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QDEFvsRECSETF Comparison
FlexShares Quality Dividend Defensive Index Fund ETF
FlexShares Quality Dividend Defensive Index Fund ETF (QDEF) and Columbia Research Enhanced Core ETF (RECS) belong to the same industry segment: US Multi-Factor. QDEF's top 3 sector exposures are Information Technology, Health Care and Financials. In contrast, RECS's top sector exposures are Information Technology, Financials and Consumer Discretionary. QDEF is more expensive with a Total Expense Ratio (TER) of 0.38%, versus 0.15% for RECS. QDEF is up 1.47% year-to-date (YTD) with +$4M in YTD flows. RECS performs worse with -1.74% YTD performance, and +$271M in YTD flows. Run a side-by-side ETF comparison of QDEF and RECS below, and assess how they stack up in performance, liquidity, risk, exposure, holdings, and more, helping you select the best ETF for your investments.
QDEF vs RECS performance and flow charts
Performance
Cumulative Flows
| 1M | 3M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perf. | QDEF RECS | -2.47%-3.18% | +0.30%-2.21% | +1.47%-1.74% | +19.90%+21.89% | +72.98%+81.95% | +83.19%+97.25% |
| Flows | QDEF RECS | +$2M+$166M | +$4M+$486M | +$4M+$271M | +$26M+$2.27B | -$6M+$4.22B | -$181M+$4.19B |
| 3M | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volatility | QDEF RECS | +9.48%+11.67% | +14.75%+18.00% | +12.10%+14.48% | +13.98%+16.56% |
| Max drawdown | QDEF RECS | -2.56%-3.59% | -11.62%-13.84% | -14.47%-18.49% | -21.30%-22.06% |
| Max drawdown duration | QDEF RECS | 30d29d | 46d45d | 191d126d | 566d573d |
QDEF | RECS | |
Last sale 3/11/2026 at 1:30 PM | $82.13 | $40.10 |
| Previous close 03/11/2026 | $82.43 | $40.11 |
| Consolidated volume 03/11/2026 | ||
| Average volume 30 days | ||
| Average discount or premium 30 days | ||
| Average Bid/Ask spread 30 days |
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QDEF | RECS | |
|---|---|---|
| Tracking error | ||
| Tracking difference | ||
| 1 year cumulative return difference | ||
| Best | ||
| Worst | ||
| Daily return difference | ||
| Average | ||
| Worst | ||
QDEF | RECS | |
|---|---|---|
| Last price | $82.13 | $40.10 |
| 1D performance | -0.36% | -0.02% |
| AuM | $502.84 M | $4.95 B |
| E/R | 0.38% | 0.15% |
QDEF | RECS | |
|---|---|---|
| Management strategy | Passive | Passive |
| Provider | FlexShares | Columbia Threadneedle Investments |
| Benchmark | Northern Trust Quality Dividend Defensive Index | Beta Advantage Research Enhanced U.S. Equity Index |
| N° of holdings | 123 | 331 |
| Asset class | Equities | Equities |
| Trailing 12m distribution yield | Join | Join |
| Inception date | December 14, 2012 | September 25, 2019 |
| ESG | No | No |
Countries
Sectors
Diversification
Total weight of top 15 holdings out of 15
Total weight of top 15 holdings out of 15
Top 15 holdings
How have the QDEF and RECS ETFs performed in 2026?
As of March 11, 2026, QDEF is up 1.47% year-to-date (YTD), while RECS has lost -1.74%. That puts QDEF better performer ahead so far this year.
Which ETF is attracting more investor money: QDEF or RECS?
Year-to-date, the QDEF ETF saw +$4M in flows, compared to +$271M for RECS.
Which ETF is more volatile: QDEF or RECS?
Over the past year, QDEF had a volatility of 14.75%, while RECS experienced 18%.
Which ETF is bigger: QDEF or RECS?
As of March 11, 2026, QDEF holds $502.84 M in assets under management (AUM), while RECS manages $4.95 B.
What sectors do the QDEF and RECS ETFs invest in?
QDEF leans toward sectors like Information Technology, Health Care and Financials. Meanwhile, RECS focuses on Information Technology, Financials and Consumer Discretionary.
What are the top holdings of the QDEF ETF and RECS ETF?
QDEF top holdings include APPLE, NVIDIA and BROADCOM LIMITED. RECS holds in its top three: NVIDIA, APPLE and MICROSOFT-T.
Which ETF is more diversified: QDEF or RECS?
QDEF holds 124 securities with 45.64% of its assets in the top 15. RECS has 336 securities and a top 15 weight of 45.28%.
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