ETF Evaluator:
iShares MSCI Emerging Mkts Qual Fac ETF ()
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(as of Aug 26)
Best Performing in Diversified Emerging Mkts Over the Last Year
| 114.0% | Nomura Focused Emerging Mrkts Eq ETF (EMEQ) |
| 81.0% | FT EM Human Flourishing ETF (FTHF) |
| 68.7% | First Trust Bloomberg Emr Mkt Dem ETF (EMDM) |
| 67.8% | Freedom 100 Emerging Markets ETF (FRDM) |
| 59.4% | Pacific NoS Global EM Equity Active ETF (GEME) |
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ETF Details
iShares MSCI Emerging Mkts Qual Fac ETF Overview
iShares MSCI Emerging Mkts Qual Fac ETF (EQLT) is a passively managed International Equity Diversified Emerging Mkts exchange-traded fund (ETF). iShares launched the ETF in 2024.
The investment seeks to track the investment results of the MSCI Emerging Markets Quality Factor Select Index.
The index seeks to measure the performance of securities in the parent index that exhibit higher quality characteristics relative to their peers within the corresponding GICS® sector, while covering approximately 50% of the market capitalization within each country in the parent index. The fund generally will invest at least 80% of its assets in the component securities of its index. The fund is non-diversified.
About iShares MSCI Emerging Mkts Qual Fac ETF (EQLT)
There are 4 members of the management team with an average tenure of 1.47 years: Jennifer Hsui (2024), Peter Sietsema (2025), Matt Waldron (2025) and Steven White (2025). Management tenure is more important for actively managed ETFs than passive index ETFs.
The ETF has 1 primary benchmark: MSCI Emg Mrkt Quality Factor St NR USD index with a weighting of 100%. iShares MSCI Emerging Mkts Qual Fac ETF has 320 securities in its portfolio. The top 10 holdings constitute 33.7% of the ETF’s assets. The ETF meets the SEC requirement of being classified as a nondiversified fund. The ETF is not considered to have an ESG focus with its investment selection and management.
iShares MSCI Emerging Mkts Qual Fac ETF is part of the Equity global asset class and is within the International Equity ETF group. iShares MSCI Emerging Mkts Qual Fac ETF has 98.1% of its portfolio invested in foreign issues. The overall assets allocated to domestic stock is 1.5% There is 98.1% allocated to foreign stock, and 0.0% is allocated to preferred stocks. The bond allocation as a percentage of total assets is 0.0% (0.0% domestic bond, 0.0% foreign bond and 0.0% convertible bond). iShares MSCI Emerging Mkts Qual Fac ETF has 0.4% of the portfolio in cash.
Assets Under Management
The fund has $11 million in total assets, which is below the $3 billion average for the Diversified Emerging Mkts category. Normally, lower assets under management translates to higher average expense ratios, and greater total assets are desired. However, for some investment categories, such as small-cap investing, it may be difficult for the manager to fully employ the desired active strategy if assets grow too large or too quickly.
EQLT Performance and Fees
The expense ratio measures how much of a fund’s assets are used for administrative expenses and operating expenses, including adviser fees and fees for the transfer agent and custodial services. The iShares MSCI Emerging Mkts Qual Fac ETF expense ratio is below average compared to funds in the Diversified Emerging Mkts category. iShares MSCI Emerging Mkts Qual Fac ETF has an expense ratio of 0.35%, which is 32% lower than its category average, making the fund expense ratio grade a B. While it is difficult to predict returns, it is known that high annual expense ratios reduce your rate of return, and excessive fees are difficult to overcome. Active management normally comes with higher expense ratios than passive index management. Certain investment categories such as small company and foreign also normally have higher expense ratios. It is best to compare fund expense ratios against the category averages for meaningful assessments.
High portfolio turnover can translate to higher expenses and lower aftertax returns. iShares MSCI Emerging Mkts Qual Fac ETF has a portfolio turnover rate of 41%, which indicates that it holds its assets around / 0.0 years. By way of comparison, the average portfolio turnover is 44% for the Diversified Emerging Mkts category.
Recently, in the month of July 2026, iShares MSCI Emerging Mkts Qual Fac ETF returned -3.2%, which earned it a grade of C, as the Diversified Emerging Mkts category had an average return of -3.0%. The letter grades of A, B, C, D and F are based upon relative rankings within the investment category. A grade of A, for example, would indicate that the return is in the highest 20% for that time period compared to all ETFs in that category.
iShares MSCI Emerging Mkts Qual Fac ETF has a trailing yield of 1.63%, which is below the 2.41% category average.
