QQQ vs RFI
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs Cohen & Steers Total Return Realty Fund Inc.
Which is better, QQQ or RFI?
QQQ has been ahead.
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 | QQQ | RFI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18%Best | 0.89% |
| AUM | $506.1B | $297M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.42% | 8.74% |
| Holdings | 321 | 193 |
| YTD Return | +19.30%Best | -0.25% |
| 1Y Return | +22.47%Best | -5.04% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +26.18%Best | +8.00% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +15.42%Best | -1.24% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.5%Best | 22.8% |
| Max Drawdown | -53.5%Best | -80.1% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $20,484Best | $9,395 |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | Cohen & Steers Funds |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Sep 27, 1993 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 22, 2005 to Oct 14, 2026 (20.8 years).
QQQ vs RFI 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.
QQQ vs RFI Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and Cohen & Steers Total Return Realty Fund Inc. (RFI) is an ETF from Cohen & Steers Funds. Over the past year QQQ returned +22.47% while RFI returned -5.04%. Year to date, QQQ is up 19.30% versus a loss of 0.25% for RFI.
Over three years, QQQ compounded at +26.18% per year against +8.00% for RFI; over five years the annualized figures are +15.42% and -1.24% respectively. Across the full 21-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +14.96% annualized vs -0.43%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
RFI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 22.8% compared with 18.5% 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 -53.5% for QQQ and -80.1% for RFI. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.63. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while RFI charges 0.89%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $89 annually, a gap of $71 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.42% against 8.74% for RFI.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 101 holdings in QQQ and 166 in RFI, totalling 99.6% and 94.7% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
The two holdings books were reported 93 days apart, QQQ as of Oct 1, 2026 and RFI as of Jun 30, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
0 positions in common, counted across the 101 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 166 in RFI, against full books of 321 and 193.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of QQQ and RFI 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, QQQ or RFI?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while RFI charges 0.89%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $71 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or RFI?
Over the past year QQQ returned +22.47% vs -5.04% for RFI, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (21 years), QQQ annualized +14.96% vs -0.43% for RFI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or RFI?
RFI has been the more volatile fund at 22.8% annualized versus 18.5% for QQQ. Worst drawdown: QQQ -53.5% vs RFI -80.1%.
Should I hold both QQQ and RFI?
QQQ and RFI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.63, 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, QQQ or RFI?
QQQ yields 0.42% while RFI yields 8.74%, so RFI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is RFI better than QQQ?
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.