JQUA vs MSLC
JPMorgan US Quality Factor ETF vs Morgan Stanley Pathway Large Cap Equity ETF
Which is better, JQUA or MSLC?
JQUA has been ahead.
JQUA has a lower expense ratio. JQUA led over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.91. JQUA is less concentrated, with 19.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 35.6%.
MarketXLS is not an investment adviser. This comparison is generated automatically from market data and is for information only. A Best mark means the better reading on that one measure, not a recommendation to buy.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | JQUA | MSLC |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.12%Best | 0.39% |
| AUM | $9.3B | $4.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.08% | 1.95% |
| Holdings | 624 | 793 |
| YTD Return | +19.98%Best | +10.97% |
| 1Y Return | +21.86%Best | +14.08% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +20.91% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +13.77% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 10.7%Best | 11.9% |
| Max Drawdown | -16.8%Best | -17.9% |
| $10,000 over 1.8 years | $12,812Best | $12,375 |
| Top 10 Weight | 19.8%Best | 35.6% |
| Fund Family | J.P. Morgan Asset Management | Morgan Stanley |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Nov 8, 2017 | Dec 9, 2024 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.8 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 9, 2024 to Oct 14, 2026 (1.8 years).
JQUA vs MSLC growth
Month-end closes. Both lines start at 0% in the first month shown, so the gap between them is the difference in growth across that window. The full view covers the 1.8 years both funds cover.
JQUA vs MSLC Performance
JPMorgan US Quality Factor ETF (JQUA) is an ETF from J.P. Morgan Asset Management and Morgan Stanley Pathway Large Cap Equity ETF (MSLC) is an ETF from Morgan Stanley. Over the past year JQUA returned +21.86% while MSLC returned +14.08%. Year to date, JQUA is up 19.98% versus a gain of 10.97% for MSLC.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
MSLC has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 11.9% compared with 10.7% for JQUA. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -16.8% for JQUA and -17.9% for MSLC. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.91. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
JQUA charges 0.12% per year while MSLC charges 0.39%. On a $10,000 position that is $12 vs $39 annually, a gap of $27 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, JQUA currently yields 1.08% against 1.95% for MSLC.
Holdings Overlap
90.7% of JQUA's money is in holdings MSLC also owns. 56.5% of MSLC's money is in holdings JQUA also owns.
Most of JQUA is already inside MSLC. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
254 positions in common, counted across the 306 positions we hold weights for in JQUA and 789 in MSLC, against full books of 624 and 793.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 451 positions for MSLC that do not appear in our book for JQUA (40.5% of the fund), and 43 for JQUA that do not appear in MSLC (8.1%).
Some of those will be the same company recorded under a different code in one of the two books, so the real difference in what you would own is no larger than this and may be smaller. We do not name the individual positions here for that reason.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in JQUA | Weight in MSLC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 2.00% | 7.04% | 5.04% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 2.06% | 5.80% | 3.74% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 2.05% | 5.55% | 3.50% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc | 1.80% | 3.23% | 1.43% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 2.10% | 2.31% | 0.21% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 1.92% | 2.49% | 0.57% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 2.16% | 1.60% | 0.56% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc | 2.26% | 0.88% | 1.38% |
| VVisa Inc Class A | 1.69% | 1.18% | 0.51% |
| XOMExxonmobil Corp. | 1.78% | 1.07% | 0.71% |
90.7% of JQUA is already inside MSLC.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, JQUA or MSLC?
JQUA has an expense ratio of 0.12% while MSLC charges 0.39%. JQUA is the cheaper option, by $27 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, JQUA or MSLC?
Over the past year JQUA returned +21.86% vs +14.08% for MSLC, so JQUA leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), JQUA annualized +14.76% vs +12.57% for MSLC. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, JQUA or MSLC?
MSLC has been the more volatile fund at 11.9% annualized versus 10.7% for JQUA. Worst drawdown: JQUA -16.8% vs MSLC -17.9%.
Should I hold both JQUA and MSLC?
JQUA and MSLC have a monthly-return correlation of 0.91, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between JQUA and MSLC?
90.7% of JQUA's money is in holdings MSLC also owns. 56.5% of MSLC's is in holdings JQUA also owns. They hold 254 positions in common, counted across the 306 positions we hold weights for in JQUA and 789 in MSLC.
Which pays a higher dividend, JQUA or MSLC?
JQUA yields 1.08% while MSLC yields 1.95%, so MSLC currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is MSLC better than JQUA?
JQUA has a lower expense ratio. JQUA led over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.91. JQUA is less concentrated, with 19.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 35.6%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.