Northern Trust Quality Dividend Defensive ETF
Northern Trust Quality Dividend Defensive ETF (AMEX: QDEF) is an exchange-traded fund listed on NYSE Arca, trading at $89.96 (about ₹8,629 a unit) as of 25 Sep 2026, 3:59 PM ET. It has an expense ratio of 0.4% and holds 158 securities. Indian residents can buy QDEF through Paasa under the RBI's Liberalised Remittance Scheme.
Quote
Today's low
$89.26
Today's high
$90.08
52 week low
$77.97
52 week high
$91.97
QDEF opened at $89.51, closed previously at $89.43, and has traded between $77.97 and $91.97 over the past 52 weeks.
About
Designed for investors prioritizing a cautious strategy within the realm of high-quality U.S. companies, this fund aims to mirror the overall financial returns—including both capital appreciation and income generation—of the underlying Northern Trust Quality Dividend Defensive Index. This goal is measured before any management fees or operating expenses are deducted.
Key statistics
Expense ratio
0.4%
Assets (AUM)
$545.7M
Holdings
158
NAV
$89.46
Avg. volume
—
1-year price change
+13.92%
5-year price change
+65.09%
Price change excludes dividends.
Top 10 holdings
QDEF holds 158 securities in total. These 10 are 36.4% of the fund.
Where the money is invested
Sectors
Countries
How to buy QDEF from India
Indian residents can buy QDEF units through Paasa in three steps. Funds leave India under the RBI's Liberalised Remittance Scheme and the units are held in your own name with Interactive Brokers.
Open your Paasa account
KYC takes a few minutes: PAN, Aadhaar and address proof. Your brokerage account is opened in your own name with Interactive Brokers.
Add funds from your Indian bank account
Remit up to $250,000 a year under the RBI's Liberalised Remittance Scheme. Your bank converts the rupees to US dollars at its rate on the day you remit.
Search QDEF and buy
Find the fund by its ticker, QDEF, on NYSE Arca, and place your order. Fractional units are available and there is no minimum trade size, so you can buy by amount.
Read the full guide: how to invest in QDEF from India
Trading and taxes when buying QDEF from India
Trading and limits
- Trading hours
- 9:30 am – 4:00 pm ET
- LRS limit
- $250,000Per financial year, under the RBI's Liberalised Remittance Scheme.
Tax for Indian residents
- TCS on remittance
- 20%Collected by your bank on LRS remittances above ₹10 lakh in a financial year. The TCS is adjustable against your income-tax liability.Adjusting TCS against your tax
- Capital gains in India
- 12.5% or slab rateGains on foreign ETF units held for more than 24 months are long-term and taxed at 12.5% without indexation. Gains on units held for 24 months or less are short-term and taxed at your income-tax slab rate.Capital gains explained
- Dividends
- Slab rateIt pays the dividends from its holdings out to you in cash, and dividends are taxed at your slab rate in India. The US withholds tax on dividends paid to Indian residents at the treaty rate; Paasa files Form W-8BEN for you, and the tax withheld can generally be claimed as a credit in India.Dividend tax explained
- US estate tax
- May applyUS-situs assets such as US-listed shares can be exposed to US estate tax for non-US persons.US estate tax calculator
Custody. Units are held in your own name at Interactive Brokers LLC and are SIPC-insured up to $500,000 in total, including $250,000 for cash.
FAQs
What is the QDEF price today?
Northern Trust Quality Dividend Defensive ETF (QDEF) last traded at $89.96 on NYSE Arca, as of 25 Sep 2026, 3:59 PM ET. That is ₹8,629 a unit at the 25 Sep 2026 USD/INR rate.
When does QDEF trade, in Indian time?
NYSE Arca trades 7:00 pm – 1:30 am IST, so the close lands after midnight. The window shifts to 8:00 pm – 2:30 am IST when the US is on standard time. Orders can only execute during that window.
How big is QDEF, and what does it cost to hold?
Northern Trust Quality Dividend Defensive ETF manages about $545.7M. Its expense ratio is 0.4% a year, deducted inside the fund. It launched in 2012.
What are QDEF's largest holdings?
The top three are APPLE INC COMMON STOCK USD 0.00001 (9.0%), NVIDIA CORP COMMON STOCK USD 0.001 (7.1%) and MICROSOFT CORP COMMON STOCK USD 0.00000625 (4.4%). QDEF's 10 largest positions make up 36.4% of the fund.
Does QDEF pay dividends?
Yes. QDEF is a distributing fund and pays the dividends from its holdings out in cash. In India they are taxed at your slab rate. The US withholds 25% tax on dividends before they reach you; Paasa files Form W-8BEN for you, and the tax withheld can generally be claimed as a credit when you file in India.
How are gains on QDEF taxed in India?
Units held for more than 24 months are long-term and taxed at 12.5% without indexation; units held for 24 months or less are taxed at your income-tax slab rate. The gain is worked out in rupees, so the currency move counts.
Can I buy fractional units of QDEF?
Yes. You can buy QDEF by amount rather than by whole unit, and there is no minimum trade size.
How has QDEF performed?
QDEF's price is up 13.9% over the past year and up 65.1% over five years. These figures are price change only and exclude dividends; past performance does not guarantee future returns.