IFRA vs. VNQ
IFRA (iShares U.S. Infrastructure ETF) and VNQ (Vanguard Real Estate ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - IFRA is a Industrials Equities fund tracking the NYSE FactSet U.S. Infrastructure Index (TR), while VNQ is a REIT fund tracking the MSCI US Investable Market Real Estate 25/50 Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 5 years, IFRA returned 14.07%/yr vs 2.83%/yr for VNQ. A 0.67 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. IFRA charges 0.30%/yr vs 0.13%/yr for VNQ.
Performance
IFRA vs. VNQ - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, IFRA achieves a 19.25% return, which is significantly higher than VNQ's 11.77% return.
IFRA
- 1D
- -0.86%
- 1M
- 2.48%
- YTD
- 19.25%
- 6M
- 17.89%
- 1Y
- 30.85%
- 3Y*
- 20.61%
- 5Y*
- 14.07%
- 10Y*
- —
VNQ
- 1D
- 1.31%
- 1M
- 1.13%
- YTD
- 11.77%
- 6M
- 12.16%
- 1Y
- 11.59%
- 3Y*
- 11.30%
- 5Y*
- 2.83%
- 10Y*
- 5.44%
IFRA vs. VNQ - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IFRA iShares U.S. Infrastructure ETF | 19.25% | 15.90% | 17.02% | 13.42% | -3.32% | 29.81% | 7.37% | 27.00% | -7.97% |
VNQ Vanguard Real Estate ETF | 11.77% | 3.24% | 4.81% | 11.85% | -26.25% | 40.54% | -4.61% | 28.91% | 1.79% |
Correlation
The correlation between IFRA and VNQ is 0.61, 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 | 0.61 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.68 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.72 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Apr 5, 2018 | 0.67 |
The correlation between IFRA and VNQ shifts across timeframes, from 0.61 (1 year) to 0.72 (5 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
IFRA vs. VNQ — Risk / Return Rank
IFRA
VNQ
IFRA vs. VNQ - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares U.S. Infrastructure ETF (IFRA) and Vanguard Real Estate ETF (VNQ). 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.
Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.
| IFRA | VNQ | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +1.20 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +1.74 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.34 | 1.15 | +0.19 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 3.69 | 1.40 | +2.29 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 13.48 | 4.37 | +9.11 |
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Drawdowns
IFRA vs. VNQ - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum IFRA drawdown since its inception was -41.06%, smaller than the maximum VNQ drawdown of -73.07%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for IFRA and VNQ.
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Drawdown Indicators
| IFRA | VNQ | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -41.06% | -73.07% | +32.01% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -8.40% | -8.34% | -0.06% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -19.93% | -17.46% | -2.47% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -19.93% | -34.48% | +14.55% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | — | -42.40% | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.86% | -0.66% | -0.20% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -5.12% | -13.60% | +8.48% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.29% | 2.66% | -0.37% |
Volatility
IFRA vs. VNQ - Volatility Comparison
iShares U.S. Infrastructure ETF (IFRA) and Vanguard Real Estate ETF (VNQ) have volatilities of 5.19% and 5.19%, 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.
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Volatility by Period
| IFRA | VNQ | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 5.19% | 5.19% | 0.00% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 11.76% | 10.20% | +1.56% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 15.21% | 13.84% | +1.37% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 17.91% | 18.86% | -0.95% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 21.36% | 20.75% | +0.61% |
IFRA vs. VNQ - Expense Ratio Comparison
IFRA has a 0.30% expense ratio, which is higher than VNQ's 0.13% expense ratio.
Dividends
IFRA vs. VNQ - Dividend Comparison
IFRA's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.56%, less than VNQ's 3.56% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IFRA iShares U.S. Infrastructure ETF | 1.56% | 1.84% | 1.75% | 1.98% | 1.98% | 1.63% | 2.08% | 1.68% | 2.50% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
VNQ Vanguard Real Estate ETF | 3.56% | 3.92% | 3.85% | 3.95% | 3.91% | 2.56% | 3.93% | 3.39% | 4.74% | 4.23% | 4.82% | 3.92% |
Frequently Asked Questions
IFRA and VNQ have a correlation of 0.61, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
VNQ has higher volatility (5.19%) compared to IFRA (5.19%). In terms of maximum drawdown, IFRA dropped -41.06% vs VNQ's -73.07%.
On 5-year performance, IFRA leads with 14.07% vs 2.83% for VNQ. On fees, VNQ is cheaper at 0.13% per year. Their volatility is very similar. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 5-year period, IFRA has performed better with a 14.07% return vs 2.83%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
VNQ is cheaper with a 0.13% expense ratio, compared with 0.30% for IFRA.
VNQ has the higher dividend yield at 3.56%, compared with 1.56% for IFRA.
IFRA is categorized as Industrials Equities, while VNQ is REIT. IFRA tracks NYSE FactSet U.S. Infrastructure Index (TR), while VNQ tracks MSCI US Investable Market Real Estate 25/50 Index. They also come from different issuers: iShares and Vanguard. Their fees differ too: 0.30% for IFRA and 0.13% for VNQ.
IFRA currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.05 vs 0.85), 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.
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