Two of the market's most popular income ETFs compared side-by-side. See which one fits your yield strategy.
What this means: Both CSB and QTUM fall intoTier 3: Specialty. This suggests they share a similar risk profile and volatility expectation.
| Metric | CSB | QTUM |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 0.00% | 50.11% |
| NAV Change (1Y) | 0.00% | 49.48% |
| Max Drawdown | 0.00% | -46.74% |
| Beta | - | - |
* Returns include dividend reinvestment. Drawdown calculates peak-to-trough decline over trailing 12 months.
CSB (VictoryShares US Small Cap High Div Volatility Wtd ETF) is a sector-specific income fund managed by Victory Capital. It focuses on generating income through strategic holdings. With $263.3M in assets under management, this fund has been operational since its inception.
Strategy: Concentrates on sector-specific opportunities, typically REITs, MLPs, or BDCs with higher baseline yields.
QTUM (Defiance Quantum ETF) is a sector-specific income fund managed by Defiance. It focuses on generating income through strategic holdings. With $4.3B in assets under management, this fund has been operational since its inception.
Strategy: Concentrates on sector-specific opportunities, typically REITs, MLPs, or BDCs with higher baseline yields.
In the head-to-head battle of CSB vs QTUM, the choice depends on your specific goal. QTUM wins for Immediate Income with a 0.63% yield. However, QTUM is the better choice for Long-Term Growth due to superior total return performance.
Which fund is safer for retirement income? We analyze the yield sustainability and structural risk.
The Bottom Line Question: If you invest $100,000 today, how much cash will you actually receive each month? Here's the exact math:
CSB
Annual Yield: 0.08%
$6/mo
($76/year)
Frequency: monthly
QTUM
Annual Yield: 0.63%
$53/mo
($635/year)
Frequency: quarterly
Income Gap: QTUM generates $559/year more than CSB on the same $100k investment.
Over 20 years, that's $11,173 in additional cash flow (before reinvestment).
Context Matters: Higher income doesn't always mean better investment. Review the "Yield Trap" and "Total Return" sections above—you want income that's sustainable, not just headline-grabbing.
Historical data reveals how these funds behave during market stress. QTUM has delivered a superior Total Return of 50.11% over the past year.
What is an Expense Ratio? The annual fee charged by the fund, expressed as a percentage of assets. It's deducted daily from the fund's NAV, making it invisible to most investors—but it compounds over time.
CSB (LOWER COST)
0.350%
Annual expense ratio
QTUM (HIGHER COST)
0.400%
Annual expense ratio
20-YEAR FEE IMPACT SIMULATION ($100,000 INITIAL INVESTMENT)
The Hidden Cost of "Just 0.05%": That seemingly small difference of 0.050% annually becomes $1,000 in lost wealth over 20 years. Factor in compound growth, and you're giving up ~$2,829 in potential portfolio value.
💡 Cost Efficiency Winner: CSB is the clear winner for long-term buy-and-hold investors. Lower fees mean more capital compounds in YOUR account, not the fund manager's.
Every investor has a unique risk profile. Use our Portfolio Intelligence tool to see the impact of adding these ETFs to your holdings.