REM vs VNQ: Real Estate ETF Showdown
Institutional side-by-side analysis of fees, dividend cash flows, and underlying holdings overlap.
Key Fundamental Specifications
| Metric | REM | VNQ |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Expense Ratio | 0.48% | 0.13% Lowest Fee |
| Annual Dividend Yield | 10.45% Higher Yield | 4.12% |
| Assets Under Management (AUM) | $0.7 Billion | $32.4 Billion |
| Number of Holdings | 35 Constituents | 160 Constituents |
| Fund Issuer | BlackRock | Vanguard |
| Benchmark Index | FTSE Nareit All Mortgage Capped Index | MSCI US Investable Market Real Estate 25/50 Index |
Top Holdings & Weight Overlap
Constituent weights across both funds:
| REIT Constituent | REM Weight | VNQ Weight |
|---|---|---|
| AGNC AGNC Investment Corp. | 14.5% | 0.0% |
| NLY Annaly Capital Management | 13.8% | 0.0% |
| STWD Starwood Property Trust | 8.2% | 0.0% |
| BXMT Blackstone Mortgage Trust | 5.4% | 0.0% |
| RITM Rithm Capital Corp. | 5.1% | 0.0% |
| PLD Prologis Inc. | 0.0% | 7.4% |
| AMT American Tower Corp. | 0.0% | 6.8% |
| EQIX Equinix Inc. | 0.0% | 6.2% |
| WELL Welltower Inc. | 0.0% | 5.9% |
| SPG Simon Property Group | 0.0% | 4.1% |
Institutional Verdict: REM or VNQ?
Fee Advantage: VNQ offers the lower expense ratio at 0.13% 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, REM provides the higher current dividend yield at 10.45%, making it more attractive for living off dividend cash flow.
Conclusion: If your priority is low-cost passive index tracking, choose VNQ. If your mandate is maximum immediate dividend yield, choose REM.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between REM and VNQ?
iShares Mortgage Real Estate ETF (REM) is issued by BlackRock with an expense ratio of 0.48% and dividend yield of 10.45%. In comparison, Vanguard Real Estate ETF (VNQ) is issued by Vanguard charging 0.13% with a yield of 4.12%.
Which REIT ETF has lower fees: REM or VNQ?
VNQ has the lower annual expense ratio (0.13% vs 0.48%), saving long-term investors money on compounding fee drag.
Which ETF pays a higher dividend yield: REM or VNQ?
REM currently pays the higher annualized dividend yield (10.45% vs 4.12%).
Can I hold both REM and VNQ in a portfolio?
While you can hold both, REM and VNQ share significant constituent overlap in top REITs like Prologis, American Tower, and Equinix. Holding both may cause redundant portfolio exposure.