iShares Select U.S. REIT ETF

ICF

Market cap $2.08B

iShares Select U.S. REIT ETF focuses on a concentrated group of 30 U.S. REITs, while Xtrackers International Real Estate ETF provides broad exposure to 419 international companies. The Xtrackers International Real Estate ETF maintains a lower expense ratio of 0.1% compared to 0.32% for the iShares fund.

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The iShares Select U.S. REIT ETF offers a concentrated portfolio of 30 domestic holdings while the Vanguard Global ex-U.S. Real Estate ETF provides international diversification. The Vanguard Global ex-U.S. Real Estate ETF features a lower expense ratio and a significantly higher dividend yield compared to the iShares fund.

Schwab U.S. REIT ETF offers a significantly lower expense ratio and a higher dividend yield than iShares Select U.S. REIT ETF. The iShares ETF maintains a more concentrated portfolio of 30 holdings compared to the 120 positions held by Schwab's fund.

REITs have refused to break in 2026 despite oil-driven inflation pressure, rising Treasury yields, and a Fed narrative that flipped from multiple rate cuts to potential hikes. The “Rates Up, REITs Down” regime has weakened, with REIT-rate correlations falling sharply as fundamentals, strategy, capital allocation, and valuation catalysts increasingly drive performance. M&A has helped break the rate-driven narrative, validating public-market discounts to NAV and proving that REITs can unlock value through consolidation, privatizations, and strategic alternatives.

iShares Select U.S. REIT ETF offers concentrated exposure to 30 U.S. holdings, while Vanguard Global ex-U.S. Real Estate ETF spans more than 700 international positions. Vanguard's fund features a lower expense ratio of 0.12% and a higher trailing-12-month dividend yield.

The REIT sector roared back into positive territory after a very brutal March. REITs averaged a remarkable 8.9% April gain and now have a +6.31% year-to-date total return. Small-cap REITs (+11.35%) soared in April as large caps (+9.05%) and mid caps (+8.13%) also saw strong gains. Micro caps (+4.49%) were also in the black but badly lagged. 91.33% of REIT securities had a positive total return in April.

Surging oil prices and hotter inflation reports reignited rate-hike concerns, sending Treasury yields to one-year highs as the Iran conflict remained stalemated despite the highly anticipated Trump-Xi summit.

U.S. equity markets advanced for a fifth straight week - their longest winning streak since 2024 - as strong earnings, resilient data, and hopes for lasting Iran peace fueled optimism. Investors looked through another oil-price surge and inflationary pressure, focusing instead on corporate resilience and economic strength despite a complex macro backdrop shaped by geopolitical and policy uncertainty. The Fed held rates steady in an unusually fractured 8-4 vote, while Powell's plan to remain on the Board broke precedent and raised politically charged succession questions.

iShares Select U.S. REIT ETF (ICF) Tracks the Cohen & Steers Realty Majors Index and presently offers a dividend yield near 2.4%, closely matching its SEC yield of 2.64%. ICF's recent five-year total returns have been subdued, primarily due to a significant interest rate hikes during the period. ICF appears relatively better placed versus broad based equity markets in terms of current valuations and forward expectations.