QDF: FLEXSHARES QUALITY DIVIDEND INDEX FUND
Understanding the FLEXSHARES QUALITY DIVIDEND INDEX FUND (QDF)
The FLEXSHARES QUALITY DIVIDEND INDEX FUND (ticker: QDF) is an ETF designed to invest in companies that focus on quality and dividends. As of October 6, 2026, the fund is trading at $91.59.
What this ETF is trying to do
This fund seeks to provide exposure to companies that meet specific quality and dividend standards. It holds a variety of stocks across different industries. According to the most recent data, the fund holds 143 total companies.
Top Holdings:
• Apple Inc (9.56%)
• NVIDIA Corp (7.82%)
• Microsoft Corp (4.43%)
• Johnson & Johnson (2.99%)
• Lam Research Corp (2.69%)
• Broadcom Inc (2.67%)
• JPMorgan Chase & Co (2.48%)
• GE Aerospace (2.32%)
• Alphabet Inc Class A (2.31%)
• Philip Morris International Inc (1.91%)
*Note: This list is partial and shows only the largest holdings. Holdings can change over time.*
What the numbers show
When looking at how this ETF has performed, it is important to distinguish between price return (the change in the share price) and total return (which includes the value of distributions).
• Year-to-Date (YTD): The price return is approximately 13.34%, while the total return is approximately 14.52%.
• One-Year: The price return is approximately 14.99%, while the total return is approximately 16.86%.
• Three-Year: The price return is approximately 64.23%, while the total return is approximately 73.51%.
• Five-Year: The five-year total return is approximately 80.02%.
An estimated price from roughly one year ago was $79.65.
Income and distribution explanation
This ETF provides cash to investors through distributions. The current distribution yield is approximately 1.50%. The trailing distributions are $1.37.
The fund usually pays out on a quarterly basis, with 4 payouts recorded over the last 12 months. Most of these payments have occurred on Fridays. It is important to remember that a distribution yield tells you how much cash was paid relative to the price, but it is not the same thing as your total return.
NAV erosion explanation
"NAV erosion" refers to a decline in the Net Asset Value (the actual value of the fund's underlying assets). The supplied data is sufficient to evaluate price erosion, but it does not include enough historical NAV-per-share data to confirm or rule out NAV erosion.
However, regarding price trends, the fund has an erosion score of 100, which is labeled as "No price erosion detected." The erosion severity is rated as "good," and there is no severe erosion-risk flag.
Pros
• Strong Historical Returns: The fund has shown positive price and total returns over one, three, and five-year periods.
• Income Rating: The fund has an income rating grade of "A" with a score of 84.
Cons
• Lower Yield: The distribution yield is relatively low at approximately 1.50%, which may not meet the needs of investors seeking very high immediate cash flow.
Beginner takeaway
QDF is an ETF that focuses on quality dividend-paying companies. For investors, it has shown both share-price growth and total returns (which include dividends) over several years. While it provides regular quarterly income, the yield is modest compared to some other types of income-focused funds.
Top Holdings
Structured portfolio holdings supplied by the ETF data provider. These figures are not generated by the AI article.
| # | Holding | Ticker | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | APPLE INC | AAPL | 9.56% |
| 2 | NVIDIA CORP | NVDA | 7.82% |
| 3 | MICROSOFT CORP | MSFT | 4.43% |
| 4 | JOHNSON & JOHNSON | JNJ | 2.99% |
| 5 | LAM RESEARCH CORP | LRCX | 2.69% |
| 6 | BROADCOM INC | AVGO | 2.67% |
| 7 | JPMORGAN CHASE & CO | JPM | 2.48% |
| 8 | GE AEROSPACE | GE | 2.32% |
| 9 | ALPHABET INC CLASS A | GOOGL | 2.31% |
| 10 | PHILIP MORRIS INTERNATIONAL INC | PM | 1.91% |