iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Quality Factor ETF (EQLT) Performance
EQLT total return
Distributions reinvested · as of Oct 23, 2026- YTD
- +15.6% since Dec 31, 2025
- 1 year
- +18.2% total return
- 5 years
- −0.2% a year
- 10 years
- +2.6% a year
- Since first price
- +3.1% a year since 2014
EQLT trailing returns vs SPY, QQQ, AGG
| Period | EQLT total return | Price only | S&P 500 (SPY) | Nasdaq-100 (QQQ) | U.S. bonds (AGG) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 month | −9.3% | −9.3% | −1.0% | −5.0% | +0.9% |
| 3 months | −6.0% | −6.0% | +3.2% | +1.9% | −0.4% |
| 6 months | −1.2% | −1.9% | +7.8% | +8.4% | −1.5% |
| YTD | +15.6% | +14.8% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 1 year | +18.2% | +15.0% | +14.4% | +15.9% | −1.1% |
| 3 years | −0.9%−0.3%/yr | −5.2% | +87.4%+23.3%/yr | +101.4%+26.3%/yr | +16.6%+5.2%/yr |
| 5 years | −0.9%−0.2%/yr | −5.2% | +79.3%+12.4%/yr | +94.0%+14.2%/yr | −0.8%−0.2%/yr |
| 10 years | +28.9%+2.6%/yr | +23.2% | +315.9%+15.3%/yr | +538.9%+20.4%/yr | +14.0%+1.3%/yr |
| Since inceptionFeb 25, 2014 | +47.0%+3.1%/yr | +40.5% | — | — | — |
Total return from adjusted closes (distributions reinvested, before tax). Periods of 3 years or more are also shown annualized. Price only excludes distributions.
Growth of $10,000: EQLT vs SPY
From Feb 25, 2014: EQLT grew to $14,699, SPY to $50,874.
Year-end values with distributions reinvested, no taxes or trading costs. Start: first common trading day of both funds.
EQLT returns by calendar year
4 of 11 full years positive. Best 2025 (+32.1%), worst 2024 (−35.1%). 2026 is year to date.
EQLT annual returns table
| Year | EQLT | Largest drop | SPY | QQQ | AGG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | +15.6% | −13.5% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 2025 | +32.1% | −14.1% | +17.7% | +20.8% | +7.2% |
| 2024 | −35.1% | −35.8% | +24.9% | +25.6% | +1.3% |
| 2023 | 0.0% | 0.0% | +26.2% | +54.9% | +5.7% |
| 2022 | 0.0% | 0.0% | −18.2% | −32.6% | −13.0% |
| 2021 | 0.0% | 0.0% | +28.7% | +27.4% | −1.8% |
| 2020 | 0.0% | 0.0% | +18.3% | +48.6% | +7.5% |
| 2019 | +14.3% | −2.7% | +31.2% | +39.0% | +8.5% |
| 2018 | −10.7% | −21.0% | −4.6% | −0.1% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | +19.9% | −3.5% | +21.7% | +32.7% | +3.6% |
| 2016 | +12.3% | −12.0% | +12.0% | +7.1% | +2.4% |
| 2015 | −3.7% | −11.1% | +1.2% | +9.4% | +0.5% |
Largest drop = deepest fall from a high within that calendar year.
Calendar-year return vs largest drop within the year
Most years include a sizable fall at some point even when the year ends higher.
EQLT largest drawdowns
Now 13.5% below the high| Peak | Decline | Bottom | Recovered | Fall | Underwater |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 21, 2018 | −43.6% | Apr 8, 2025 | May 5, 2026 | 6.5 years | 7.6 years |
| Apr 23, 2015 | −20.5% | Feb 11, 2016 | Aug 15, 2016 | 10 months | 1.3 years |
| Jun 18, 2026 | −13.5% | Oct 22, 2026 | not yet | 4 months | 4 months so far |
Declines from a closing high (distributions reinvested) of 10% or more. Underwater = time from the peak until the old high was regained.
EQLT risk statistics
| Statistic | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years | Since 2014 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annualized return | +2.1% | +1.3% | +3.1% | +3.6% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 23.7% | 18.3% | 14.5% | 14.0% |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.03 | -0.03 | 0.14 | 0.20 |
| Sortino ratio | 0.04 | -0.03 | 0.17 | 0.26 |
| Best month | +15.9% | +15.9% | +15.9% | +15.9% |
| Worst month | −30.4% | −30.4% | −30.4% | −30.4% |
| Best 12 months | +62.6% | +62.6% | +62.6% | +62.6% |
| Worst 12 months | −35.2% | −35.2% | −35.2% | −35.2% |
| Positive months | 44% | 27% | 32% | 36% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 0.56 | 0.22 | 0.26 | — |
| Correlation with S&P 500 | 0.30 | 0.19 | 0.27 | — |
From monthly total returns. Sharpe and Sortino use 1–3 month T-bills (BIL) as the risk-free rate, so they need history from 2007 on.
EQLT rolling returns
| Holding period | Periods | Worst | Median | Best | Positive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-year | 141 | −35.2% | 0.0% | +62.6% | 43% |
| 3-year (a year) | 117 | −13.5% | +0.8% | +13.7% | 55% |
| 5-year (a year) | 93 | −8.3% | +1.7% | +8.9% | 69% |
| 10-year (a year) | 33 | −1.5% | +2.0% | +4.2% | 67% |
Every holding period starting at a month-end since 2014. Returns for 3 years and longer are annualized.
EQLT performance overview
iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Quality Factor ETF (EQLT) returned +18.2% over the past year and +2.6% a year over ten years, with distributions reinvested. Since its first recorded price in 2014 it has returned +3.1% a year, turning $10,000 into about $14,699. Over the same year S&P 500 (SPY) returned +14.4%.
The deepest decline was −43.6%, from Sep 21, 2018 to Apr 8, 2025, and it took 1.1 years to get back to the old high. EQLT finished 4 of its 11 full calendar years with a gain; the best year was 2025 (+32.1%) and the worst 2024 (−35.1%). Volatility has been 14.0% a year.
Related: EQLT chart, EQLT holdings, EQLT dividends. See the EQLT overview for the latest quote and fund facts.
EQLT performance FAQ
What is the EQLT return over the past year?
EQLT returned +18.2% over the 12 months to October 23, 2026, including reinvested distributions. On price alone it rose 15.0%.
What is the average annual return of EQLT?
EQLT has returned −0.2% a year over 5 years, +2.6% a year over 10 years, +3.1% a year since February 25, 2014 (total return, distributions reinvested).
How much would $10,000 invested in EQLT be worth?
$10,000 invested in EQLT at its first recorded close on February 25, 2014 would be worth about $14,699 on October 23, 2026 with distributions reinvested.
What was the worst year for EQLT?
The worst calendar year was 2024, with a total return of −35.1%. The best was 2025 at +32.1%.
What is the biggest drawdown of EQLT?
The largest peak-to-trough decline was −43.6% between September 21, 2018 and April 8, 2025. It recovered to the old high on May 5, 2026, 1.1 years after the bottom.
How volatile is EQLT?
Over the past 3 years EQLT had an annualized volatility of 23.7% and a Sharpe ratio of 0.03 (excess return over 1–3 month T-bills per unit of risk).