--- title: "REET Delivers a Higher Yield, But ICF Provides Greater Exposure to the U.S. REIT Market" type: "News" locale: "en" url: "https://longbridge.com/en/news/279636166.md" description: "The iShares Global REIT ETF (REET) offers broader global exposure and lower fees compared to the iShares Select U.S. REIT ETF (ICF), which focuses on a concentrated U.S. REIT lineup. REET has a lower expense ratio (0.14% vs. 0.32%) and a higher dividend yield (3.5% vs. 2.7%). While ICF has shown stronger growth over five years, it has a higher volatility and deeper drawdown. Investors should consider their preferences for diversification versus concentration when choosing between these ETFs." datetime: "2026-03-18T16:15:23.000Z" locales: - [zh-CN](https://longbridge.com/zh-CN/news/279636166.md) - [en](https://longbridge.com/en/news/279636166.md) - [zh-HK](https://longbridge.com/zh-HK/news/279636166.md) --- # REET Delivers a Higher Yield, But ICF Provides Greater Exposure to the U.S. REIT Market ## Key Points - ICF charges a higher expense ratio and yields less than REET - ICF is more concentrated, holding just 30 U.S. REITs versus REET’s 325 global holdings - Over five years, ICF showed stronger growth but experienced a deeper drawdown than REET - 10 stocks we like better than iShares Trust - iShares Select U.s. REIT ETF › **iShares Global REIT ETF** (NYSEMKT:REET) offers broader global exposure and a lower fee, while **iShares Select U.S. REIT ETF** (NYSEMKT:ICF) focuses on a concentrated U.S. REIT lineup with higher volatility and lower yields. Both REET and ICF track real estate investment trusts, but their approaches differ: REET casts a wide net across global markets, while ICF focuses on a select group of large-cap U.S. REITs. This comparison unpacks their costs, risk profiles, and portfolio makeup to help investors decide which may better match their real estate allocation goals. ## Snapshot (cost & size) Metric REET ICF Issuer IShares IShares Expense ratio 0.14% 0.32% 1-yr return (as of 2026-03-16) 6.5% 4.2% Dividend yield 3.5% 2.7% Beta 0.95 0.98 AUM $4.6 billion $2.0 billion _Beta measures price volatility relative to the S&P 500; beta is calculated from five-year monthly returns. The 1-yr return represents total return over the trailing 12 months._ ICF charges about double the annual fee of REET, making REET the more affordable option for cost-conscious investors. REET also offers a higher payout, with a 3.5% yield versus ICF’s 2.7%. ## Performance & risk comparison Metric REET ICF Max drawdown (5 y) \-32.14% \-34.75% Growth of $1,000 over 5 years $1,004 $1,117 ## What's inside ICF is built around just 30 U.S. real estate investment trusts and has a long track record, with 25.1 years since its launch. Its top holdings include **Equinix Reit Inc** (NASDAQ:EQIX), **Welltower Inc** (NYSE:WELL), and **American Tower Reit Corp** (NYSE:AMT), which together account for a substantial slice of the fund. This concentrated approach leads to sector purity—100% real estate—with no exposure to international markets or other sectors. The fund goes ex-dividend on March 17, 2026. In contrast, REET owns 325 holdings spanning both developed and emerging markets, offering exposure to a wider variety of property types and geographies. Its top positions—Welltower Inc, **Prologis Reit Inc** (NYSE:PLD)Equinix Reit Inc—reflects its global focus, though there is overlap with ICF. REET’s diversification may appeal to those seeking broader real estate exposure and less single-market risk. For more guidance on ETF investing, check out the full guide at this link. ## What this means for investors Many investors choose to diversify their investment portfolios by adding a real estate component, which is a smart choice. Real estate exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are often the best choice. Here’s how two prominent real estate ETFs, iShares Global REIT ETF (REET) and iShares Select U.S. REIT ETF (ICF), compare to one another. To begin, let’s talk about REET. This fund wins the head-to-head matchup on several key factors. For one, it has a lower expense ratio (0.14% vs. 0.32%). It also has a higher dividend yield (3.5% vs. 2.7%). Finally, it has performed better over the last year (6.5% vs. 4.2%). However, there are areas where ICF excels. For one, it is more concentrated, which will appeal to some investors, particularly because those 30 holdings are U.S. REITs. In addition, the fund boasts a higher five-year return than REET. In summary, both REET and ICF should be considered by investors seeking real estate exposure for their portfolio. As is most often the case, the choice will be a personal one, guided by individual investment preferences. ## Should you buy stock in iShares Trust - iShares Select U.s. REIT ETF right now? Before you buy stock in iShares Trust - iShares Select U.s. REIT ETF, consider this: The _Motley Fool Stock Advisor_ analyst team just identified what they believe are the **10 best stocks** for investors to buy now… and iShares Trust - iShares Select U.s. REIT ETF wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when **Netflix** made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, **you’d have $508,877**!\* Or when **Nvidia** made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, **you’d have $1,115,328**!\* Now, it’s worth noting _Stock Advisor’s_ total average return is 936% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 189% for the S&P 500. **Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with _Stock Advisor_, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.** See the 10 stocks » _\*Stock Advisor returns as of March 18, 2026._ _Jake Lerch has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends American Tower, Equinix, and Prologis. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy._ The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc. ### Related Stocks - [RWO.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/RWO.US.md) - [SCHH.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/SCHH.US.md) - [RWR.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/RWR.US.md) - [VNQ.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/VNQ.US.md) - [ICF.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/ICF.US.md) - [IYR.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/IYR.US.md) - [XLRE.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/XLRE.US.md) - [REET.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/REET.US.md) - [GQRE.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/GQRE.US.md) ## Related News & Research - [Agree Realty Corporation (NYSE:ADC) Receives Consensus Rating of "Moderate Buy" from Analysts](https://longbridge.com/en/news/287450496.md) - [This REIT Yielding 16% Just Landed a New $5 Million Bet From EMG Holdings](https://longbridge.com/en/news/286954698.md) - [New Core Equity ETF Drops As Low-Cost Active Funds Become Wall Street's New Obsession](https://longbridge.com/en/news/287253853.md) - [Gamco Investors INC. 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