QDEFvsRECSETF Comparison
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Northern Trust Quality Dividend Defensive ETF (QDEF) and Columbia Research Enhanced Core ETF (RECS) belong to the same industry segment: US Multi-Factor. Both ETFs have the same top 3 sector exposures: Technology, Finance and Healthcare. QDEF is more expensive with a Total Expense Ratio (TER) of 0.4%, versus 0.15% for RECS. QDEF is up 11.57% year-to-date (YTD) with +$2M in YTD flows. RECS performs worse with 9.74% YTD performance, and +$692M 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.
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QDEF vs RECS performance and flow charts
Performance
Cumulative Flows
Historic performance and flows
Data as of 09/16/2026
| 1M | 3M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perf. | QDEF RECS | -1.36%-1.30% | +2.88%+2.44% | +11.57%+9.74% | +15.21%+14.82% | +69.08%+78.45% | +79.78%+86.44% |
| Flows | QDEF RECS | -$4M-$13M | -$11M+$64M | +$2M+$692M | +$10M+$1.60B | +$16M+$4.50B | -$99M+$4.69B |
Volatility and drawdown
| 3M | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volatility | QDEF RECS | +8.45%+10.00% | +9.88%+11.99% | +12.04%+14.55% | +13.97%+16.59% |
| Max drawdown | QDEF RECS | -2.46%-2.79% | -6.99%-8.79% | -14.47%-18.49% | -21.30%-22.06% |
| Max drawdown duration | QDEF RECS | 13d22d | 66d66d | 191d126d | 566d573d |
Trading data
QDEF | RECS | |
Last sale 9/16/2026 at 7:59 PM | $89.66 | $45.23 |
| Previous close 09/16/2026 | $90.21 | $44.79 |
| Consolidated volume 09/16/2026 | ||
| Average volume 30 days | ||
| Average discount or premium 30 days | ||
| Average Bid/Ask spread 30 days |
Replication quality
Data as of August 31, 2026
1-year trailing difference
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QDEF | RECS | |
|---|---|---|
| Tracking error | ||
| Tracking difference | ||
| 1 year cumulative return difference | ||
| Best | ||
| Worst | ||
| Daily return difference | ||
| Average | ||
| Worst | ||
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Main metrics
Last update 9/16/2026 at 7:59 PM
Live
Closed
QDEF | RECS | |
|---|---|---|
| Last price | $89.66 | $45.23 |
| 1D performance | -0.61% | +0.98% |
| AuM | $547.05 M | $5.99 B |
| E/R | 0.4% | 0.15% |
Characteristics
QDEF | RECS | |
|---|---|---|
| Management strategy | Passive | Passive |
| Provider | Northern Trust | Columbia Threadneedle Investments |
| Benchmark | Northern Trust Quality Dividend Defensive Index | Beta Advantage Research Enhanced U.S. Equity Index |
| N° of holdings | 133 | 442 |
| Asset class | Equities | Equities |
| Trailing 12m distribution yield | Join | Join |
| Inception date | December 14, 2012 | September 25, 2019 |
| ESG | No | No |
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Exposure
Countries
QDEF
USA
96.57%
Other
3.43%
RECS
USA
99.05%
Other
0.95%
Sectors
QDEF
Technology
39.07%
Finance
16.13%
Healthcare
10.34%
Consumer Non-Cycl.
9.59%
Other
24.86%
RECS
Technology
41.49%
Finance
13.66%
Healthcare
8.46%
Consumer Non-Cycl.
7.77%
Industrials
7.76%
Other
20.86%
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Diversification
QDEF
Total weight of top 15 holdings out of 15
46.38%
RECS
Total weight of top 15 holdings out of 15
45.24%
Top 15 holdings
Data as of July 31, 2026
QDEF
Apple, Inc.
8.26%
NVIDIA Corp.
6.35%
Broadcom Inc.
4.64%
Microsoft Corp.
4.02%
AbbVie, Inc.
3.01%
Johnson & Johnson
2.74%
Alphabet, Inc.
2.42%
Procter & Gamble Co.
2.33%
Cisco Systems, Inc.
2.25%
JPMorgan Chase & Co.
2.09%
Philip Morris International, Inc.
2.06%
Alphabet, Inc.
1.96%
KLA Corp.
1.68%
Lam Research Corp.
1.35%
The TJX Cos., Inc.
1.21%
RECS
NVIDIA Corp.
12.00%
Apple, Inc.
11.28%
Meta Platforms, Inc.
4.90%
Mastercard, Inc.
2.40%
Micron Technology, Inc.
2.29%
Bank of America Corp.
2.03%
Chevron Corp.
1.55%
The TJX Cos., Inc.
1.40%
Altria Group, Inc.
1.20%
Bristol Myers Squibb Co.
1.13%
Citigroup, Inc.
1.08%
Starbucks Corp.
1.03%
Cisco Systems, Inc.
1.03%
Palantir Technologies, Inc.
0.97%
CVS Health Corp.
0.95%
Frequently asked questions about QDEF and RECS
How have the QDEF and RECS ETFs performed in 2026?
As of September 16, 2026, QDEF is up 11.57% year-to-date (YTD), while RECS has returned 9.74%. 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 +$2M in flows, compared to +$692M for RECS.
Which ETF is more volatile: QDEF or RECS?
Over the past year, QDEF had a volatility of 9.88%, while RECS experienced 11.99%.
Which ETF is bigger: QDEF or RECS?
As of September 16, 2026, QDEF holds $547.05 M in assets under management (AUM), while RECS manages $5.99 B.
What sectors do the QDEF and RECS ETFs invest in?
QDEF leans toward sectors like Technology, Finance and Healthcare. Meanwhile, RECS focuses on Technology, Finance and Healthcare.
What are the top holdings of the QDEF ETF and RECS ETF?
QDEF top holdings include Apple, Inc., NVIDIA Corp. and Broadcom Inc.. RECS holds in its top three: NVIDIA Corp., Apple, Inc. and Meta Platforms, Inc..
Which ETF is more diversified: QDEF or RECS?
QDEF holds 134 securities with 46.38% of its assets in the top 15. RECS has 451 securities and a top 15 weight of 45.24%.
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Latest news about QDEF & RECS
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