BRF vs SPY
VanEck Brazil Small-Cap ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, BRF or SPY?
Small Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. BRF is less concentrated, with 29.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.0%.
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 | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.60% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $22M | $814.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 5.58% | 1.01% |
| Holdings | 92 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +6.34% | +12.71%Best |
| 1Y Return | +14.40% | +19.36%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +3.13% | +21.09%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +0.46% | +12.69%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 32.6% | 14.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -82.3% | -34.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $10,232 | $18,173Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 29.0%Best | 38.0% |
| Fund Family | VanEck | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | May 12, 2009 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: May 14, 2009 to Sep 8, 2026 (17.3 years).
BRF vs SPY 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 covers the 17.3 years both funds cover.
BRF vs SPY Performance
VanEck Brazil Small-Cap ETF (BRF) is an ETF from VanEck and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year BRF returned +14.40% while SPY returned +19.36%. Year to date, BRF is up 6.34% versus a gain of 12.71% for SPY.
Over three years, BRF compounded at +3.13% per year against +21.09% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +0.46% and +12.69% respectively. Across the full 17-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +13.69% annualized vs +1.49%.
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 14.3% for SPY. 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 -34.1% for SPY. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.51. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
BRF charges 0.60% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $60 vs $9 annually, a gap of $51 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BRF currently yields 5.58% against 1.01% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 89 holdings in BRF and 503 in SPY, totalling 99.9% and 100.0% 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 503 in SPY, against full books of 92 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 493 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for BRF (99.4% of the fund), and 8 for BRF that do not appear in SPY (9.5%).
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 SPY 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 SPY?
BRF has an expense ratio of 0.60% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $51 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, BRF or SPY?
Over the past year BRF returned +14.40% vs +19.36% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (17 years), BRF annualized +1.49% vs +13.69% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, BRF or SPY?
BRF has been the more volatile fund at 32.6% annualized versus 14.3% for SPY. Worst drawdown: BRF -82.3% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both BRF and SPY?
BRF and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.51, 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 SPY?
BRF yields 5.58% while SPY yields 1.01%, so BRF currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than BRF?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. BRF is less concentrated, with 29.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.0%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.