VanEck Office and Commercial REIT ETF

DESK

Market cap $2.42M

We have highlighted five top-performing ETFs from different sectors of the market that have led the way higher in the third quarter.

Real estate stocks have taken a hefty beating this year, with REITs having the sole distinction of being the lone S&P 500 group in the red for much of 2024 and only just turning positive last week.

The market's optimism about the economy may be overlooking red flags, including sticky inflation and the potential for an aggressive easing cycle. The office real estate sector is facing significant challenges, including a high vacancy rate and oversupply, as well as remote work trends and technological advancements. The $2.2 trillion of U.S. and European commercial property loans due by 2025 are at risk, potentially leading to a credit squeeze and cascading effects in the office market.

Wall Street sizzled in December, with all three major indices touching a series of new highs.

Amid elevated Treasury yields and little clarity as to when the Federal Reserve will commence reducing interest rates, it's been a rough year for real estate investment trusts (REITs) and related exchange traded funds. Just look at the S&P Real Estate Select Sector Index, which is trailing the S&P 500 by a wide margin.