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QUAL

iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF (QUAL)

Rating:75Outperform
Price Target:$250.00â–²(356.29% Upside)
Positive Factors
Strong Overall PerformanceThe ETF has delivered strong year-to-date returns, showing that its quality-focused strategy has worked well so far this year.
Leading Blue-Chip HoldingsTop positions like Apple, Nvidia, Eli Lilly, Visa, Lam Research, Exxon Mobil, and Mastercard have shown strong gains, helping drive the fund’s results.
Low Expense RatioThe fund’s relatively low fee means more of the investment returns stay in investors’ pockets over time.
Negative Factors
Heavy U.S. ConcentrationWith almost all assets in U.S. companies, the ETF offers little geographic diversification and is highly tied to the U.S. market’s fortunes.
Sector Tilt Toward TechnologyA large weight in technology stocks increases sensitivity to swings in that sector, which can be more volatile than the broader market.
Underperforming Key HoldingsSome sizable positions like Meta Platforms and TJX Companies have shown weak performance this year, which can drag on the fund’s overall momentum.

QUAL vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

-10%-5%0%5%10%15%20%SPY+10.42%QUAL+12.89%Dec '25Jan '26Feb '26Mar '26Apr '26May '26Jun '26Jul '26Aug '26Sep '26Oct '26Nov '26
AUM
48.05B
Region
North America
Expense Ratio
0.15%
Beta
0.91
Issuer
iShares
Inception Date
Jul 18, 2013
Dividend Yield
3.45%
Asset Class
Equity
Index Tracked
MSCI USA Sector Neutral Quality

QUAL Summary

QUAL is an ETF that follows the MSCI USA Sector Neutral Quality Index, focusing on U.S. companies with strong profits, steady earnings, and relatively low debt. It holds many well-known names like Microsoft and Apple, along with firms from technology, finance, health care, and more, giving investors broad exposure to high-quality businesses in one investment. Someone might consider QUAL for long-term growth and diversification across leading U.S. companies. However, it still invests in stocks, so its value can go up and down with the overall stock market, especially U.S. large-cap and tech-related shares.

How much will it cost me?

QUAL has an annual expense ratio of 0.15%, which means you’ll pay about $1.50 per year for every $1,000 invested. This cost is slightly higher than the cheapest broad U.S. stock index ETFs because QUAL is a rules-based, factor-focused fund that targets higher-quality companies rather than simply tracking the entire market.

What would affect this ETF?

QUAL could benefit if the U.S. economy stays healthy, technology and healthcare companies continue to grow, and large, profitable firms like Microsoft, Apple, and Nvidia keep leading the market, since the fund focuses on high-quality U.S. stocks. On the other hand, a downturn in big tech, tighter regulations on major platforms, or a broad U.S. market slowdown—especially if interest rates stay high and pressure growth stocks—could hurt performance given its heavy tilt toward technology and other growth-oriented sectors.

QUAL Top 10 Holdings

QUAL leans heavily into U.S. Big Tech and chipmakers, with Microsoft and Apple acting as steady engines of growth, keeping the fund’s core performance rising. Nvidia adds more punch but has been choppy lately, while Lam Research and Applied Materials show a mixed picture—strong longer-term momentum but recently losing a bit of altitude. Meta, meanwhile, has been lagging and occasionally weighs on returns. With all holdings U.S.-based and a clear tilt toward technology and AI-related names, QUAL is essentially a quality-focused bet on America’s digital and semiconductor backbone.

QUAL top ten holdings
NameCompany NameWeight %Market ValueMarket CapYearly GainOverall Rating
MSFTMSFTMicrosoft8.32%$4.09B$3.87T5.67%79Outperform
AAPLAAPLApple7.31%$3.59B$4.84T27.40%79Outperform
NVDANVDANvidia5.67%$2.79B$4.98T-6.97%76Outperform
LLYLLYEli Lilly & Co4.39%$2.16B$1.33T47.41%72Outperform
METAMETAMeta Platforms4.05%$1.99B$1.59T-4.85%76Outperform
VVVisa3.67%$1.80B$805.38B24.28%70Outperform
TJXTJXTJX Companies3.56%$1.75B$151.39B-3.56%79Outperform
LRCXLRCXLam Research2.56%$1.26B$288.21B12.21%77Outperform
MAMAMastercard2.60%$1.28B$563.81B18.54%75Outperform
XOMXOMExxon Mobil2.31%$1.14B$723.90B45.41%74Outperform

QUAL Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis SentimentPositive
Last Price54.79

Price Trends

50DMA223.14Positive
100DMA221.24Positive
200DMA212.28Positive

Market Momentum

MACD-0.01Positive
RSI59.64Neutral
STOCH35.81Neutral

Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in ETF analysis to make informed investment decisions. For QUAL, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 54.79 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 224.90, below the 50-day MA of 223.14, and below the 200-day MA of 212.28, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of -0.01 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 59.64 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 35.81 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for QUAL.

QUAL Peer Comparison

Comparison Results

QUAL against its peer funds
NamePricePrice TargetAUMExpense RatioOverall Rating
QUALQUAL$54.79$250.00(356.29% Upside)$48.05B0.15%75Outperform
VTIVTI$360.52$502.28(39.32% Upside)$688.91B0.03%73Outperform
VIGVIG$244.26$299.13(22.46% Upside)$115.76B0.04%73Outperform
ITOTITOT$159.92$215.54(34.78% Upside)$95.51B0.03%73Outperform
DFACDFAC$43.71$57.70(32.02% Upside)$49.45B0.17%72Outperform
DGRODGRO$80.25$93.83(16.92% Upside)$45.12B0.08%73Outperform

Performance Comparison

0%10%20%QUALVTIVIGITOTDFACDGRODec '25Jan '26Feb '26Mar '26Apr '26May '26Jun '26Jul '26Aug '26Sep '26Oct '26Nov '26
QUAL and its peers over the selected period
Show on chartTickerCompany NamePriceChange% Change
QUALiShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF54.796.9314.47%
VTIVanguard Total Stock Market ETF360.5234.1610.47%
VIGVanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF244.2632.0615.11%
ITOTiShares Core S&P Total U.S. Stock Market ETF159.9214.9910.34%
DFACDimensional U.S. Core Equity 2 ETF43.715.4514.25%
DGROiShares Core Dividend Growth ETF80.2513.8620.87%
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.
Disclaimer

This 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.