REET vs RWR: Global Versus U.S. REIT ETF Which Is Better

iShares Global REIT ETF (NYSEMKT:REET) provides broad international diversification at a lower cost, while State Street SPDR Dow Jones REIT ETF (NYSEMKT:RWR) offers concentrated U.S. real estate exposure with stronger recent momentum.

Real estate investment trusts (REITs) offer a way to gain exposure to property markets without the burdens of direct ownership. Investors choosing between these two funds are essentially deciding between a broad global strategy and a focused domestic one. While REET casts a wide net across developed and emerging economies, RWR concentrates solely on the U.S. property market.

Snapshot (cost & size)

Beta measures price volatility relative to the S&P 500; beta is calculated from monthly returns over the available fund history (up to five years). The 1-yr return represents total return over the trailing 12 months. Dividend yield is the trailing-12-month distribution yield.

REET is the more affordable option with a 0.14% expense ratio, while RWR costs more at 0.25%. Both funds currently provide an identical 3.4% yield, showing that domestic and global portfolios can currently produce similar income levels.

Performance & risk comparison

What's inside

State Street SPDR Dow Jones REIT ETF mirrors the Dow Jones U.S. Select REIT Capped Index, focusing entirely on the U.S. Real Estate sector. It holds 95 positions, and its top holdings include Welltower Inc (NYSE:WELL) at 10.01%, Prologis Inc (NYSE:PLD) at 9.96%, and Simon Property Group Inc (NYSE:SPG) at 4.53%. It was launched in 2001. State Street SPDR Dow Jones REIT ETF has paid $3.77 per share over the trailing 12 months, which, on its recent ~$112.67 share price, works out to a 3.4% yield.

iShares Global REIT ETF tracks the FTSE EPRA/NAREIT Global REIT Index. It diversifies across sectors, including Retail REITs (19%), Healthcare REITs (17%), and Industrial REITs (17%). The fund is more granular with 317 holdings, and its largest positions include Welltower at 9.84%, Prologis Reit at 6.78%, and Equinix Reit (NASDAQ:EQIX) at 5.69%. It was launched in 2014. iShares Global REIT ETF has paid $0.93 per share over the trailing 12 months, which, on its recent ~$27.27 share price, works out to a 3.4% yield.

For more guidance on ETF investing, check out the full guide at this link.

Which looks like the better buy

When comparing the iShares Global REIT ETF (REET) and the State Street SPDR Dow Jones REIT ETF (RWR), investors should consider several key factors. Let's see what they tell us about each fund.

First, we should examine each fund's strategy. REET holds around 300 stocks. It has global exposure, with about three-quarters of its holdings international and one-quarter U.S. RWR, meanwhile, holds about 100 stocks. All of its holdings are U.S.-based.

Two other important factors are historical performance and income potential. Since 2021, REET has generated a total return of 8%, equating to a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 1.5%. RWR, meanwhile, has delivered a total return of 15%, with a 2.8% CAGR. As for income, each fund has an identical dividend yield of 3.4%.

One final factor to weigh is cost. REET's annual expense ratio is 0.14%, while RWR's is 0.25%, giving REET an edge in the category.

In summary, REET and RWR are both REIT ETFs, however, their strategies, performance, and costs vary. Some investors will favor RWR, which has delivered superior performance, with only modestly higher costs.

Jake Lerch has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Equinix, Prologis, and Simon Property Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.