ETF Evaluator:
Northern TrustDevMktsexUSQualLwVoltilETF ()
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(as of Nov 13)
Best Performing in Foreign Large Blend Over the Last Year
| 24.2% | Pacer Nasdaq International Ptnt Ldrs ETF (PATN) |
| 24.0% | Harbor International Equity ETF (EPIN) |
| 22.0% | Harding Loevner Intl Dev Mkts Sel Eq ETF (LOEV) |
| 21.5% | Touchstone Dynamic International ETF (TDI) |
| 20.8% | First Eagle Overseas Equity ETF (FEOE) |
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ETF Details
Northern TrustDevMktsexUSQualLwVoltilETF Overview
Northern TrustDevMktsexUSQualLwVoltilETF (QLVD) is a passively managed International Equity Foreign Large Blend exchange-traded fund (ETF). Northern Trust launched the ETF in 2019.
The investment seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the Northern Trust Developed Markets ex-US Quality Low Volatility IndexSM.
Under normal circumstances, the fund will invest at least 80% of its total assets (exclusive of collateral held from securities lending) in the securities of the underlying index and in American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”) and Global Depositary Receipts (“GDRs”) (collectively “Depositary Receipts”) based on the securities in the underlying index. The underlying index is created and sponsored by NTI, as the index Provider.
About Northern TrustDevMktsexUSQualLwVoltilETF (QLVD)
There are 3 members of the management team with an average tenure of 5.76 years: Robert Anstine (2019), Brendan Sullivan (2019) and Volter Bagriy (2024). Management tenure is more important for actively managed ETFs than passive index ETFs.
The ETF has 2 primary benchmarks: MSCI World ex USA NR USD index with a weighting of 100% and Northern Trust DM ex-US Q Low Vol TR USD index with a weighting of 100%. Northern TrustDevMktsexUSQualLwVoltilETF has 197 securities in its portfolio. The top 10 holdings constitute 22.5% of the ETF’s assets. The ETF meets the SEC requirement of being classified as a diversified fund. The ETF is not considered to have an ESG focus with its investment selection and management.
Northern TrustDevMktsexUSQualLwVoltilETF is part of the Equity global asset class and is within the International Equity ETF group. Northern TrustDevMktsexUSQualLwVoltilETF has 96.5% of its portfolio invested in foreign issues. The overall assets allocated to domestic stock is 2.8% There is 96.5% 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). Northern TrustDevMktsexUSQualLwVoltilETF has 0.7% of the portfolio in cash.
Assets Under Management
The fund has $54 million in total assets, which is below the $9 billion average for the Foreign Large Blend 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.
QLVD 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 Northern TrustDevMktsexUSQualLwVoltilETF expense ratio is low compared to funds in the Foreign Large Blend category. Northern TrustDevMktsexUSQualLwVoltilETF has an expense ratio of 0.12%, which is 70% lower than its category average, making the fund expense ratio grade a A. 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. Northern TrustDevMktsexUSQualLwVoltilETF has a portfolio turnover rate of 40%, which indicates that it holds its assets around / 0.0 years. By way of comparison, the average portfolio turnover is 38% for the Foreign Large Blend category.
Recently, in the month of October 2026, Northern TrustDevMktsexUSQualLwVoltilETF returned 5.1%, which earned it a grade of A, as the Foreign Large Blend category had an average return of -1.2%. 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.
Northern TrustDevMktsexUSQualLwVoltilETF has a trailing yield of 2.96%, which is above the 2.56% category average.
The fund normally distributes its income quarterly.
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.
Northern TrustDevMktsexUSQualLwVoltilETF Grades
Year to date, the ETF has returned 12.0%, 1.9 percentage points better than the category, which translates into a grade of B. The fund has returned 16.6% over the past year (grade of B), 17.3% over the past three years (grade of F) and 7.7% per year over the past five years (grade of D).
