QUAL and MOAT overlap by about 16%: they do quite different jobs. QUAL is cheaper (0.40% vs 0.49% a year), about $90 a year less on $100,000. QUAL is the bigger fund ($9.2b vs $847m). Two different styles. QUAL holds about 300 global quality companies; MOAT holds a smaller list of US companies with strong competitive advantages, chosen partly on valuation.
📅 As at 30 September 2026: fees, size, flows and returns from the TMX Australia funds report; overlap from published holdings as at 30 October 2026.
QUAL
VanEck MSCI International Quality ETFQUAL invests in around 300 global companies outside Australia with high returns on equity, stable earnings and low debt.
MOAT
VanEck Morningstar Wide MOAT ETFMOAT invests in US companies Morningstar rates as having lasting competitive advantages, bought when they look attractively priced.
QUAL vs MOAT side by side
Green marks the cheaper, bigger or better-performing fund on each line. Past returns are not a reliable guide to the future.
| QUAL | MOAT | |
|---|---|---|
| Issuer | VanEck | VanEck |
| Index | MSCI World ex Australia Quality Index | Morningstar Wide Moat Focus Index |
| Fee (a year) | 0.40% | 0.49% |
| Size | $9.2b | $847m |
| Net money in, September | +$195m | −$12m |
| 1-year return | +10.1% | +3.5% |
| 5-year return | +71% | +49% |
| Listed | 2014 | 2015 |
| Top 10 holdings | 40% of fund | 27% of fund |
| Trend now | Base | Base |
How much do QUAL and MOAT overlap?
About 16% of their holdings are the same, by weight: low overlap, so they do quite different jobs.
The biggest companies they both own
| Company | QUAL | MOAT |
|---|---|---|
| Microsoft CorpInformation Technology | 6.0% | 2.7% |
| Meta Platforms IncCommunication Services | 4.7% | 2.4% |
| NVIDIA CorpInformation Technology | 4.5% | 2.2% |
| Broadcom IncInformation Technology | 3.8% | 2.1% |
| Applied Materials IncInformation Technology | 1.2% | 1.1% |
| Alphabet (Google)Communication Services | 3.5% | 1.0% |
| Texas Instruments IncInformation Technology | 0.8% | 1.4% |
| PepsiCo IncConsumer Staples | 0.6% | 1.1% |
| Amphenol CorpInformation Technology | 0.6% | 1.3% |
| Bristol-Myers Squibb CoHealth Care | 0.4% | 1.3% |
Only in QUAL
- Apple Inc 5.6%
- Eli Lilly & Co 4.3%
- Visa Inc 3.0%
- Asml Holding NV 2.5%
- Johnson & Johnson 2.1%
Only in MOAT
- Danaher Corp 2.8%
- Tyler Technologies Inc 2.8%
- Estee Lauder Cos Inc/The 2.8%
- GE HealthCare Technologies Inc 2.7%
- Huntington Ingalls Industries Inc 2.6%
Sectors and countries
Sectors
Countries
Trend: base, uptrend or downtrend?
Past year of prices, shaded by trend stage. The dashed line is the 200-day exponential average. As at 4 November 2026. How base and trend works.
QUAL or MOAT: which suits who?
Where either fits depends on the rest of your portfolio: whether it’s your core or a satellite. See core and satellite investing and our full profiles of QUAL.
See the exact overlap with everything you hold, plus the trend of each ETF, in our free calculator.
More comparisons
QUAL vs MOAT FAQs
Is QUAL or MOAT better?
Neither is better for everyone. Two different styles. QUAL holds about 300 global quality companies; MOAT holds a smaller list of US companies with strong competitive advantages, chosen partly on valuation. Choose QUAL if you want a broad global quality tilt. Choose MOAT if you want a value-aware, US-only strategy with a smaller list of companies.
What is the difference between QUAL and MOAT?
QUAL and MOAT overlap by about 16%: they do quite different jobs. QUAL is cheaper (0.40% vs 0.49% a year), about $90 a year less on $100,000. QUAL is the bigger fund ($9.2b vs $847m). Two different styles. QUAL holds about 300 global quality companies; MOAT holds a smaller list of US companies with strong competitive advantages, chosen partly on valuation.
Should I own both QUAL and MOAT?
Yes, they can work together: only about 16% of their holdings are the same, so each adds something different. Check the fit with your other ETFs first.
Which is cheaper, QUAL or MOAT?
QUAL is cheaper (0.40% vs 0.49% a year), about $90 a year less on $100,000. Fees are taken from the fund’s returns, not charged separately.
Fees, size, flows and returns: TMX Australia Funds Report to 30 September 2026; returns are total returns and the 5-year figure is cumulative. Overlap, sectors and countries are based on each fund’s published holdings, scaled to the part of each fund we can see. Trend stages are a technical indicator based on 10, 20, 50 and 200-day exponential moving averages; they describe the past, not the future. General information only, not a recommendation to buy or sell QUAL or MOAT. Consider the PDS and TMD, and your own circumstances, before investing.