Average Daily Volume
1.75M
Fund Overview
The iShares MSCI International Quality Factor ETF (IQLT) seeks to track the investment results of the MSCI World ex USA Sector Neutral Quality Index. This ETF focuses on high-quality international developed market equities, excluding the United States. The fund invests in stocks that exhibit strong balance sheets, high profitability, and reliable earnings growth. By targeting quality factors, IQLT aims to provide investors with exposure to companies that may be better positioned to weather economic downturns and deliver sustainable long-term returns. The ETF is designed for investors seeking international diversification with a tilt toward financially stable companies.
- Asset Class
-
Equity
- Industry
-
N/A
- Annual Dividend Rate
-
- Smart Beta
-
Yes
- Leveraged / Inverse
-
N/A / No
- Dividend Quality - Yield
-
- 2.12 %
- Currency Hedged
-
No
- Portfolio Turnover
-
27 %
- Dividend Date
-
Why Invest in the IQLT ETF?
Potential Benefits
- Exposure to high-quality international companies with strong balance sheets and profitability.
- Diversification across developed markets outside the U.S., reducing single-country risk.
- Focus on quality factors may provide resilience during market downturns.
- Lower volatility compared to broad international equity ETFs due to quality screening.
- Cost-effective way to access a curated selection of financially stable international stocks.
Potential Risks
- Concentration in quality factors may underperform during cyclical market rallies favoring value or growth stocks.
- Exposure to international markets carries currency risk and geopolitical uncertainties.
- Higher expense ratio compared to broad international index ETFs.
- Sector-neutral approach may limit upside potential if certain sectors outperform.
- Limited exposure to emerging markets, which may offer higher growth potential.
RSI data unavailable or insufficient history.
Monthly Returns (%)
| Year |
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
| 2026 |
+4.8%
|
+4.4%
|
-7.0%
|
+5.7%
|
+1.1%
|
+1.9%
|
+1.3%
|
+2.6%
|
-3.9%
|
+0.6%
|
-
|
-
|
| 2025 |
+4.7%
|
+2.5%
|
-0.5%
|
+3.9%
|
+3.8%
|
+2.4%
|
-3.8%
|
+3.8%
|
+2.4%
|
+0.8%
|
+0.9%
|
+2.2%
|
| 2024 |
-0.4%
|
+3.4%
|
+2.6%
|
-4.5%
|
+5.5%
|
-0.7%
|
+1.2%
|
+4.4%
|
+0.6%
|
-5.8%
|
-0.3%
|
-3.6%
|
| 2023 |
+8.3%
|
-3.7%
|
+4.4%
|
+2.7%
|
-4.3%
|
+4.0%
|
+2.5%
|
-4.0%
|
-4.1%
|
-2.2%
|
+8.8%
|
+6.1%
|
| 2022 |
-4.9%
|
-3.2%
|
+1.7%
|
-7.5%
|
+0.6%
|
-7.9%
|
+6.5%
|
-7.3%
|
-9.0%
|
+5.4%
|
+14.0%
|
-2.1%
|
| 2021 |
-1.4%
|
+0.9%
|
+2.7%
|
+4.3%
|
+3.7%
|
-1.0%
|
+2.1%
|
+1.7%
|
-5.4%
|
+5.0%
|
-3.8%
|
+4.0%
|
| 2020 |
-1.8%
|
-7.5%
|
-11.8%
|
+5.8%
|
+4.8%
|
+3.8%
|
+3.0%
|
+4.7%
|
-1.2%
|
-3.5%
|
+12.8%
|
+5.3%
|
| 2019 |
+7.2%
|
+3.7%
|
+1.7%
|
+2.9%
|
-4.4%
|
+6.8%
|
-1.8%
|
-1.9%
|
+2.1%
|
+4.1%
|
+1.4%
|
+4.0%
|
| 2018 |
+4.5%
|
-5.3%
|
-0.3%
|
+2.0%
|
-0.8%
|
-1.3%
|
+2.6%
|
-0.3%
|
+0.4%
|
-8.2%
|
+0.7%
|
-4.8%
|
| 2017 |
+3.0%
|
+1.0%
|
+3.6%
|
+2.2%
|
+4.1%
|
-0.2%
|
+2.5%
|
+0.5%
|
+2.2%
|
+1.3%
|
+0.9%
|
+0.8%
|
< -5%
-5% to -2%
-2% to 0%
0%
0% to +2%
+2% to +5%
> +5%
Top Holdings (by weight)
| Symbol |
Company Name |
Weight |
|
SU
|
SUNCOR ENERGY INC |
0.4 % |
|
CHKP
|
CHECK POINT SOFTWARE TECHNOLOGIES LTD |
0.3 % |
|
BAM
|
n/a |
0.3 % |
|
WPM
|
WHEATON PRECIOUS METALS CORP |
0.2 % |
|
WDS
|
WOODSIDE ENERGY GROUP LTD |
0.2 % |
|
IMO
|
IMPERIAL OIL LTD |
0.2 % |
|
FNV
|
FRANCO-NEVADA CORP |
0.2 % |
|
TFII
|
TFI INTERNATIONAL INC |
0.1 % |
|
FUTU
|
FUTU HOLDINGS LTD ADR |
0.1 % |
Top 10 holdings shown, out of 292 total holdings.
