REET vs. DFGEX
REET (iShares Global REIT ETF) and DFGEX (DFA Global Real Estate Securities Portfolio) are both REIT funds. Over the past 10 years, REET returned 3.99%/yr vs 3.81%/yr for DFGEX. With a 0.96 correlation, they move nearly in lockstep. Both charge a 0.14% expense ratio.
Performance
REET vs. DFGEX - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
The year-to-date returns for both stocks are quite close, with REET having a 8.07% return and DFGEX slightly lower at 7.93%. Both investments have delivered pretty close results over the past 10 years, with REET having a 3.99% annualized return and DFGEX not far behind at 3.81%.
REET
- 1D
- -0.15%
- 1M
- -0.74%
- YTD
- 8.07%
- 6M
- 7.69%
- 1Y
- 12.24%
- 3Y*
- 9.19%
- 5Y*
- 2.22%
- 10Y*
- 3.99%
DFGEX
- 1D
- 0.18%
- 1M
- -0.70%
- YTD
- 7.93%
- 6M
- 7.73%
- 1Y
- 10.77%
- 3Y*
- 9.23%
- 5Y*
- 1.99%
- 10Y*
- 3.81%
REET vs. DFGEX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
REET iShares Global REIT ETF | 8.07% | 7.97% | 2.65% | 10.28% | -24.10% | 32.43% | -10.48% | 24.42% | -5.27% | 7.48% |
DFGEX DFA Global Real Estate Securities Portfolio | 7.93% | 7.92% | 1.92% | 9.54% | -23.84% | 31.03% | -6.71% | 26.32% | -4.12% | 5.95% |
Correlation
The correlation between REET and DFGEX is 0.97 - these two move nearly in lockstep. At this level, holding both provides almost no diversification benefit. If you already own one, adding the other does little to reduce portfolio risk.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.97 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.98 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.98 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.97 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jul 11, 2014 | 0.96 |
The correlation between REET and DFGEX has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.96 to 0.98 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
REET vs. DFGEX — Risk / Return Rank
REET
DFGEX
REET vs. DFGEX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Global REIT ETF (REET) and DFA Global Real Estate Securities Portfolio (DFGEX). 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.
| REET | DFGEX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.14 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.18 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.18 | 1.16 | +0.03 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.36 | 1.13 | +0.23 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 4.89 | 3.97 | +0.92 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
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Sharpe Ratios by Period
| REET | DFGEX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.02 | 0.88 | +0.14 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.13 | 0.12 | +0.01 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.21 | 0.22 | 0.00 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.25 | 0.33 | -0.08 |
Drawdowns
REET vs. DFGEX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum REET drawdown since its inception was -44.59%, roughly equal to the maximum DFGEX drawdown of -42.67%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for REET and DFGEX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| REET | DFGEX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -44.59% | -42.67% | -1.92% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -9.04% | -9.04% | 0.00% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -18.02% | -17.37% | -0.65% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -32.11% | -32.78% | +0.67% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -44.59% | -42.67% | -1.92% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -2.83% | -2.42% | -0.41% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -9.79% | -9.65% | -0.14% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.51% | 2.57% | -0.06% |
Volatility
REET vs. DFGEX - Volatility Comparison
iShares Global REIT ETF (REET) has a higher volatility of 3.79% compared to DFA Global Real Estate Securities Portfolio (DFGEX) at 3.45%. This indicates that REET's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than DFGEX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| REET | DFGEX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 3.79% | 3.45% | +0.34% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 8.81% | 8.64% | +0.17% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 12.10% | 11.68% | +0.42% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 16.95% | 16.27% | +0.68% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 18.84% | 17.71% | +1.13% |
REET vs. DFGEX - Expense Ratio Comparison
Both REET and DFGEX have an expense ratio of 0.14%, making them cost-effective options compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios typically range from 0.3% to 0.9%.
Dividends
REET vs. DFGEX - Dividend Comparison
REET's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.42%, less than DFGEX's 3.77% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
DFGEX DFA Global Real Estate Securities Portfolio | 3.77% | 4.07% | 3.78% | 3.36% | 5.70% | 4.50% | 2.29% | 6.95% | 5.09% | 0.64% | 0.32% | 2.45% |
REET iShares Global REIT ETF | 3.42% | 3.67% | 3.64% | 3.27% | 2.43% | 3.18% | 2.65% | 5.25% | 5.73% | 3.84% | 5.37% | 3.56% |
Frequently Asked Questions
With a correlation of 0.97, REET and DFGEX move almost identically. Holding both adds very little diversification - you're essentially doubling your position in the same market segment. Choosing one is usually more capital-efficient.
REET has higher volatility (3.79%) compared to DFGEX (3.45%). In terms of maximum drawdown, REET dropped -44.59% vs DFGEX's -42.67%.
REET currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.02 vs 0.88), 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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