BRIF vs SPY

BRIF vs SPY

Which is better, BRIF or SPY?

BRIF has been ahead.

SPY has a lower expense ratio. BRIF led over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.93. BRIF is less concentrated, with 37.2% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.8%.

Lower Fees: SPYHigher Returns: BRIFLess Concentrated: BRIF

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

MetricBRIFSPY
Expense Ratio0.65%0.09%Best
AUM$160M$804.7B
Dividend Yield0.42%0.98%
Holdings49505
Volatility (annualized)9.2%Best10.2%
Max Drawdown-17.2%Best-18.8%
$10,000 over 1.2 years$12,344Best$11,851
Top 10 Weight37.2%Best37.8%
Fund FamilyFaith Investor ServicesState Street Investment Management
CategoryEquityEquity
StyleLarge Cap BlendLarge Cap Blend
InceptionDec 20, 2024Jan 22, 1993

Not shown on this pair: YTD Return, 1Y Return, 3Y Return (annualized), 5Y Return (annualized).

The two price series end 213 days apart, so a return over any period would be measuring two different stretches of market. Those rows are withheld. BRIF has data through Feb 20, 2026 and SPY through Sep 21, 2026.

Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.2 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 20, 2024 to Feb 20, 2026 (1.2 years).

Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns

SPY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 10.2% compared with 9.2% for BRIF. 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 -17.2% for BRIF and -18.8% 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 0.93. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.

Fees and Cost Over Time

BRIF charges 0.65% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $65 vs $9 annually, a gap of $56 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BRIF currently yields 0.42% against 0.98% for SPY.

Holdings Overlap

BRIF already in SPY91.4%
SPY already in BRIF24.4%

91.4% of BRIF's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 24.4% of SPY's money is in holdings BRIF also owns.

Most of BRIF is already inside SPY. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.

45 positions in common, counted across the 49 positions we hold weights for in BRIF and 504 in SPY, against full books of 49 and 505.

What only one of them owns

Our book lists 452 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for BRIF (75.0% of the fund), and 2 for BRIF that do not appear in SPY (6.2%).

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.

Top Shared Holdings

StockWeight in BRIFWeight in SPYDifference
NVDANvidia Corp7.37%8.01%0.64%
AVGOBroadcom Inc3.05%2.66%0.39%
LLYEli Lilly & Co.4.25%1.40%2.85%
CSCOCisco Systems Inc. - Ordinary Shares3.71%0.66%3.05%
ABBVAbbvie Inc.3.56%0.70%2.86%
LINLinde Plc Ordinary Shares3.59%0.34%3.25%
CMICummins Inc.2.91%0.12%2.79%
XOMExxon Mobil Corp.1.87%1.04%0.83%
MUMicron Technology, Inc.1.22%1.60%0.38%
CRWDCrowdstrike Holdings Inc2.46%0.33%2.13%

91.4% of BRIF is already inside SPY.

You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.

BRIFSPY

Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, BRIF or SPY?

BRIF has an expense ratio of 0.65% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $56 a year on a $10,000 investment.

Which is riskier, BRIF or SPY?

SPY has been the more volatile fund at 10.2% annualized versus 9.2% for BRIF. Worst drawdown: BRIF -17.2% vs SPY -18.8%.

Should I hold both BRIF and SPY?

BRIF and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.93, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.

What is the holdings overlap between BRIF and SPY?

91.4% of BRIF's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 24.4% of SPY's is in holdings BRIF also owns. They hold 45 positions in common, counted across the 49 positions we hold weights for in BRIF and 504 in SPY.

Which pays a higher dividend, BRIF or SPY?

BRIF yields 0.42% while SPY yields 0.98%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.

Is SPY better than BRIF?

SPY has a lower expense ratio. BRIF led over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.93. BRIF is less concentrated, with 37.2% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.