QLCvsDMAXETF Comparison
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Northern Trust US Quality Large Cap ETF (QLC) belongs to the US Multi-Factor segment. iShares Large Cap Max Buffer Dec ETF (DMAX) is part of the Options Strategies segment. Both ETFs have the same top 3 sector exposures: Technology, Finance and Healthcare. QLC is less expensive with a Total Expense Ratio (TER) of 0.26%, versus 0.53% for DMAX. QLC is up 13.95% year-to-date (YTD) with +$224M in YTD flows. DMAX performs worse with 4.24% YTD performance, and +$50M in YTD flows. Run a side-by-side ETF comparison of QLC and DMAX 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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QLC vs DMAX performance and flow charts
Performance
Cumulative Flows
Historic performance and flows
Data as of 09/17/2026
| 1M | 3M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perf. | QLC DMAX | -1.46%+0.36% | +3.28%+1.83% | +13.95%+4.24% | +20.70%+6.98% | +91.63%n/a | +98.79%n/a |
| Flows | QLC DMAX | +$26M-$3M | +$69M-$2M | +$224M+$50M | +$321M+$46M | +$620M- | +$627M- |
Volatility and drawdown
| 3M | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volatility | QLC DMAX | +10.90%+1.65% | +13.07%+2.20% | +15.12%n/a | +17.11%n/a |
| Max drawdown | QLC DMAX | -3.15%-0.30% | -8.90%-1.47% | -18.73%n/a | -23.78%n/a |
| Max drawdown duration | QLC DMAX | 35d5d | 63d44d | 124dn/a | 702dn/a |
Trading data
QLC | DMAX | |
Last sale 9/17/2026 at 7:53 PM | $91.92 | $27.72 |
| Previous close 09/17/2026 | $90.90 | $27.73 |
| Consolidated volume 09/17/2026 | ||
| 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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DMAX
is actively managed and doesn’t replicate an indexQLC | DMAX | |
|---|---|---|
| Tracking error | ||
| Tracking difference | ||
| 1 year cumulative return difference | ||
| Best | ||
| Worst | ||
| Daily return difference | ||
| Average | ||
| Worst | ||
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Main metrics
Last update 9/17/2026 at 7:53 PM
Live
Closed
QLC | DMAX | |
|---|---|---|
| Last price | $91.92 | $27.72 |
| 1D performance | +1.12% | -0.04% |
| AuM | $1.06 B | $136.61 M |
| E/R | 0.26% | 0.53% |
Characteristics
QLC | DMAX | |
|---|---|---|
| Management strategy | Passive | Active |
| Provider | Northern Trust | iShares |
| Benchmark | Northern Trust Quality Large Cap Index | - |
| N° of holdings | 176 | 501 |
| Asset class | Equities | - |
| Trailing 12m distribution yield | Join | Join |
| Inception date | September 23, 2015 | December 31, 2024 |
| ESG | No | No |
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Exposure
Countries
QLC
USA
97.8%
Other
2.2%
DMAX
USA
101.93%
Other
-1.93%
Sectors
QLC
Technology
45.38%
Finance
17.02%
Healthcare
9.91%
Other
27.69%
DMAX
Technology
46.39%
Finance
14.53%
Healthcare
9.31%
Consumer Non-Cycl.
9.26%
Industrials
8.12%
Other
12.39%
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Diversification
QLC
Total weight of top 15 holdings out of 15
44.47%
DMAX
Total weight of top 15 holdings out of 15
45.18%
Top 15 holdings
Data as of July 31, 2026
QLC
Apple, Inc.
7.31%
NVIDIA Corp.
7.08%
Microsoft Corp.
4.24%
Alphabet, Inc.
4.08%
Alphabet, Inc.
3.65%
Broadcom Inc.
2.93%
Amazon.com, Inc.
2.59%
JPMorgan Chase & Co.
1.97%
Cisco Systems, Inc.
1.85%
Johnson & Johnson
1.81%
Citigroup, Inc.
1.65%
Bank of America Corp.
1.45%
Meta Platforms, Inc.
1.40%
Berkshire Hathaway, Inc.
1.26%
GE Aerospace
1.21%
DMAX
Apple, Inc.
7.92%
NVIDIA Corp.
7.64%
Microsoft Corp.
5.42%
Amazon.com, Inc.
3.73%
Alphabet, Inc.
3.17%
Broadcom Inc.
2.97%
Alphabet, Inc.
2.55%
Meta Platforms, Inc.
1.92%
Micron Technology, Inc.
1.60%
JPMorgan Chase & Co.
1.52%
Berkshire Hathaway, Inc.
1.51%
Eli Lilly & Co.
1.48%
Tesla, Inc.
1.41%
Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
1.28%
ExxonMobil Holdings Corp.
1.05%
Frequently asked questions about QLC and DMAX
How have the QLC and DMAX ETFs performed in 2026?
As of September 17, 2026, QLC is up 13.95% year-to-date (YTD), while DMAX has returned 4.24%. That puts QLC better performer ahead so far this year.
Which ETF is attracting more investor money: QLC or DMAX?
Year-to-date, the QLC ETF saw +$224M in flows, compared to +$50M for DMAX.
Which ETF is more volatile: QLC or DMAX?
Over the past year, QLC had a volatility of 13.07%, while DMAX experienced 2.2%.
Which ETF is bigger: QLC or DMAX?
As of September 17, 2026, QLC holds $1.06 B in assets under management (AUM), while DMAX manages $136.61 M.
What sectors do the QLC and DMAX ETFs invest in?
QLC leans toward sectors like Technology, Finance and Healthcare. Meanwhile, DMAX focuses on Technology, Finance and Healthcare.
What are the top holdings of the QLC ETF and DMAX ETF?
QLC top holdings include Apple, Inc., NVIDIA Corp. and Microsoft Corp.. DMAX holds in its top three: Apple, Inc., NVIDIA Corp. and Microsoft Corp..
Which ETF is more diversified: QLC or DMAX?
QLC holds 177 securities with 44.47% of its assets in the top 15. DMAX has 504 securities and a top 15 weight of 45.18%.
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