VNQ vs XLRE: Real Estate ETF Showdown
Institutional side-by-side analysis of fees, dividend cash flows, and underlying holdings overlap.
Key Fundamental Specifications
| Metric | VNQ | XLRE |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Expense Ratio | 0.13% | 0.09% Lowest Fee |
| Annual Dividend Yield | 4.12% Higher Yield | 3.32% |
| Assets Under Management (AUM) | $32.4 Billion | $5.9 Billion |
| Number of Holdings | 160 Constituents | 31 Constituents |
| Fund Issuer | Vanguard | State Street SPDR |
| Benchmark Index | MSCI US Investable Market Real Estate 25/50 Index | Real Estate Select Sector Index (S&P 500) |
Top Holdings & Weight Overlap
Constituent weights across both funds:
| REIT Constituent | VNQ Weight | XLRE Weight |
|---|---|---|
| PLD Prologis Inc. | 7.4% | 11.8% |
| AMT American Tower Corp. | 6.8% | 0.0% |
| EQIX Equinix Inc. | 6.2% | 9.4% |
| WELL Welltower Inc. | 5.9% | 10.2% |
| SPG Simon Property Group | 4.1% | 6.7% |
| PSA Public Storage | 3.8% | 6.2% |
| DLR Digital Realty Trust | 3.7% | 6.0% |
| O Realty Income Corp. | 3.5% | 5.8% |
| CCI Crown Castle Inc. | 2.9% | 0.0% |
| EXR Extra Space Storage | 2.6% | 0.0% |
Institutional Verdict: VNQ or XLRE?
Fee Advantage: XLRE offers the lower expense ratio at 0.09% vs 0.13%. Over a 20-year holding period, lower expense drag preserves thousands of dollars in cumulative returns.
Yield Generation: For income-focused investors, VNQ provides the higher current dividend yield at 4.12%, making it more attractive for living off dividend cash flow.
Conclusion: If your priority is low-cost passive index tracking, choose XLRE. If your mandate is maximum immediate dividend yield, choose VNQ.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between VNQ and XLRE?
Vanguard Real Estate ETF (VNQ) is issued by Vanguard with an expense ratio of 0.13% and dividend yield of 4.12%. In comparison, Real Estate Select Sector SPDR (XLRE) is issued by State Street SPDR charging 0.09% with a yield of 3.32%.
Which REIT ETF has lower fees: VNQ or XLRE?
XLRE has the lower annual expense ratio (0.09% vs 0.13%), saving long-term investors money on compounding fee drag.
Which ETF pays a higher dividend yield: VNQ or XLRE?
VNQ currently pays the higher annualized dividend yield (4.12% vs 3.32%).
Can I hold both VNQ and XLRE in a portfolio?
While you can hold both, VNQ and XLRE share significant constituent overlap in top REITs like Prologis, American Tower, and Equinix. Holding both may cause redundant portfolio exposure.