MTUM vs QUAL Stock Comparison: AI Score, Valuation, Performance and Upside
MTUM and QUAL sit in related but distinct corners of the ETF landscape — MTUM centers on systematic exposure to stocks with strong recent price trends, while QUAL focuses on systematic exposure to financially strong, high-quality companies. Investors choosing between them should weigh how each fund's strategy lines up with their own goals rather than assuming they're interchangeable.
Choosing between MTUM and QUAL comes down to which specific exposure — systematic exposure to stocks with strong recent price trends or systematic exposure to financially strong, high-quality companies — better matches the role you want this holding to play in a diversified portfolio.
QUAL holds the edge across 3 of 5 key metrics in this comparison. MTUM has delivered stronger 1-year price return (+19.11% vs +18.11% for QUAL).
- want systematic exposure to stocks with strong recent price trends
- prefer iShares (BlackRock)'s approach and fund lineup
- value captures the well-documented momentum factor premium academically
- are comfortable with momentum can reverse sharply and suddenly during market rotations
- want systematic exposure to financially strong, high-quality companies
- prefer iShares (BlackRock)'s approach and fund lineup
- value tilts toward companies with strong balance sheets and stable earnings
- are comfortable with can underperform during speculative, low-quality-stock-led rallies
| Metric | MTUM | QUAL |
|---|---|---|
| ETF scorei | 27.2 | 27.1 |
| Latest closei | $301.54 | $226.72 |
| 1M returni | +0.68% | +3.68% |
| 3M returni | -0.42% | +2.97% |
| 6M returni | +11.69% | +11.40% |
| 1Y returni | +19.11% | +18.11% |
The ETF score weights long-term returns and risk-adjusted performance most heavily, but still rewards low expense ratios, larger fund size, and broader diversification — so it can favor low-cost, broad, mega-cap funds over smaller thematic or actively-managed funds even when the latter have delivered stronger returns.
How much would $10,000 be worth today if invested at the start of each period, with all dividends reinvested?
| Period | MTUM | QUAL |
|---|---|---|
| 1Y ago | $11.99K (+19.9%) started 2025-10-15 | $11.92K (+19.2%) started 2025-10-15 |
| 5Y ago | $18.41K (+84.1%) started 2021-10-15 | $18.61K (+86.1%) started 2021-10-15 |
| 10Y ago | $50.39K (+403.9%) started 2016-10-17 | $46.15K (+361.5%) started 2016-10-17 |
Hypothetical — past performance does not guarantee future results.
| Metric | MTUM | QUAL |
|---|---|---|
| Expense ratioi | 0.15% | 0.15% |
| Total assets (AUM)i | $20.43B | $47.68B |
| Dividend yieldi | 0.58% | 0.85% |
| Trailing P/Ei | 25.76 | 27.26 |
| Betai | 1.07 | 1.01 |
| 52-week change | 19.11% | 18.11% |
| Metric | MTUM | QUAL |
|---|---|---|
| 1Y returni | +19.11% | +18.11% |
| 6M returni | +11.69% | +11.40% |
| 3M returni | -0.42% | +2.97% |
| 1M returni | +0.68% | +3.68% |
| 1Y Sharpe ratio | 0.62 | 1.08 |
| Betai | 1.07 | 1.01 |
| Dividend yieldi | 0.58% | 0.85% |
| 5Y CAGR | +11.66% | +11.88% |
Over the past year, MTUM and QUAL have moved moderately in the same direction (correlation of 0.68), based on daily returns.
Lower drawdown and smaller single-period drops generally indicate a smoother ride, though they do not guarantee lower future risk.
| Period | Metric | MTUM | QUAL |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Y | Growthi | +19.11% | +18.11% |
| CAGRi | +19.13% | +18.13% | |
| Volatilityi | 26.64% | 11.95% | |
| Sharpe ratioi | 0.62 | 1.08 | |
| Sortino ratioi | 0.88 | 1.62 | |
| Max drawdowni | 17.99% | 9.03% | |
| Current drawdowni | 12.48% | 0.44% | |
| Avg drawdowni | 4.85% | 1.39% | |
| Ulcer Indexi | 6.44% | 2.15% | |
| Max daily dropi | 5.95% | 2.05% | |
| Max wkly dropi | 9.91% | 3.85% | |
| 5Y | Growthi | +73.54% | +75.31% |
| CAGRi | +11.66% | +11.88% | |
| Volatilityi | 22.05% | 17.30% | |
| Sharpe ratioi | 0.41 | 0.48 | |
| Sortino ratioi | 0.58 | 0.69 | |
| Max drawdowni | 32.28% | 28.23% | |
| Current drawdowni | 12.48% | 0.44% | |
| Avg drawdowni | 11.70% | 6.31% | |
| Ulcer Indexi | 15.64% | 9.62% | |
| Max daily dropi | 7.09% | 5.54% | |
| Max wkly dropi | 11.52% | 11.02% | |
| 10Y | Growthi | +346.12% | +294.59% |
| CAGRi | +16.14% | +14.72% | |
| Volatilityi | 21.87% | 18.08% | |
| Sharpe ratioi | 0.59 | 0.60 | |
| Sortino ratioi | 0.82 | 0.85 | |
| Max drawdowni | 34.08% | 34.06% | |
| Current drawdowni | 12.48% | 0.44% | |
| Avg drawdowni | 7.69% | 4.71% | |
| Ulcer Indexi | 11.86% | 7.86% | |
| Max daily dropi | 12.37% | 10.18% | |
| Max wkly dropi | 17.09% | 16.98% |
| Category | MTUM | QUAL |
|---|---|---|
| Fund name | iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF | iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF |
| Type | ETF | ETF |
| Expense ratioi | 0.15% | 0.15% |
| Total assets (AUM)i | $20.43B | $47.68B |
| Dividend yieldi | 0.58% | 0.85% |
- Captures the well-documented momentum factor premium academically
- Semi-annual rebalancing keeps the portfolio aligned with current leaders
- Can meaningfully outperform during strong, persistent trends
- Tilts toward companies with strong balance sheets and stable earnings
- Sector-neutral construction avoids unintended sector bets
- Tends to hold up relatively well during market downturns
- Momentum can reverse sharply and suddenly during market rotations
- Higher turnover than plain index funds increases trading costs
- Sector concentration can shift dramatically between rebalances
- Can underperform during speculative, low-quality-stock-led rallies
- Higher expense ratio than plain market-cap index funds
- Quality premium can be inconsistent over shorter time horizons
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Volatility, Sharpe and Sortino ratios, maximum, current, and average drawdown, Ulcer Index, and worst single-day and single-week drops across every timeframe.
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