FlexShares Quality Dividend Defensive Index Fund
QDEF
New York Stock Exchange Arca- -
USD
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- -
Capital Structure
FRC
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in mil. unless spec.Working Capital
FRC
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in mil. unless spec.Growth Rates
FRC
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in mil. unless spec.Quarterly Revenue
FRC
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in mil. unless spec.Quarterly Earnings Per Share
FRC
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in mil. unless spec.Quarterly Dividends Per Share
FRC
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in mil. unless spec.- Sector
- Financial Services
- Industry
- Asset Management - Income
- Address
- 50 South LaSalle Street Chicago IL United States of America 60603
- IPO Date
- Dec 19, 2012
- CIK
- 0001491978
- Website
- flexshares.com
- Similar Companies
- Business
- FlexShares Quality Dividend Defensive Index Fund (QDEF) is an exchange-traded fund that seeks investment results corresponding generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the Northern Trust Quality Dividend Defensive Index. The fund provides exposure to a high-quality, income-oriented portfolio of long-only U.S. equity securities emphasizing long-term capital growth, dividend payments, and a targeted overall beta generally between 0.5 and 1.0 times that of the Northern Trust 1250 Index (parent index); it selects companies based on expected dividend payments and fundamental factors including profitability, solid management, and reliable cash flow, using a proprietary scoring model and optimization process to maximize quality factors while improving dividend yield relative to the parent index. QDEF holds approximately 130 securities, with top holdings including Apple Inc. (AAPL; ~7.6%), NVIDIA Corp. (NVDA; ~6.5%), Microsoft Corp. (MSFT; ~5.3%), Broadcom Inc. (AVGO; ~5.1%), AbbVie Inc. (ABBV; ~3.1%), Johnson & Johnson (JNJ; ~2.9%), Procter & Gamble Co. (PG; ~2.6%), and others representing about 39% of assets; it distributes dividends quarterly, with a trailing twelve-month yield of approximately 1.63% and an expense ratio of 0.37%. Launched on December 14, 2012, and domiciled in the United States, the fund is issued and managed by FlexShares, a subsidiary of Northern Trust Investments, Inc., with a focus on U.S. large-cap blend equities in the large value Morningstar category for investors seeking defensive, low-volatility dividend strategies. Geographically, QDEF invests exclusively in developed U.S. market equities, targeting income-seeking investors, including those pursuing total market exposure with reduced volatility. In recent developments, the fund maintained steady operations amid portfolio manager updates, including the addition of Errol Mitchell effective March 1, 2025, alongside Robert Anstine, Brendan Sullivan, and Yair Walny; it reported assets under management around $477 million as of late 2025, with recent quarterly distributions such as $0.317872 on September 19, 2025, and ongoing performance outperformance relative to some peers driven by technology exposure despite its defensive mandate.