BRTR vs QQQ
iShares Total Return Active ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, BRTR or QQQ?
Long Term High Quality against Large Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y and the full window.
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 | BRTR | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.38% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $770M | $483.5B |
| Dividend Yield | 4.75% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 3,004 | 107 |
| YTD Return | -1.19% | +16.87%Best |
| 1Y Return | -0.42% | +22.98%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +24.98% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +14.39% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 5.0%Best | 16.9% |
| Max Drawdown | -4.7%Best | -22.8% |
| $10,000 over 2.7 years | $11,172 | $17,840Best |
| Fund Family | BlackRock, Inc. (US) | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | Long Term High Quality | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Dec 12, 2023 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2.7 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 14, 2023 to Sep 11, 2026 (2.7 years).
BRTR 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 covers the 2.7 years both funds cover.
BRTR vs QQQ Performance
iShares Total Return Active ETF (BRTR) is an ETF from BlackRock, Inc. (US) and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year BRTR returned -0.42% while QQQ returned +22.98%. Year to date, BRTR is down 1.19% versus a gain of 16.87% for QQQ.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.9% compared with 5.0% for BRTR. 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 -4.7% for BRTR and -22.8% 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 0.31. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
BRTR charges 0.38% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $38 vs $18 annually, a gap of $20 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BRTR currently yields 4.75% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
At least 13.3% of QQQ's money is in holdings BRTR also owns.
Stated as a floor: for BRTR, our book for it covers 76.1% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
QQQ and BRTR share little of their money.
7 positions in common, counted across the 1,130 positions we hold weights for in BRTR and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 3,004 and 107.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in BRTR | Weight in QQQ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp 4.100 Feb 06 37 | 0.05% | 5.76% | 5.71% |
| GOOGLAlphabet A Usd 0.001 | 0.01% | 3.36% | 3.35% |
| LRCXLam Research Corp 3.125 06/15/2060 | 0.00% | 1.69% | 1.69% |
| KLACKla Corp. | 0.00% | 1.11% | 1.11% |
| TMUST-Mobile Us Inc Com Usd0.00001 | 0.01% | 0.82% | 0.81% |
| CRWVCoreweave | 0.22% | 0.18% | 0.04% |
| SNPSSynopsys Inc. | 0.00% | 0.34% | 0.34% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of BRTR 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, BRTR or QQQ?
BRTR has an expense ratio of 0.38% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $20 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, BRTR or QQQ?
Over the past year BRTR returned -0.42% vs +22.98% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, BRTR or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 16.9% annualized versus 5.0% for BRTR. Worst drawdown: BRTR -4.7% vs QQQ -22.8%.
Should I hold both BRTR and QQQ?
BRTR and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.31, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between BRTR and QQQ?
At least 13.3% of QQQ's money is in holdings BRTR also owns. Our book for BRTR is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 7 positions in common, counted across the 1,130 positions we hold weights for in BRTR and 102 in QQQ.
Which pays a higher dividend, BRTR or QQQ?
BRTR yields 4.75% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so BRTR currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than BRTR?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.