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QDEF - ETF AI Analysis
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FlexShares Quality Dividend Defensive Index Fund (QDEF)
Rating:74Outperform
Price Target:―
Positive Factors
Large, Established U.S. Companies
The fund is almost entirely invested in U.S. stocks, many of which are well-known, mature businesses that tend to be more stable than smaller or less established firms.
Sector Diversification
Holdings are spread across many sectors, including technology, health care, financials, and consumer stocks, which helps reduce the impact if any one industry struggles.
Defensive Dividend Focus
The fund targets quality dividend-paying companies, which can provide a steadier income stream and may help cushion volatility compared with more aggressive growth strategies.
Negative Factors
Heavy Tilt Toward Technology
A large portion of the portfolio is in technology stocks, so the fund could be hit hard if that sector experiences a downturn.
Weak Recent Performance in Key Holdings
Several of the largest positions, including major technology names, have shown weak performance so far this year, which has weighed on the fund’s overall returns.
Single-Country Concentration
With virtually all assets in U.S. companies, the fund offers little geographic diversification and is highly exposed to the U.S. economy and market conditions.
QDEF vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)
AUM506.92M
RegionNorth America
Expense Ratio0.37%
Beta0.76
IssuerFlexShares
Inception DateDec 14, 2012
Dividend Yield1.69%
Asset ClassEquity
Index TrackedNorthern Trust Quality Dividend Defensive (TR)
Share Statistics
EPS (TTM)N/A
Shares OutstandingN/A
10 Day Avg. Volume8,393
30 Day Avg. Volume12,185
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
96.36Price Target Upside― Downside
Rating ConsensusModerate Buy
Number of Analyst Covering128
EPS Forecast (FY)N/A
Revenue Forecast (FY)N/A
QDEF Summary
QDEF is an ETF that follows the Northern Trust Quality Dividend Defensive Index, focusing on U.S. companies that pay steady dividends and are considered financially strong. It holds many well-known names like Apple and Microsoft, along with health care, financial, and consumer companies, giving you broad exposure to the overall market. Someone might invest in QDEF to seek a mix of income from dividends and potential long-term growth, with a tilt toward more stable businesses. A key risk is that it is heavily invested in U.S. stocks and tech, so its value can still go up and down with the 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. mega-cap tech, with Apple, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Broadcom forming the engine room—but lately that engine has been sputtering, as these chip and software giants have been more mixed than mighty. Offsetting that, steadier dividend names like Johnson & Johnson and Procter & Gamble have been quietly keeping the ship upright, while Philip Morris adds a defensive, cash-generating tilt. Overall, the fund is U.S.-centric, tech-heavy, and relying on classic defensive stalwarts to cushion Big Tech’s recent soft patch.
Name | Company Name | Weight % | Market Value | Market Cap | Yearly Gain | Overall Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple | 7.64% | $38.57M | $3.87T | 7.96% | 79 Outperform | |
| Nvidia | 6.44% | $32.52M | $4.49T | 35.01% | 76 Outperform | |
| Broadcom | 4.58% | $23.11M | $1.58T | 45.81% | 76 Outperform | |
| Microsoft | 3.86% | $19.50M | $2.95T | -3.66% | 79 Outperform | |
| Johnson & Johnson | 3.58% | $18.05M | $586.40B | 55.16% | 78 Outperform | |
| AbbVie | 2.96% | $14.96M | $411.55B | 15.90% | 66 Neutral | |
| Procter & Gamble | 2.73% | $13.78M | $370.79B | -5.78% | 69 Neutral | |
| Philip Morris | 2.15% | $10.83M | $285.88B | 21.94% | 61 Neutral | |
| Alphabet Class A | 2.14% | $10.81M | $3.66T | 63.72% | 85 Outperform | |
| JPMorgan Chase | 1.98% | $10.02M | $828.34B | 10.57% | 72 Outperform |
QDEF Technical Analysis
Positive
―
Price Trends
81.95
Positive
80.73
Positive
77.39
Positive
Market Momentum
0.48
Positive
58.34
Neutral
42.46
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in ETF analysis to make informed investment decisions. For QDEF, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of undefined is equal to the 20-day moving average (MA) of 82.81, equal to the 50-day MA of 81.95, and equal to the 200-day MA of 77.39, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 0.48 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 58.34 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 42.46 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for QDEF.
QDEF Peer Comparison
Comparison Results
Performance Comparison
QDEF
FlexShares Quality Dividend Defensive Index Fund
83.52
12.56
17.70%
SYLD
Cambria Shareholder Yield ETF
―
―
―
PLDR
Putnam Sustainable Leaders ETF
―
―
―
AUSF
Global X Adaptive U.S. Factor ETF
―
―
―
ABFL
Fcf Us Quality Etf
―
―
―
PFM
Invesco Dividend Achievers ETF
―
―
―
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.Date of analysis: ―
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