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QDEF - ETF AI Analysis

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QDEF

FlexShares Quality Dividend Defensive Index Fund (QDEF)

Rating:74Outperform
Price Target:
QDEF, the FlexShares Quality Dividend Defensive Index Fund, earns a solid overall rating thanks to large positions in high-quality companies like Apple, Microsoft, and Alphabet, which benefit from strong financial performance, leadership in technology and AI, and generally positive long-term outlooks. The fund’s rating is held back somewhat by holdings such as AbbVie and Philip Morris, where financial stability concerns, high leverage, and valuation issues introduce more risk. The main risk factor is its meaningful exposure to richly valued, tech-focused names, which could be more sensitive if growth expectations or market sentiment weaken.
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)

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, Nvidia, Broadcom, and Microsoft steering the ship—but lately that tech engine has been sputtering, as all four have been lagging after a strong run earlier in the cycle. Alphabet is in a similar boat, with solid business momentum but a stock that’s lost some lift. Offsetting some of that tech fatigue, steadier dividend names like Johnson & Johnson and Procter & Gamble are quietly doing their job, helping the fund stay defensive despite its clear tilt toward U.S. technology leaders.
Name
Company Name
Weight %
Market Value
Market Cap
Yearly Gain
Overall Rating
Apple7.67%$38.54M$3.81T28.04%
79
Outperform
Nvidia6.68%$33.59M$4.60T68.72%
76
Outperform
Broadcom5.18%$26.06M$1.80T112.78%
76
Outperform
Microsoft3.63%$18.23M$2.85T-0.35%
79
Outperform
Johnson & Johnson2.80%$14.08M$573.15B56.29%
78
Outperform
AbbVie2.74%$13.76M$365.20B15.28%
66
Neutral
Procter & Gamble2.57%$12.94M$333.68B-14.77%
69
Neutral
Alphabet Class A2.37%$11.91M$3.88T112.98%
85
Outperform
JPMorgan Chase2.02%$10.18M$846.01B33.45%
72
Outperform
Philip Morris1.96%$9.83M$253.65B3.27%
61
Neutral

QDEF Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price
Price Trends
50DMA
81.87
Positive
100DMA
81.42
Positive
200DMA
79.29
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
0.23
Negative
RSI
63.86
Neutral
STOCH
96.41
Negative
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 80.37, equal to the 50-day MA of 81.87, and equal to the 200-day MA of 79.29, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 0.23 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 63.86 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 96.41 is Negative, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for QDEF.

QDEF Peer Comparison

Comparison Results
Name
Price
Price Target
AUM
Expense Ratio
Overall Rating
$509.70M0.37%
74
Outperform
$928.15M0.59%
69
Neutral
$863.97M0.27%
71
Outperform
$830.66M1.30%
64
Neutral
$783.02M0.15%
73
Outperform
$760.96M0.50%
76
Outperform
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
QDEF
FlexShares Quality Dividend Defensive Index Fund
82.98
18.24
28.17%
SYLD
Cambria Shareholder Yield ETF
AUSF
Global X Adaptive U.S. Factor ETF
ULTY
YieldMax Ultra Option Income Strategy ETF
FDMO
Fidelity Momentum Factor ETF
HLAL
Wahed FTSE USA Shariah 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.
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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