Dimensional US Real Estate ETF

DFAR

Market cap $1.5B

The REIT sector closed out 2025 with a tough December (-1.48%) and finishing the year with a -3.57% total return for 2025. Small caps (+0.51%) eked out a small gain in December, while mid caps (-1.77%), large caps (-2.55%) and micro caps (-3.88%) fell at the close of the year. 42.04% of REIT securities had a positive total return in December with only 38.36% in the black for the full year.

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The REIT sector returned to positive territory in November (+1.02%) after back-to-back months in the red. Mid caps (+3.53%) led the REIT sector in November followed by small caps (+3.38%) and large caps (+0.32%); micro caps (-8.76%) badly underperformed. 68.15% of REIT securities had a positive total return in November.

The REIT sector has seen back-to-back tough months as it saw a modest average negative total return in September (-0.73%) and fell deeper into the red in October (-4.03%). Small cap REITs (-5.05%) had the worst performance in October. Micro caps (-2.81%), mid caps (-3.11%) and large caps (-4.45%) were also in negative territory albeit to a smaller degree. Only 21.66% of REIT securities had a positive total return in October.

After a strong August, REITs faded slightly in September (-0.73%), pulling the REIT sector's year-to-date average total return down to (-1.74%). Mid-cap REITs (-0.92%) averaged the lowest total return in September. Large caps (-0.29%), micro caps (-0.79%), and small caps (-0.83%) averaged modestly smaller declines. Only 37.4% of REIT securities had a positive total return in September.

REITs performed very well in August (+5.48%), almost pulling the REIT sector's year-to-date total return back into the black (-1.11%). Small cap (+7.52%) and mid cap REITs (+7.13%) averaged strong gains in August while large caps (+3.16%) and micro caps (+0.87%) averaged more modest returns. 83.87% of REIT securities had a positive total return in August.

After a strong June (+2.56%), the REIT sector recovery stalled in July (-1.17%) as REITs fell to a -6.42% year-to-date return. Micro cap REITs (-0.20%) outperformed in July while mid caps (-1.18%), small caps (-1.33%) and large caps (-1.55%) averaged slightly deeper negative returns. 60.65% of REIT securities had a negative total return in July.

REITs had another month of recovery in June (+2.56% average total return), but despite back-to-back gains remain in negative territory YTD (-5.65%). Micro cap REITs (+7.19%) outperformed for the first time this year in June, while small caps (+2.99%), mid caps (+1.80%) and large caps (+0.03%) saw smaller gains. 63.87% of REIT securities had a positive total return in June.

REITs saw a month of recovery in May (+2.08%), but still have a long way to go to get back into the black in 2025 with an average -7.33% return. Micro cap REITs (-0.73%) continued to struggle, while small caps (+4.28%), mid-caps (+1.83%) and large caps (+0.91%) saw gains. 62.58% of REIT securities had a positive total return in May.

The REIT sector saw another month of red in April (-6.45%) and REITs now average a -9.10% return over the first 4 months of the year. Microcap (-8.87%) and small-cap REITs (-8.69%) endured bigger average losses than mid-caps (-5.45%) and large-caps (-2.93%). 84.62% of REIT securities had a negative total return in April.