iShares Residential and Multisector Real Estate ETF

REZ

Market cap $839M

The dollar's dominance is quietly cracking, which will likely lead to a significant macro shift in the coming years. While I have bet heavily on several real asset sectors, they have all soared materially higher since I started investing in them. I detail two of the best opportunities remaining in the real asset space to benefit from the coming macro shift.

New home sales unexpectedly sank to their lowest level since 2022 in January. According to the Census Bureau, new home sales were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 587,000 in January.

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.

Our first ETF under the microscope is the iShares Residential and Multisector Real Estate ETF (NYSEMKT:REZ).

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.

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.

New home sales were practically unchanged in October following September's increase. According to the Census Bureau, new home sales were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 737,000 in October.

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.

Last week's economic narrative centered around the Federal Reserve's latest rate cut, a decision complicated by the government shutdown and lack of economic data. Other reports from the week showed a third straight drop in consumer confidence and a continued slowdown in U.S. home prices.