Is FlexShares Quality Dividend Defensive ETF (QDEF) a Strong ETF Right Now?

Making its debut on 12/14/2012, smart beta exchange traded fund FlexShares Quality Dividend Defensive ETF (QDEF) provides investors broad exposure to the Style Box - All Cap Blend category of the market.

Zacks Investment Research • Nov 19, 2025

QDEF: Dividend ETF With Little To Show

FlexShares Quality Dividend Defensive Index Fund ETF has a portfolio of 127 dividend stocks based on a quality score and beta optimization. QDEF has underperformed the benchmark, several competitors, and is less liquid than QDF, which implements a similar strategy. VIG, DGRO, and DGRW offer better returns, Sharpe ratios, trading volumes, and lower fees.

Seeking Alpha • Jul 23, 2025

Best Dividend ETFs to Buy Now

Are you a set-it-and-forget-it income investor? These dividend ETFs generate case through a variety of long-term strategies.

Kiplinger • Feb 13, 2025

QDEF: Heavy IT Concentration Challenges This Fund's 'Defensiveness'

FlexShares Quality Dividend Defensive Index Fund is rated a hold due to mixed qualities and higher fees compared to similar ETFs. QDEF's heavy IT sector concentration presents potential risks, especially given high valuations of top holdings like Apple and NVIDIA. Despite a solid 10-year CAGR of 10.31%, QDEF lags behind peer funds like VIG, SCHD, and DGRW in performance and dividend growth.

Seeking Alpha • Jan 21, 2025

Best-Performing Dividend ETFs of the First Nine Months of 2024

Dividend-paying stocks provide a steady income stream and help mitigate potential losses during weaker market periods.

Zacks Investment Research • Oct 7, 2024

QDEF: A Low Volatility Dividend ETF Outperforming Peers

The FlexShares Quality Dividend Defensive Index Fund (QDEF) focuses on high-quality, low-volatility stocks, outperforming peers with significant technology exposure and underweight in energy and utilities sectors. QDEF's portfolio targets U.S. mid and large-cap companies, emphasizing management efficiency, profitability, and cash flow, with a dividend yield higher than the broader market. Despite a lower yield than other dividend ETFs, QDEF's quality bias and defensive sector allocation offer potential for capital gains with limited volatility.

Seeking Alpha • Sep 22, 2024

Best Dividend ETFs To Buy Now

Are you a set-it-and-forget-it income investor? These dividend ETFs provide a variety of long-term, cash-generating strategies.

Kiplinger • Sep 1, 2024

QDEF: FlexShares' Defensive Dividend ETF Fails To Stand Out

QDEF relies on a proprietary model to optimize a portfolio based on quality, beta, and dividend yield. At current prices, QDEF yields 1.98%. QDEF's expense ratio is 0.37%, which isn't a deal-breaker on its own. However, QDEF's fundamentals aren't as strong as VIG's and arguably, DGRO's, both of which are lower-cost options. The Index's security constraints result in high allocations to low-yielding mega-cap stocks like Apple, Microsoft, Nvidia, and potentially Nvidia, come August. Technology exposure is currently 30%.

Seeking Alpha • May 31, 2024

QDEF: Great Name, But Holdings Don't Validate

The FlexShares Quality Dividend Defense Index Fund aims to capture defensive, high-quality dividend stocks. However, the top holdings of the fund, such as Apple, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Broadcom, do not align with the defensive strategy. The sector composition of QDEF, with a large allocation to Information Technology, raises concerns about its defensive positioning.

Seeking Alpha • May 30, 2024

QDEF Vs. QDF: Which Is The Best FlexShares Quality Dividend Fund?

FlexShares Quality Dividend Defensive Index Fund ETF (QDEF) is a variant of QDF aiming at reducing volatility.

Seeking Alpha • Feb 29, 2024