iShares US Real Estate ETF

IYR

Market cap $4.59B

Apartment REITs benefit from rising mortgage rates and affordability constraints, as more households are forced to rent rather than buy. Supply pressures in multifamily are easing, with construction starts slowing and absorption now exceeding new deliveries, setting up for improved fundamentals. The AVB/EQR merger creates a $50B market cap leader, aiming for scale, cost synergies, and enhanced capital access in a challenging rate environment.

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.

REITs are finally shaking off their bear thesis. Oversupply is turning into a future tailwind. AI may push more capital toward real assets.

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.

After 1,078 trading days, U.S. REITs (FTSE NAREIT All Equity Total Return Index) reached new all-time highs on Friday, April 17. Commercial real estate (CRE) has already undergone a significant valuation reset, while many other public and private markets have yet to experience a comparable repricing. Signals from the U.S. listed REIT market indicate that real estate is transitioning from recovery to expansion, as valuations move above prior cycle highs.

REITs, including Vanguard REIT ETF (VNQ), have underperformed recently due to multiple compression and the impact of rising interest rates. Historically, REITs have delivered returns comparable to the S&P 500, with recent underperformance mostly driven by valuation adjustments rather than fundamental weakness. The transition from rising to stable high interest rates is now a tailwind for REITs, supporting higher forward growth rates and improved acquisition economics.

REIT ETFs look low-yield, but they are skewed by growth-heavy holdings. Higher income exists, but only with selective, active REIT picking. Some overlooked REITs offer ~6% yields with strong fundamentals.

After a solid January performance, the REIT sector recovery gained steam in February with a stronger +3.70% return. Large cap REITs (+5.80%) led the REIT sector in February with strong gains from mid caps (+5.26%) and small caps (+4.94%). Micro caps (-6.12%) badly underperformed again in February. 71.71% of REIT securities had a positive total return in February.

The REIT sector rebounded from a rough 2025 (-3.57%) by starting off 2026 in the black (+1.09%). Small-cap REITs (+3.27%) outperformed in January, followed by solid gains from mid-caps (+2.65%) and large caps (+2.35%). Microcaps, however, had a dismal start to the year with. 63.46% of REIT securities had a positive total return in January.