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Northern Trust Quality Dividend Defensive ETF
QDEF performance and flow charts
Performance
Flows
Historic performance and flows
Data as of September 16, 2026| 1M | 3M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perf. | -1.36% | +2.88% | +11.57% | +15.21% | +69.08% | +79.78% |
| Flows | -$4M | -$11M | +$2M | +$10M | +$16M | -$99M |
Characteristics
The Northern Trust Quality Dividend Defensive ETF is built to track the Northern Trust Quality Dividend Defensive Total Return Index - USD. This ETF provides physical exposure - by owning its shares you earn the return of the securities composing the index (as the ETF holds them directly). This share class generates a stream of income by distributing dividends.
| Management strategy | Passive |
| Strategy | Long Only |
| Provider | Northern Trust |
| N° of holdings | 134 |
| Replication method | Direct (Physical) |
| Asset class | Equity |
| Dividend policy | Distributing |
Trailing 12m distribution yield | Join for free |
| Inception date | December 14, 2012 |
| ESG | No |
More data and info about QDEF on Trackinsight
Exposure
Data as of July 31, 2026Diversification
Total weight of top 15 holdings out of 134
Top 15 Holdings
Sectors
Countries
Similar ETFs
Trading data
Volatility and drawdown
| 3M | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volatility | +8.45% | +9.88% | +12.04% | +13.97% |
Max drawdown | -2.46% | -6.99% | -14.47% | -21.30% |
Max drawdown duration | 13d | 66d | 191d | 566d |
Time to recover | N/A | 18d | 65d | 292d |
Replication quality
Data as of August 31, 2026Create an account to view replication metrics
1 year cumulative return difference | |
|---|---|
| Best | Join for free |
| Worst | Join for free |
| daily return difference | |
|---|---|
| Average | Join for free |
| Worst | Join for free |
What type of ETF is QDEF?
QDEF is a Passive ETF that provides exposure to Equity assets. It is managed by Northern Trust.
What index does QDEF track?
QDEF tracks the Northern Trust Quality Dividend Defensive Total Return Index - USD, aiming to replicate its performance through optimized sampling.
What does QDEF invest in?
This ETF provides exposure to Other Large Cap US Equities. It is part of the segment: US Multi-Factor.
What is the expense ratio of QDEF?
The total expense ratio (TER) of QDEF is 0.4%, representing the annual fee charged by the fund manager.
When was QDEF launched?
QDEF was launched on December 14, 2012, marking its entry into the ETF market.
Who is the issuer of QDEF?
QDEF is issued by Northern Trust.
What is the AUM of QDEF?
As of September 16, 2026, QDEF manages $547.05 M, reflecting the total assets held in the fund.
How has QDEF performed recently?
As of September 16, 2026, QDEF delivered a return of -1.36% over the past month (1M performance), 2.88% over the past three months (3M), and 11.57% year-to-date (YTD).
What are the recent fund flows for QDEF?
As of September 16, 2026, QDEF has seen net flows of -$4M in the past month (1M flow) and +$2M year-to-date (YTD).
Does QDEF pay dividends?
As of September 16, 2026, QDEF has a trailing 12-month distribution yield of 1.56%.
How many holdings are in QDEF
As of July 31, 2026, QDEF holds 134 securities in its portfolio. This level of diversification can influence the fund’s risk profile and exposure to individual assets.
How diversified is QDEF?
As of July 31, 2026, QDEF holds 134 securities, with 46.38% of its assets concentrated in its top 15 holdings.
What are the top holdings of QDEF?
As of July 31, 2026, QDEF holds a portfolio of 134 underlyings, with its largest positions including Apple, Inc., NVIDIA Corp. and Broadcom Inc.. These top holdings play a significant role in shaping the fund’s performance and exposure.
What countries or regions does QDEF invest in?
As of July 31, 2026, QDEF has its largest geographic exposures in USA.
What sectors or themes does QDEF focus on?
As of July 31, 2026, QDEF is primarily exposed to Technology, Finance and Healthcare.
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