BRW vs QQQ
Saba Capital Income & Opportunities Fund vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, BRW or QQQ?
Bank Loan against Large Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y 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 | BRW | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.43% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $368M | $483.5B |
| Dividend Yield | 13.86% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 1,064 | 107 |
| YTD Return | +0.15% | +15.86%Best |
| 1Y Return | -10.88% | +22.63%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +7.49% | +24.15%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +6.53% | +14.16%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.6%Best | 30.6% |
| Max Drawdown | -73.3%Best | -83.0% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $13,720 | $19,390Best |
| Fund Family | Saba Capital | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | Bank Loan | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | May 12, 1988 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Mar 10, 1999 to Sep 10, 2026 (27.5 years).
BRW 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.
BRW vs QQQ Performance
Saba Capital Income & Opportunities Fund (BRW) is an ETF from Saba Capital and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year BRW returned -10.88% while QQQ returned +22.63%. Year to date, BRW is up 0.15% versus a gain of 15.86% for QQQ.
Over three years, BRW compounded at +7.49% per year against +24.15% for QQQ; over five years the annualized figures are +6.53% and +14.16% respectively. Across the full 28-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +12.98% annualized vs -1.34%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 30.6% compared with 14.6% for BRW. 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 -73.3% for BRW and -83.0% 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 0.24. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
BRW charges 1.43% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $143 vs $18 annually, a gap of $125 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BRW currently yields 13.86% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
At least 40.6% of QQQ's money is in holdings BRW also owns.
Stated as a floor: for BRW, our book for it covers 61.3% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
The two holdings books were reported 370 days apart, BRW as of Jul 31, 2025 and QQQ as of Aug 5, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
25 positions in common, counted across the 532 positions we hold weights for in BRW and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 1,064 and 107.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in BRW | Weight in QQQ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp. | -0.06% | 8.44% | 8.50% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp 4.100 Feb 06 37 | -0.09% | 5.76% | 5.85% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | -0.01% | 4.43% | 4.44% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | -0.51% | 4.67% | 5.18% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc | -0.46% | 3.13% | 3.59% |
| TSLATesla Inc | 0.00% | 2.56% | 2.56% |
| METAMeta Platforms, Inc. | -0.39% | 2.78% | 3.17% |
| NFLXNetflix, Inc. | -0.18% | 1.37% | 1.55% |
| KLACKla Corp. | -0.03% | 1.11% | 1.14% |
| MRVLMarvell Technology Group Ltd | 0.00% | 0.81% | 0.81% |
40.6% of QQQ is already inside BRW.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, BRW or QQQ?
BRW has an expense ratio of 1.43% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $125 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, BRW or QQQ?
Over the past year BRW returned -10.88% vs +22.63% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (28 years), BRW annualized -1.34% vs +12.98% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, BRW or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 30.6% annualized versus 14.6% for BRW. Worst drawdown: BRW -73.3% vs QQQ -83.0%.
Should I hold both BRW and QQQ?
BRW and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.24, 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 BRW and QQQ?
At least 40.6% of QQQ's money is in holdings BRW also owns. Our book for BRW is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 25 positions in common, counted across the 532 positions we hold weights for in BRW and 102 in QQQ.
Which pays a higher dividend, BRW or QQQ?
BRW yields 13.86% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so BRW currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than BRW?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.