Related ETFs: IQLT vs Peers
Comparison highlights key differences on cost, coverage, and focus within sector ETFs.
Investment Strategy
IQLT tracks the MSCI World ex USA Sector Neutral Quality Index, which selects stocks based on three fundamental quality variables: high return on equity (ROE), stable year-over-year earnings growth, and low financial leverage. The index methodology applies a sector-neutral approach, maintaining similar sector weights as the parent index while overweighting quality stocks within each sector. The fund holds common stocks of companies from developed markets outside the U.S. and is reconstituted and rebalanced semi-annually to maintain its quality focus and sector allocations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What countries does IQLT invest in?
IQLT invests in developed markets outside the United States, including countries like Japan, the UK, France, Germany, Canada, and other developed nations as defined by MSCI.
How often does IQLT rebalance its holdings?
IQLT's underlying index is rebalanced semi-annually, in May and November, to maintain its quality focus and sector-neutral approach.
Does IQLT pay dividends?
Yes, IQLT pays dividends quarterly, as many of its holdings are established companies in developed markets that regularly distribute dividends.
How does IQLT's expense ratio compare to similar funds?
IQLT's expense ratio of 0.30% is competitive among international factor ETFs, though slightly higher than broad international index funds that don't employ factor screens.
What market capitalization does IQLT focus on?
IQLT primarily invests in large and mid-cap stocks, as defined by the MSCI World ex USA Index universe, providing exposure to established international companies.
Industry Overview
The iShares MSCI International Quality Factor ETF (IQLT) provides exposure to the international developed markets equity space with a focus on quality factors. Investing in international quality stocks can offer diversification benefits and potential downside protection, as high-quality companies often demonstrate resilience during economic downturns. The quality factor, which emphasizes profitability, earnings stability, and strong balance sheets, has historically delivered risk-adjusted returns over the long term. IQLT's sector-neutral approach ensures balanced exposure across industries while maintaining its quality focus, making it suitable for investors seeking international equity exposure with a quality tilt.
Alternative Comparison
Compared to QUAL (iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF), IQLT provides international exposure while maintaining a similar quality focus. While SPHQ (Invesco S&P 500 Quality ETF) focuses solely on U.S. large-cap quality stocks, IQLT offers geographic diversification. Unlike some actively managed quality funds, IQLT provides transparent, rules-based exposure to quality factors at a lower cost. The fund's sector-neutral approach differentiates it from some competitors that may have sector tilts based on quality screens.
Issuer Overview
iShares by BlackRock is the world's largest ETF provider, known for its extensive range of index-tracking funds. With trillions in assets under management, iShares offers investors access to various markets, sectors, and investment strategies through cost-effective ETF solutions. The firm's expertise in index construction and ETF management makes IQLT a reliable vehicle for accessing international quality stocks.
Conclusion
IQLT offers investors a strategic way to access high-quality international companies through a transparent, rules-based ETF structure. Its focus on financially stable firms with strong profitability metrics may appeal to investors seeking international equity exposure with potentially lower volatility. While the quality factor may underperform during certain market conditions, its long-term characteristics make IQLT a compelling option for the international equity portion of a diversified portfolio.
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