MSCI Quality and high dividend yield indexes

The MSCI Quality and High Dividend Yield Indexes are part of the MSCI Factor Indexes (Risk Premia) set, which represent the return of factors (common stock characteristics) that have historically earned a persistent premium over long periods of time.

The MSCI Quality Indexes aim to provide exposure to the quality factor with a simple and transparent methodology. Quality stocks are identified by calculating a quality score for each security in the eligible equity universe based on three main fundamental variables: high return on equity (ROE), stable year-over-year earnings growth and low financial leverage.

The MSCI High Dividend Yield Indexes aim to capture the high dividend yield equity opportunity set within a standard MSCI parent index by including only securities that offer a higher than average dividend yield (i.e. at least 30% higher) relative to that of the parent index and that pass dividend sustainability and persistence screens. Further, MSCI also applies "quality" screens based on factors such as return on equity, earnings variability and debt to equity as well as removes securities with poor performance rankings. These measures aim to omit securities with potentially deteriorating fundamentals that could force them to cut or reduce dividends.