QDEF Performance — FlexShares Quality Dividend Defensive Index Fund
Data updated: 2026-09-25
QDEF returned +10.43% year to date and +19.99% over one year to Jul 2026. Annualised returns are +17.51% over 3 years and +12.31% over 5 years. Against its US Large Value category average the fund came out ahead over three years but behind over one: $100 invested three years ago grew to $162, against $156 for the category, and to $120 over one year, against $122. Volatility over the past three years was 10.65% a year. In the 12 months to Jul 2026 the fund took in a net $13.5M, and assets reached $545.85M.
QDEF Growth of $100
What $100 invested in FlexShares Quality Dividend Defensive Index Fund grew to, compounded from monthly returns reported on SEC Form N-PORT, against the US Large Value category average over the same months.
| Period | QDEF | Category average |
|---|---|---|
| 1 year (Aug 2025 – Jul 2026) | $120 | $122 |
| 3 years (Aug 2023 – Jul 2026) | $162 | $156 |
| 5 years (Aug 2021 – Jul 2026) | $179 | $168 |
| Since data start (Aug 2019 – Jul 2026) | $229 | $226 |
QDEF Trailing Returns
Total returns to Jul 2026, from SEC N-PORT.
| Period | Total return |
|---|---|
| YTD | +10.43% |
| 1 year | +19.99% |
| 3 years (annualised) | +17.51% |
| 5 years (annualised) | +12.31% |
QDEF Annual Returns
Calendar-year total returns of FlexShares Quality Dividend Defensive Index Fund, compounded from monthly SEC N-PORT returns. Partial years show the months covered.
| Year | Total return |
|---|---|
| 2026 (Jan–Jul) | +10.43% |
| 2025 | +17.28% |
| 2024 | +21.31% |
| 2023 | +17.42% |
| 2022 | −10.90% |
| 2021 | +25.93% |
| 2020 | +3.23% |
| 2019 (Aug–Dec) | +7.07% |
QDEF Monthly Returns
Monthly total returns as reported on SEC Form N-PORT.
| Year | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | +1.7% | +1.9% | −4.5% | +6.7% | +3.0% | −0.5% | +2.0% | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2025 | +2.1% | +1.2% | −3.3% | −1.5% | +4.3% | +3.5% | +1.7% | +3.9% | +2.8% | +0.2% | +2.0% | −0.4% |
| 2024 | +1.9% | +3.6% | +3.3% | −4.3% | +4.5% | +2.7% | +3.2% | +3.9% | +2.2% | −1.4% | +4.4% | −4.0% |
| 2023 | +3.7% | −3.1% | +2.8% | +2.1% | −1.9% | +6.0% | +3.6% | −1.4% | −4.7% | −1.5% | +7.1% | +4.2% |
| 2022 | −5.0% | −3.0% | +4.0% | −5.4% | +0.9% | −6.6% | +5.7% | −3.9% | −9.0% | +10.1% | +6.2% | −3.5% |
| 2021 | +0.2% | +0.1% | +6.5% | +3.2% | +1.4% | +1.2% | +2.4% | +2.1% | −5.2% | +5.5% | −0.4% | +6.8% |
| 2020 | −1.7% | −9.4% | −13.9% | +11.7% | +3.5% | +0.3% | +4.7% | +4.4% | −2.8% | −3.6% | +9.2% | +3.8% |
| 2019 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | −2.1% | +2.9% | +1.3% | +2.2% | +2.7% |
QDEF Risk
Risk measures from monthly returns over Aug 2023 – Jul 2026.
- 3-year volatility (annualised): 10.65%
- 3-year Sharpe ratio: 1.22 (vs 4.5% risk-free rate)
- Best month: +7.05% (Nov 2023)
- Worst month: −4.74% (Sep 2023)
QDEF Fund Flows
Monthly money in and out of FlexShares Quality Dividend Defensive Index Fund, from SEC Form N-PORT.
- 12-month net flow: $13.5M
- 12-month gross sales (incl. reinvestments): $109.0M
- Sales ÷ redemptions: 1.14×
| Month | Sales | Redemptions | Net flow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 2026 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Jun 2026 | $0 | $28.4M | −$28.4M |
| May 2026 | $21.9M | $0 | $21.9M |
| Apr 2026 | $6.2M | $0 | $6.2M |
| Mar 2026 | $4.1M | $21.0M | −$16.9M |
| Feb 2026 | $21.0M | $2.1M | $18.9M |
| Jan 2026 | $4.1M | $0 | $4.1M |
| Dec 2025 | $2.0M | $0 | $2.0M |
| Nov 2025 | $28.0M | $22.4M | $5.6M |
| Oct 2025 | $0 | $2.0M | −$2.0M |
| Sep 2025 | $2.0M | $19.5M | −$17.6M |
| Aug 2025 | $19.6M | $0 | $19.6M |
QDEF Assets Under Management
Net assets of FlexShares Quality Dividend Defensive Index Fund by report date, from SEC N-PORT filings.
| Report date | Net assets |
|---|---|
| 2026-07-31 | $545.85M |
| 2026-04-30 | $530.30M |
| 2026-01-31 | $503.83M |
| 2025-10-31 | $478.94M |
| 2025-07-31 | $449.59M |
| 2025-04-30 | $399.60M |
| 2025-01-31 | $412.47M |
| 2024-10-31 | $403.87M |
| 2024-07-31 | $382.40M |
| 2024-04-30 | $348.31M |
| 2024-01-31 | $348.78M |
| 2023-10-31 | $313.23M |
For information only. Not investment advice: figures are as reported in SEC filings and may contain errors or be out of date. Past performance does not guarantee future results.