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QLVD Trailing NAV Total Returns Data as of 10/31/26
| Last Month |
Last Quarter |
Ann'l. 1Yr |
Ann'l. 3Yr |
Ann'l. 5Yr |
Ann'l. 10Yr |
|
| QLVD Return (NAV) | 5.1% | 2.3% | 16.6% | 17.3% | 7.7% | na |
| QLVD Return (Price) | 4.4% | 1.9% | 16.1% | 16.9% | 7.6% | na |
| NAV +/- Price Return | 0.685% | 0.488% | 0.448% | 0.390% | 0.164% | na |
| Foreign Large Blend Avg | -1.2% | -1.8% | 13.8% | 20.0% | 8.6% | 9.2% |
| QLVD Grade (NAV) | A | A | B | F | D | na |
| +/- Category (NAV) | 6.3% | 4.2% | 2.7% | -2.7% | -0.9% | na |
| QLVD Tax-Cost Ratio | na | na | 1.2% | 1.1% | 1.2% | na |
QLVD Annual NAV Total ReturnsData as of 10/31/26
| 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |
| QLVD Return (NAV) | 12.0% | 23.6% | 5.3% | 12.2% | -12.5% | 9.1% | 3.0% | na | na | na | na |
| QLVD Return (Price) | 11.6% | 24.2% | 4.7% | 11.6% | -12.1% | 9.1% | 3.0% | na | na | na | na |
| NAV +/- Price Ret | -0.030% | 0.026% | -0.110% | -0.051% | -0.032% | -0.005% | -0.011% | na | na | na | na |
| Foreign Large Blend Avg | 10.1% | 31.2% | 5.2% | 16.8% | -14.7% | 10.2% | 8.9% | 22.0% | -13.3% | 24.7% | 2.0% |
| QLVD Grade (NAV) | B | F | B | F | A | D | F | na | na | na | na |
| +/- Category | 1.9% | -7.6% | 0.1% | -4.6% | 2.2% | -1.1% | -5.8% | na | na | na | na |
| Risk Measures | |
| Beta: | 0.58 |
| R-Squared: | 47% |
| Standard Deviation: | 11.0% |
| Category Risk Index: | 0.88 |
| Category Risk Rating: | Low |
| Total Risk Index: | 0.91 |
| Total Risk Rating: | Below Average |
| Portfolio Characteristics | |
| Yield: | 3.0% |
| Total Assets: | $ 54 Mil |
| Share Class Assets: | $ 54 Mil |
| Turnover: | 40.0% |
| Expense Ratio: | 0.12% |
| Index Fund: | Yes |
| Index Tracked: | MSCI World ex USA NR USD |
| Index Weighting: | 100% |
| Leveraged: | No |
| Socially Responsible Fund: | No |
| Capital Gains Distribution Frequency: | |
| Income Distribution Frequency: | Quarterly |
Management Team
| Number of Managers: 3 | |||
| Longest Tenure: 7.3 years | |||
| Average Tenure: 5.8 years | |||
| Managers (Year): Anstine Robert (2019), Sullivan Brendan (2019), Bagriy Volter (2024) | |||
Portfolio Composition (as of 10/30/26)
| # of Holdings: | 197 |
| % in Top 10 Holdings: | 22.5% |
| Fund is Non-Diversified: | No |
| % in Foreign Issues: | 96.5% |
Portfolio Allocation |
|
| Domestic Stock: | 2.8% |
| Foreign Stock: | 96.5% |
| Preferred Stock: | 0.0% |
| Domestic Bond: | 0.0% |
| Foreign Bond: | 0.0% |
| Convertible Bond: | 0.0% |
| Other: | 0.0% |
| Cash: | 0.7% |
Purchase Information
| Legal Structure: | Open Ended Investment Company |
| Fund Family: | Northern Trust |
| Phone Number: | 855-353-9383 |
| Website: | www.flexshares.com |
| Inception Date: | July 15, 2019 |
Expenses and Fees
| Expense Ratio (%): | 0.12% (Rating: Low) |
| Category Average Expense Ratio (%): | 0.40% |