BRF vs QQQ
VanEck Brazil Small-Cap ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, BRF or QQQ?
Small Cap Growth against Large Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. BRF is less concentrated, with 28.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 46.5%.
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 | BRF | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.60% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $22M | $483.5B |
| Dividend Yield | 5.73% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 92 | 107 |
| YTD Return | +4.54% | +22.20%Best |
| 1Y Return | +9.24% | +24.58%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +4.28% | +28.38%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -0.34% | +15.80%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 32.6% | 17.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -82.3% | -35.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $9,831 | $20,823Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 28.9%Best | 46.5% |
| Fund Family | VanEck | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Growth | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | May 12, 2009 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: May 14, 2009 to Sep 22, 2026 (17.4 years).
BRF vs QQQ 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 is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.
BRF vs QQQ Performance
VanEck Brazil Small-Cap ETF (BRF) is an ETF from VanEck and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year BRF returned +9.24% while QQQ returned +24.58%. Year to date, BRF is up 4.54% versus a gain of 22.20% for QQQ.
Over three years, BRF compounded at +4.28% per year against +28.38% for QQQ; over five years the annualized figures are -0.34% and +15.80% respectively. Across the full 17-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +19.83% annualized vs +1.39%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
BRF has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 32.6% compared with 17.6% for QQQ. 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 -82.3% for BRF and -35.1% for QQQ. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.42. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
BRF charges 0.60% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $60 vs $18 annually, a gap of $42 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BRF currently yields 5.73% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 89 holdings in BRF and 102 in QQQ, totalling 99.7% and 99.9% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 89 positions we hold weights for in BRF and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 92 and 107.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 96 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for BRF (97.5% of the fund), and 8 for BRF that do not appear in QQQ (9.0%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of BRF and QQQ you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, BRF or QQQ?
BRF has an expense ratio of 0.60% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $42 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, BRF or QQQ?
Over the past year BRF returned +9.24% vs +24.58% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (17 years), BRF annualized +1.39% vs +19.83% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, BRF or QQQ?
BRF has been the more volatile fund at 32.6% annualized versus 17.6% for QQQ. Worst drawdown: BRF -82.3% vs QQQ -35.1%.
Should I hold both BRF and QQQ?
BRF and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.42, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, BRF or QQQ?
BRF yields 5.73% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so BRF currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than BRF?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. BRF is less concentrated, with 28.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 46.5%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.