07
Positive
46.66
Neutral
24.01
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in ETF analysis to make informed investment decisions. For QDEF, the sentiment is Neutral. The current price of undefined is equal to the 20-day moving average (MA) of 90.92, equal to the 50-day MA of 89.92, and equal to the 200-day MA of 84.73, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of 0.07 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 46.66 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 24.01 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Neutral sentiment for QDEF.
QDEF Peer Comparison
Comparison Results
Performance Comparison
QDEF
FlexShares Quality Dividend Defensive Index Fund
90.36
12.48
16.02%
HLAL
Wahed FTSE USA Shariah ETF
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AUSF
Global X Adaptive U.S. Factor ETF
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FDMO
Fidelity Momentum Factor ETF
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AVTM
Avantis Total Equity Markets ETF
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BGDV
Bahl & Gaynor Dividend ETF
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Glossary
BuyAn ETF rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the ETF is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other ETFs in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldAn ETF rated as a "Hold" s expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the ETF is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellAn ETF rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the ETF may deliver lower returns compared to other ETFs in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
DisclaimerThis AI Analyst ETF Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in ETFs carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: ―
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