REET vs. DFREX
REET (iShares Global REIT ETF) and DFREX (DFA Real Estate Securities Portfolio Class I) are both REIT funds. Over the past 10 years, REET returned 3.99%/yr vs 5.71%/yr for DFREX. Their correlation of 0.93 suggests significant overlap in exposure. REET charges 0.14%/yr vs 0.18%/yr for DFREX.
Performance
REET vs. DFREX - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, REET achieves a 8.07% return, which is significantly lower than DFREX's 11.42% return. Over the past 10 years, REET has underperformed DFREX with an annualized return of 3.99%, while DFREX has yielded a comparatively higher 5.71% annualized return.
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%
DFREX
- 1D
- 0.30%
- 1M
- -0.45%
- YTD
- 11.42%
- 6M
- 10.51%
- 1Y
- 11.39%
- 3Y*
- 9.79%
- 5Y*
- 3.06%
- 10Y*
- 5.71%
REET vs. DFREX - 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% |
DFREX DFA Real Estate Securities Portfolio Class I | 11.42% | 1.52% | 5.52% | 11.20% | -24.93% | 41.88% | -5.03% | 28.12% | -3.01% | 4.25% |
Correlation
The correlation between REET and DFREX is 0.94, indicating a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Combining them offers limited diversification - they tend to fall together during downturns.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.94 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.96 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.96 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.94 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jul 11, 2014 | 0.93 |
The correlation between REET and DFREX has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.93 to 0.96 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
REET vs. DFREX — Risk / Return Rank
REET
DFREX
REET vs. DFREX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Global REIT ETF (REET) and DFA Real Estate Securities Portfolio Class I (DFREX). 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 | DFREX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.17 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.23 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.18 | 1.15 | +0.03 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.36 | 1.32 | +0.04 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 4.89 | 4.10 | +0.79 |
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 | DFREX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.02 | 0.85 | +0.17 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.13 | 0.17 | -0.03 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.21 | 0.28 | -0.07 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.25 | 0.37 | -0.13 |
Drawdowns
REET vs. DFREX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum REET drawdown since its inception was -44.59%, smaller than the maximum DFREX drawdown of -74.36%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for REET and DFREX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| REET | DFREX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -44.59% | -74.36% | +29.77% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -9.04% | -8.40% | -0.64% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -18.02% | -17.64% | -0.38% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -32.11% | -33.11% | +1.00% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -44.59% | -41.49% | -3.10% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -2.83% | -2.91% | +0.08% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -9.79% | -11.34% | +1.55% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.51% | 2.69% | -0.18% |
Volatility
REET vs. DFREX - Volatility Comparison
iShares Global REIT ETF (REET) and DFA Real Estate Securities Portfolio Class I (DFREX) have volatilities of 3.79% and 3.79%, 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
| REET | DFREX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 3.79% | 3.79% | 0.00% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 8.81% | 9.51% | -0.70% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 12.10% | 13.07% | -0.97% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 16.95% | 18.69% | -1.74% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 18.84% | 20.30% | -1.46% |
REET vs. DFREX - Expense Ratio Comparison
REET has a 0.14% expense ratio, which is lower than DFREX's 0.18% expense ratio. Despite the difference, both funds are considered low-cost compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios usually range from 0.3% to 0.9%.
Dividends
REET vs. DFREX - Dividend Comparison
REET's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.42%, more than DFREX's 2.60% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
DFREX DFA Real Estate Securities Portfolio Class I | 2.60% | 2.84% | 2.97% | 3.59% | 6.24% | 2.56% | 3.36% | 2.23% | 4.88% | 1.89% | 2.83% | 2.86% |
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 0.94, REET and DFREX 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.
DFREX has higher volatility (3.79%) compared to REET (3.79%). In terms of maximum drawdown, REET dropped -44.59% vs DFREX's -74.36%.
REET currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.02 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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