DESK vs. DEA

Last updated Jun 3, 2026

DESK (Vaneck Office And Commercial REIT ETF) is REIT fund tracking the MarketVector US Listed Office And Commercial REITS Index - Benchmark TR Gross, while DEA (Easterly Government Properties, Inc.) is a stock. Over the past year, DESK returned 4.63% vs 19.65% for DEA. A 0.74 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined.

Performance

DESK vs. DEA - Performance Comparison

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

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, DESK achieves a 6.25% return, which is significantly lower than DEA's 16.90% return.

DESK

• 1D: 1.79%
• 1M: 5.15%
• YTD: 6.25%
• 6M: 1.62%
• 1Y: 4.63%
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

DEA

• 1D: 1.19%
• 1M: 3.10%
• YTD: 16.90%
• 6M: 13.57%
• 1Y: 19.65%
• 3Y*: -4.49%
• 5Y*: -8.22%
• 10Y*: -0.67%

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

DESK vs. DEA - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023
DESK Vaneck Office And Commercial REIT ETF	6.25%	-10.42%	16.01%	18.89%
DEA Easterly Government Properties, Inc.	16.90%	-18.63%	-7.95%	13.10%

Correlation

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

Return for Risk

DESK vs. DEA — Risk / Return Rank

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

DESK

DESK Risk / Return Rank: 11
DESK Sharpe Ratio Rank: 12
DESK Sortino Ratio Rank: 12
DESK Omega Ratio Rank: 12
DESK Calmar Ratio Rank: 10
DESK Martin Ratio Rank: 10

DEA

DEA Risk / Return Rank: 66
DEA Sharpe Ratio Rank: 69
DEA Sortino Ratio Rank: 63
DEA Omega Ratio Rank: 59
DEA Calmar Ratio Rank: 70
DEA Martin Ratio Rank: 69

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.

DESK vs. DEA - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vaneck Office And Commercial REIT ETF (DESK) and Easterly Government Properties, Inc. (DEA). 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.

	DESK	DEA	Difference
Sharpe ratio Return per unit of total volatility	0.23	0.93	-0.70
Sortino ratio Return per unit of downside risk	0.46	1.43	-0.98
Omega ratio Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.05	1.17	-0.11
Calmar ratio Return relative to maximum drawdown	0.20	1.68	-1.48
Martin ratio Return relative to average drawdown	0.42	3.74	-3.31
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

DESK vs. DEA - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current DESK Sharpe Ratio is 0.23, which is lower than the DEA Sharpe Ratio of 0.93. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of DESK and DEA, 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

	DESK	DEA	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.23	0.93	-0.70
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	—	-0.33	—
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	—	-0.03	—
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.42	0.07	+0.35

Drawdowns

DESK vs. DEA - Drawdown Comparison

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

Drawdown Indicators

	DESK	DEA	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-28.65%	-62.19%	+33.54%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-25.09%	-11.20%	-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	-13.03%	-50.07%	+37.04%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-11.04%	-22.89%	+11.85%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	11.81%	5.03%	+6.78%

Volatility

DESK vs. DEA - Volatility Comparison

Vaneck Office And Commercial REIT ETF (DESK) and Easterly Government Properties, Inc. (DEA) have volatilities of 5.90% and 5.92%, 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

	DESK	DEA	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	5.90%	5.92%	-0.02%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	14.45%	14.34%	+0.11%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	19.96%	21.20%	-1.24%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	25.70%	24.70%	+1.00%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	25.70%	24.30%	+1.40%

Dividends

DESK vs. DEA - Dividend Comparison

DESK's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 5.07%, less than DEA's 7.56% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
DEA Easterly Government Properties, Inc.	7.56%	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	5.07%	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 DESK and DEA in my portfolio?

DESK and DEA 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, DESK or DEA?

DEA has higher volatility (5.92%) compared to DESK (5.90%). In terms of maximum drawdown, DESK dropped -28.65% vs DEA's -62.19%.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

DEA currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (0.93 vs 0.23), 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.