VanEck MSCI International Quality ETF (QUAL) Review & Analysis
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What's new this monthData to 30 September 2026
+2.9% in September (total return), ahead of the median international shares ETF at +0.0%.
Investors added a net $195m (2.2% of the fund). That ranked #7 of 508 ETFs for new money.
The unit price closed the month at $63.36, 2% below its 12-month high (range $55.99 to $64.92).
About QUAL
QUAL is VanEck's international quality ETF. It tracks the MSCI World ex Australia Quality Index, which picks around 300 companies from developed markets that score well on three measures: high return on equity, steady earnings growth and low debt. It is a passive, rules based fund and it is unhedged.
The quality screen leads to a portfolio of large, profitable businesses. Familiar US technology names sit at the top, alongside companies such as Visa and Eli Lilly, and the fund carries more health care and less in banks and energy than a plain global index. Most of the money is in the US. Income is low and unfranked. Because it is unhedged, movements in the Australian dollar flow straight through to your returns.
QUAL is often used as a core global holding or as a quality tilt alongside a broad index fund. Alternatives include the hedged twin QHAL, the plain market fund VGS and Betashares' QLTY. See VGS vs QUAL, QUAL vs QHAL and QUAL vs QLTY.
QUAL distributions and dividend dates
QUAL pays distributions yearly, usually going ex-distribution in July, with payment about 26 days after the ex-date.
The latest distribution was $2.16 per unit (0% franked), ex-distribution on 1 July 2026 and paid on 27 July 2026. To receive it you need to own QUAL before the ex-date.
Its distribution yield over the past 12 months is about 3.3%. Distributions vary and past payments are not a guide to future ones.
From ASX announcements, updated nightly. See every ETF in the dividend calendar.
1 year ago$11,0063 years ago$15,6575 years ago$17,148
Value at 30 September 2026 with distributions reinvested, before tax and brokerage.
Total returns including distributions, to 30 September 2026. 1M, 1Y, 3Y and 5Y bars are cumulative.
QUAL at a glance: strengths and things to watch
👍 Strengths
Large and established. $9.2bn under management, number 7 of 508 ETFs in Australia by size.
Ahead of its peers. +11.4% a year over 5 years, against +8.8% for the median international shares ETF.
Cheap to trade. A bid/ask spread of 0.04%, so buying and selling costs little extra.
Long track record. Listed since 2014, through several market cycles.
⚠️ Things to watch
Nothing stands out against its category.
Worked out from QUAL's fees, size, flows, returns and trend against the 257 international shares ETFs in Australia, to 30 September 2026. General information, not a recommendation.
QUAL's moving averages are tangled and the price is moving sideways. The trend hasn't picked a direction yet. Its price is 3.4% below its 12-month high.
Why it matters: Bases are where the next big move starts. A breakout can begin a new uptrend, while a breakdown can start a long fall. Buying a satellite before the breakout often means waiting months for nothing to happen.
At ETF Adviser the core of a portfolio stays invested through every stage, and satellite ETFs are only bought in an uptrend. Members get a weekly update on which ETFs are breaking out of a base and which trends have broken.
QUAL weekly price, past 12 months, shaded by trend stage. Stage as at 7 November 2026, updated weekly. A technical label, not a recommendation.
QUAL vs its benchmark
How QUAL has done against the MSCI World ex Australia Quality Index, after fees. For an index fund, a small shortfall roughly the size of the fee is normal.
IQLT holds 82% of the same companies as QUAL for 0.15% a year less, which is $150 a year on $100,000. There are 2 cheaper twins in total. See all cheaper alternatives to QUAL →
Holdings from the issuer's published portfolio as at 30 October 2026. Breakdowns are based on the largest 292 positions, covering 100% of the fund. Compare QUAL's holdings with other ETFs →
Best-endeavours estimate. Built from each issuer's published holdings, which may be weeks or months old, may cover only part of a fund (some publish only their top 10) and are matched by company name. Figures may be incomplete or inaccurate. Check the issuer's website and PDS before relying on them. General information only.
Same holdings is the share of QUAL's money in companies the other ETF also holds, weighted by size. Most similar first, then ETFs in the same category. See every ETF like QUAL →
QUAL vs its closest alternatives
What actually differs between QUAL and the ETFs most like it. Data to 30 Sep 2026.
QHAL VanEck MSCI International Quality (AUD Hedged) ETF
They share 100% of their holdings: largely the same companies.
QUAL is cheaper (0.40% vs 0.43%), worth about $2,015 on $100,000 over 20 years.
Over 3 years, a year: QUAL +16.1%, QHAL +17.8% (QHAL ahead by 1.7 percentage points).
QUAL is about 3 times larger ($9.2bn vs $2.7bn), which usually means tighter trading spreads.
Different structure: QUAL is a standard fund, QHAL is currency hedged.
QUAL charges a management fee (MER) of 0.40% a year, according to the TMX Australia monthly funds report as at 30 September 2026.
How big is QUAL?
QUAL had $9.2bn in funds under management as at 30 September 2026.
How has QUAL performed?
QUAL returned +10.1% over the year to 30 September 2026 (total return, including distributions). Over three years it returned +16.1% a year. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.
Who manages QUAL?
QUAL is managed by VanEck and has been listed since October 2014.
Does QUAL pay monthly?
QUAL pays distributions once a year, usually going ex-distribution in July. It does not pay monthly. If you want monthly income, see the ETF dividend calendar on ReviewETF for funds that pay every month.
When is the next QUAL distribution?
Based on its usual schedule, QUAL's next distribution should go ex around the start of July, with payment about 26 days later. Dates can move, so check VanEck's announcements to confirm.
What is QUAL's dividend yield?
QUAL's distribution yield over the past 12 months was about 3.5%. That figure includes one-off capital gains or currency payouts, so its regular income is closer to 1.8% a year. Yields change with the unit price and each payment, and are not a forecast.
What does QUAL hold?
QUAL's largest holdings are Microsoft Corp (6.0%), Apple Inc (5.5%), Meta Platforms Inc (4.7%), NVIDIA Corp (4.5%), Eli Lilly & Co (4.3%). It holds about 292 investments in total. The biggest sector is information technology at 36%. Holdings as at 30 October 2026.
Is QUAL currency hedged?
No, QUAL is unhedged. Its returns move with the Australian dollar: a falling dollar adds to returns and a rising dollar reduces them.
Is there a cheaper alternative to QUAL?
Yes. IQLT (iShares MSCI World ex Australia Quality ETF) holds about 82% of the same companies and charges 0.25% a year, against 0.40% for QUAL. Check the index and size before switching, and remember selling may trigger capital gains tax.
Disclaimer
This review is general information only and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Consider the VanEck product disclosure statement (PDS) and target market determination (TMD) before investing. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.
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