DEA vs. DESK

Last updated Jun 4, 2026

DEA (Easterly Government Properties, Inc.) is a stock, while DESK (Vaneck Office And Commercial REIT ETF) is REIT fund tracking the MarketVector US Listed Office And Commercial REITS Index - Benchmark TR Gross. Over the past year, DEA returned 17.98% vs 2.26% for DESK. A 0.74 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined.

Performance

DEA vs. DESK - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Easterly Government Properties, Inc. (DEA) and Vaneck Office And Commercial REIT ETF (DESK). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, DEA achieves a 15.38% return, which is significantly higher than DESK's 5.73% return.

DEA

• 1D: -1.30%
• 1M: 4.28%
• YTD: 15.38%
• 6M: 12.20%
• 1Y: 17.98%
• 3Y*: -4.91%
• 5Y*: -8.40%
• 10Y*: -0.80%

DESK

• 1D: -0.49%
• 1M: 6.07%
• YTD: 5.73%
• 6M: 1.92%
• 1Y: 2.26%
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

DEA vs. DESK - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023
DEA Easterly Government Properties, Inc.	15.38%	-18.63%	-7.95%	13.10%
DESK Vaneck Office And Commercial REIT ETF	5.73%	-10.42%	16.01%	18.89%

Correlation

The correlation between DEA and DESK is 0.68, which is moderate. They share some common price drivers but move independently often enough to provide real diversification benefit when combined.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.68
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Sep 22, 2023	0.74

The correlation between DEA and DESK has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.68 to 0.74 - a consistent structural relationship.

Return for Risk

DEA vs. DESK — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.

DEA

DEA Risk / Return Rank: 65
DEA Sharpe Ratio Rank: 68
DEA Sortino Ratio Rank: 61
DEA Omega Ratio Rank: 57
DEA Calmar Ratio Rank: 69
DEA Martin Ratio Rank: 69

DESK

DESK Risk / Return Rank: 10
DESK Sharpe Ratio Rank: 10
DESK Sortino Ratio Rank: 10
DESK Omega Ratio Rank: 10
DESK Calmar Ratio Rank: 10
DESK Martin Ratio Rank: 10

The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

DEA vs. DESK - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Easterly Government Properties, Inc. (DEA) and Vaneck Office And Commercial REIT ETF (DESK). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.

	DEA	DESK	Difference
Sharpe ratio Return per unit of total volatility	0.85	0.11	+0.74
Sortino ratio Return per unit of downside risk	1.33	0.30	+1.03
Omega ratio Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.15	1.03	+0.12
Calmar ratio Return relative to maximum drawdown	1.61	0.09	+1.52
Martin ratio Return relative to average drawdown	3.58	0.19	+3.39
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

DEA vs. DESK - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current DEA Sharpe Ratio is 0.85, which is higher than the DESK Sharpe Ratio of 0.11. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of DEA and DESK, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	DEA	DESK	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.85	0.11	+0.74
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	-0.34	—	—
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	-0.03	—	—
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.07	0.41	-0.34

Drawdowns

DEA vs. DESK - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum DEA drawdown since its inception was -62.19%, which is greater than DESK's maximum drawdown of -28.65%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for DEA and DESK.

Drawdown Indicators

	DEA	DESK	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-62.19%	-28.65%	-33.54%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-11.20%	-25.09%	+13.89%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-42.24%	—	—
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-56.38%	—	—
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-62.19%	—	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-50.72%	-13.46%	-37.26%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-22.90%	-11.04%	-11.86%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	5.04%	11.82%	-6.78%

Volatility

DEA vs. DESK - Volatility Comparison

Easterly Government Properties, Inc. (DEA) and Vaneck Office And Commercial REIT ETF (DESK) have volatilities of 5.49% and 5.71%, respectively, indicating that both stocks experience similar levels of price fluctuations. This suggests that the risk associated with both stocks, as measured by volatility, is nearly the same. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	DEA	DESK	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	5.49%	5.71%	-0.22%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	14.40%	14.45%	-0.05%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	21.23%	19.97%	+1.26%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	24.71%	25.68%	-0.97%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	24.30%	25.68%	-1.38%

Dividends

DEA vs. DESK - Dividend Comparison

DEA's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 7.66%, more than DESK's 5.09% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
DEA Easterly Government Properties, Inc.	7.66%	9.50%	9.33%	7.89%	7.43%	4.58%	4.59%	4.38%	6.63%	4.69%	4.60%	3.14%
DESK Vaneck Office And Commercial REIT ETF	5.09%	5.15%	3.78%	1.73%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both DEA and DESK in my portfolio?

DEA and DESK have a correlation of 0.68, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, DEA or DESK?

DESK has higher volatility (5.71%) compared to DEA (5.49%). In terms of maximum drawdown, DEA dropped -62.19% vs DESK's -28.65%.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

DEA currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (0.85 vs 0.11), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.