Key Takeaways
- • The iShares Global REIT ETF (REET) offers a 3.6% trailing dividend yield and a 0.14% expense ratio, versus 2.7% and 0.32% for the iShares Select U.S. REIT ETF (ICF), according to a Motley Fool comparison syndicated by The Globe and Mail.
- • REET holds 317 real estate equities across developed and some emerging markets with $4.7B in AUM, while ICF concentrates in 30 large U.S. REITs with $1.9B in AUM.
- • ICF has outperformed REET over the past decade and posted a higher 1-year total return (8.9% vs. 6.2% as of 2026-10-09), though REET delivered a slightly higher five-year growth of $1,000 ($1,090 vs. $1,113 for ICF; ICF was higher on this measure).
- • Both funds show similar beta (0.91 for REET, 0.93 for ICF) and five-year max drawdowns of (32.1%) for REET and (34.7%) for ICF.
- • The article is a third-party syndicated comparison and promotional content that favors REET for long-term income-focused investors.
Summary
A syndicated Motley Fool analysis carried by The Globe and Mail compares two iShares real estate investment trust exchange-traded funds for long-term investors seeking passive income. The iShares Global REIT ETF (REET) and the iShares Select U.S. REIT ETF (ICF) differ mainly in breadth, cost, and income profile. According to the article, REET tracks 317 real estate equities across developed markets with some emerging-market exposure, carries a 0.14% expense ratio, and manages $4.7 billion in assets. ICF concentrates in 30 large U.S. real estate companies, charges 0.32%, and manages $1.9 billion.
On income, the article reports a trailing dividend yield of 3.6% for REET, based on $0.93 per share over the trailing 12 months, compared with 2.7% for ICF, based on $1.74 per share. Top REET holdings include Welltower (9.60%), Prologis (7.10%) and Equinix (5.76%), with retail, industrial and healthcare REITs each representing roughly 17% to 18% of sector weights. ICF's largest positions include Welltower (8.32%), Equinix (7.85%) and American Tower (7.76%). The article notes that about 73% of REET's portfolio remains invested in U.S. real estate.
Performance data in the article is mixed. ICF returned 8.9% over the trailing 12 months as of 2026-10-09, versus 6.2% for REET, and the article states ICF has outperformed its global counterpart over the past decade. Over five years, $1,000 grew to $1,113 in ICF and $1,090 in REET on a total-return basis. Five-year max drawdowns were (34.7%) for ICF and (32.1%) for REET, and beta was 0.93 and 0.91 respectively. The article attributes its conclusion that REET is the better fit for long-term investors to its higher income, lower costs and broader diversification, while acknowledging that elevated interest rates pose financing challenges for real estate companies and that demand for data centers and healthcare facilities supports growth.
The piece carries Motley Fool promotional material and a disclosure that The Globe and Mail has not reviewed the syndicated content. It is an investor-education comparison rather than news of a fund launch, flow, or manager change.
On income, the article reports a trailing dividend yield of 3.6% for REET, based on $0.93 per share over the trailing 12 months, compared with 2.7% for ICF, based on $1.74 per share. Top REET holdings include Welltower (9.60%), Prologis (7.10%) and Equinix (5.76%), with retail, industrial and healthcare REITs each representing roughly 17% to 18% of sector weights. ICF's largest positions include Welltower (8.32%), Equinix (7.85%) and American Tower (7.76%). The article notes that about 73% of REET's portfolio remains invested in U.S. real estate.
Performance data in the article is mixed. ICF returned 8.9% over the trailing 12 months as of 2026-10-09, versus 6.2% for REET, and the article states ICF has outperformed its global counterpart over the past decade. Over five years, $1,000 grew to $1,113 in ICF and $1,090 in REET on a total-return basis. Five-year max drawdowns were (34.7%) for ICF and (32.1%) for REET, and beta was 0.93 and 0.91 respectively. The article attributes its conclusion that REET is the better fit for long-term investors to its higher income, lower costs and broader diversification, while acknowledging that elevated interest rates pose financing challenges for real estate companies and that demand for data centers and healthcare facilities supports growth.
The piece carries Motley Fool promotional material and a disclosure that The Globe and Mail has not reviewed the syndicated content. It is an investor-education comparison rather than news of a fund launch, flow, or manager change.
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