MORT vs REM: Real Estate ETF Showdown
Institutional side-by-side analysis of fees, dividend cash flows, and underlying holdings overlap.
Key Fundamental Specifications
| Metric | MORT | REM |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Expense Ratio | 0.41% Lowest Fee | 0.48% |
| Annual Dividend Yield | 11.20% Higher Yield | 10.45% |
| Assets Under Management (AUM) | $0.3 Billion | $0.7 Billion |
| Number of Holdings | 28 Constituents | 35 Constituents |
| Fund Issuer | VanEck | BlackRock |
| Benchmark Index | MVIS US Mortgage REITs Index | FTSE Nareit All Mortgage Capped Index |
Top Holdings & Weight Overlap
Constituent weights across both funds:
| REIT Constituent | MORT Weight | REM Weight |
|---|---|---|
| AGNC AGNC Investment Corp. | 0.0% | 14.5% |
| NLY Annaly Capital Management | 0.0% | 13.8% |
| STWD Starwood Property Trust | 0.0% | 8.2% |
| BXMT Blackstone Mortgage Trust | 0.0% | 5.4% |
| RITM Rithm Capital Corp. | 0.0% | 5.1% |
Institutional Verdict: MORT or REM?
Fee Advantage: MORT offers the lower expense ratio at 0.41% vs 0.48%. Over a 20-year holding period, lower expense drag preserves thousands of dollars in cumulative returns.
Yield Generation: For income-focused investors, MORT provides the higher current dividend yield at 11.20%, making it more attractive for living off dividend cash flow.
Conclusion: If your priority is low-cost passive index tracking, choose MORT. If your mandate is maximum immediate dividend yield, choose MORT.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between MORT and REM?
VanEck Mortgage REIT Income ETF (MORT) is issued by VanEck with an expense ratio of 0.41% and dividend yield of 11.20%. In comparison, iShares Mortgage Real Estate ETF (REM) is issued by BlackRock charging 0.48% with a yield of 10.45%.
Which REIT ETF has lower fees: MORT or REM?
MORT has the lower annual expense ratio (0.41% vs 0.48%), saving long-term investors money on compounding fee drag.
Which ETF pays a higher dividend yield: MORT or REM?
MORT currently pays the higher annualized dividend yield (11.20% vs 10.45%).
Can I hold both MORT and REM in a portfolio?
While you can hold both, MORT and REM share significant constituent overlap in top REITs like Prologis, American Tower, and Equinix. Holding both may cause redundant portfolio exposure.