The fund normally distributes its income semi-annually and its capital gains annually.
It’s natural to seek the best-performing investments, but you must consider the relationship between risk and return and the impact of costs and taxes on your realized returns.
iShares MSCI Emerging Mkts Qual Fac ETF Grades
Year to date, the ETF has returned 22.9%, 5.8 percentage points better than the category, which translates into a grade of B. The fund has returned 42.9% over the past year (grade of A).
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EQLT Trailing NAV Total Returns Data as of 7/31/26
| Last Month |
Last Quarter |
Ann'l. 1Yr |
Ann'l. 3Yr |
Ann'l. 5Yr |
Ann'l. 10Yr |
|
| EQLT Return (NAV) | -3.2% | 3.0% | 42.9% | na | na | na |
| EQLT Return (Price) | -3.5% | 1.3% | 42.0% | na | na | na |
| NAV +/- Price Return | 0.360% | 1.700% | 0.914% | na | na | na |
| Diversified Emerging Mkts Avg | -3.0% | 3.0% | 31.9% | 16.6% | 7.1% | 7.8% |
| EQLT Grade (NAV) | C | C | A | na | na | na |
| +/- Category (NAV) | -0.2% | 0.0% | 11.0% | na | na | na |
| EQLT Tax-Cost Ratio | na | na | 1.0% | na | na | na |
EQLT Annual NAV Total ReturnsData as of 7/31/26
| 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |
| EQLT Return (NAV) | 22.9% | 33.9% | na | na | na | na | na | na | na | na | na |
| EQLT Return (Price) | 22.3% | 32.1% | na | na | na | na | na | na | na | na | na |
| NAV +/- Price Ret | -0.026% | -0.051% | na | na | na | na | na | na | na | na | na |
| Diversified Emerging Mkts Avg | 17.1% | 29.2% | 6.7% | 12.8% | -18.8% | 2.3% | 12.7% | 18.2% | -14.6% | 33.7% | 10.9% |
| EQLT Grade (NAV) | B | B | na | na | na | na | na | na | na | na | na |
| +/- Category | 5.8% | 4.6% | na | na | na | na | na | na | na | na | na |
| Risk Measures | |
| Beta: | na |
| R-Squared: | na |
| Standard Deviation: | na |
| Category Risk Index: | na |
| Category Risk Rating: | |
| Total Risk Index: | na |
| Total Risk Rating: | |
| Portfolio Characteristics | |
| Yield: | 1.6% |
| Total Assets: | $ 12 Mil |
| Share Class Assets: | $ 12 Mil |
| Turnover: | 41.0% |
| Expense Ratio: | 0.35% |
| Index Fund: | Yes |
| Index Tracked: | MSCI Emg Mrkt Quality Factor St NR USD |
| Index Weighting: | 100% |
| Leveraged: | No |
| Socially Responsible Fund: | No |
| Capital Gains Distribution Frequency: | Annually |
| Income Distribution Frequency: | Semi-Annually |
Management Team
| Number of Managers: 4 | |||
| Longest Tenure: 1.9 years | |||
| Average Tenure: 1.5 years | |||
| Managers (Year): Hsui Jennifer (2024), Sietsema Peter (2025), Waldron Matt (2025), White Steven (2025) | |||
Portfolio Composition (as of 7/31/26)
| # of Holdings: | 320 |
| % in Top 10 Holdings: | 33.7% |
| Fund is Non-Diversified: | Yes |
| % in Foreign Issues: | 98.1% |
Portfolio Allocation |
|
| Domestic Stock: | 1.5% |
| Foreign Stock: | 98.1% |
| Preferred Stock: | 0.0% |
| Domestic Bond: | 0.0% |
| Foreign Bond: | 0.0% |
| Convertible Bond: | 0.0% |
| Other: | 0.0% |
| Cash: | 0.4% |
Purchase Information
| Legal Structure: | Open Ended Investment Company |
| Fund Family: | iShares |
| Phone Number: | 800-474-2737 |
| Website: | au.ishares.com |
| Inception Date: | September 4, 2024 |
Expenses and Fees
| Expense Ratio (%): | 0.35% (Rating: Below Avg) |
| Category Average Expense Ratio (%): | 0.52% |
