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REM vs. VRAI
Performance
Return for Risk
Drawdowns
Volatility
Dividends

REM vs. VRAI

Last updated Jun 4, 2026

REM (iShares Mortgage Real Estate ETF) and VRAI (Virtus Real Asset Income ETF) are both REIT funds - REM tracks the FTSE NAREIT All Mortgage Capped Index while VRAI tracks the Indxx Real Asset Income Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 5 years, REM returned -2.48%/yr vs 5.40%/yr for VRAI. A 0.66 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. REM charges 0.48%/yr vs 0.55%/yr for VRAI.

Performance

REM vs. VRAI - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in iShares Mortgage Real Estate ETF (REM) and Virtus Real Asset Income ETF (VRAI). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Loading charts...

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, REM achieves a -2.10% return, which is significantly lower than VRAI's 21.11% return.

REM

1D
-1.24%
1M
-4.86%
YTD
-2.10%
6M
-2.10%
1Y
11.53%
3Y*
8.00%
5Y*
-2.48%
10Y*
2.55%

VRAI

1D
-0.11%
1M
-0.41%
YTD
21.11%
6M
17.67%
1Y
26.70%
3Y*
11.98%
5Y*
5.40%
10Y*
—
*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

REM vs. VRAI - Yearly Performance Comparison

2026 (YTD)2025202420232022202120202019
REM
iShares Mortgage Real Estate ETF		-2.10%13.30%-1.00%14.43%-27.56%16.14%-19.99%11.08%
VRAI
Virtus Real Asset Income ETF		21.11%6.67%2.66%6.12%-9.96%24.35%-5.94%5.61%

Correlation

The correlation between REM and VRAI is 0.44, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.

Correlation
Correlation (1Y)
Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

0.44

Correlation (3Y)
Calculated over the trailing 3-year period

0.58

Correlation (5Y)
Calculated over the trailing 5-year period

0.64

Correlation (All Time)
Calculated using the full available price history since Feb 11, 2019

0.66

Over the past year, the correlation between REM and VRAI has dropped to 0.44 - well below their long-term average of 0.66, suggesting their price drivers have been diverging.

REM vs. VRAI - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors
REM
VRAI

Real Estate

97.2%
33.6%

Financial Services

2.4%

-

Basic Materials

-

7.7%

Communication Services

-

2.7%

Consumer Cyclical

-

-

Consumer Defensive

-

1.9%

Energy

-

32.4%

Healthcare

-

-

Industrials

-

-

Technology

-

1.3%

Utilities

-

18.0%

Real Estate

REM
97.2%
VRAI
33.6%

Financial Services

REM
2.4%
VRAI

-

Basic Materials

REM

-

VRAI
7.7%

Communication Services

REM

-

VRAI
2.7%

Consumer Cyclical

REM

-

VRAI

-

Consumer Defensive

REM

-

VRAI
1.9%

Energy

REM

-

VRAI
32.4%

Healthcare

REM

-

VRAI

-

Industrials

REM

-

VRAI

-

Technology

REM

-

VRAI
1.3%

Utilities

REM

-

VRAI
18.0%

Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs

Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.

iShares Mortgage Real Estate ETF

Virtus Real Asset Income ETF

Often compared with REM:
REM vs. MORTREM vs. VNQREM vs. REETREM vs. IYRREM vs. NLYREM vs. OREM vs. QQQ
Often compared with VRAI:
VRAI vs. VNQVRAI vs. BRIIXVRAI vs. STLGVRAI vs. REITVRAI vs. USRTVRAI vs. AMLPVRAI vs. VNQI

Return for Risk

REM vs. VRAI — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.
REM
REM Risk / Return Rank: 2020
Overall Rank
REM Sharpe Ratio Rank: 2020
Sharpe Ratio Rank
REM Sortino Ratio Rank: 2020
Sortino Ratio Rank
REM Omega Ratio Rank: 1919
Omega Ratio Rank
REM Calmar Ratio Rank: 1919
Calmar Ratio Rank
REM Martin Ratio Rank: 2020
Martin Ratio Rank
VRAI
VRAI Risk / Return Rank: 7676
Overall Rank
VRAI Sharpe Ratio Rank: 6868
Sharpe Ratio Rank
VRAI Sortino Ratio Rank: 7070
Sortino Ratio Rank
VRAI Omega Ratio Rank: 6565
Omega Ratio Rank
VRAI Calmar Ratio Rank: 9090
Calmar Ratio Rank
VRAI Martin Ratio Rank: 8585
Martin Ratio Rank
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.

REM vs. VRAI - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Mortgage Real Estate ETF (REM) and Virtus Real Asset Income ETF (VRAI). 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.

REMVRAIDifference
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility
0.69
2.27

-1.58

Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk
1.04
3.22

-2.18

Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability

1.13

1.39

-0.27

Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown

0.81

5.57

-4.75

Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown

2.33

17.57

-15.23

Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

REM vs. VRAI - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current REM Sharpe Ratio is 0.69, which is lower than the VRAI Sharpe Ratio of 2.27. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of REM and VRAI, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

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Sharpe Ratios by Period

REMVRAIDifference

Sharpe Ratio (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

0.69

2.27

-1.58

Sharpe Ratio (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period

-0.11

0.33

-0.43

Sharpe Ratio (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period

0.09

—

—

Sharpe Ratio (All Time)

Calculated using the full available price history

-0.05

0.29

-0.33

Drawdowns

REM vs. VRAI - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum REM drawdown since its inception was -74.73%, which is greater than VRAI's maximum drawdown of -47.51%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for REM and VRAI.

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Drawdown Indicators

REMVRAIDifference

Max Drawdown

Largest peak-to-trough decline

-74.73%

-47.51%

-27.22%

Max Drawdown (1Y)

Largest decline over 1 year

-14.25%

-4.82%

-9.43%

Max Drawdown (3Y)

Largest decline over 3 years

-21.91%

-16.89%

-5.02%

Max Drawdown (5Y)

Largest decline over 5 years

-43.31%

-26.71%

-16.60%

Max Drawdown (10Y)

Largest decline over 10 years

-68.52%

—

—

Current Drawdown

Current decline from peak

-23.85%

-1.02%

-22.83%

Average Drawdown

Average peak-to-trough decline

-38.35%

-10.10%

-28.25%

Ulcer Index

Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks

4.95%

1.53%

+3.42%

Volatility

REM vs. VRAI - Volatility Comparison

iShares Mortgage Real Estate ETF (REM) has a higher volatility of 3.81% compared to Virtus Real Asset Income ETF (VRAI) at 3.50%. This indicates that REM's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than VRAI based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

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Volatility by Period

REMVRAIDifference

Volatility (1M)

Calculated over the trailing 1-month period

3.81%

3.50%

+0.31%

Volatility (6M)

Calculated over the trailing 6-month period

13.01%

8.45%

+4.56%

Volatility (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

16.85%

11.86%

+4.99%

Volatility (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized

23.57%

16.64%

+6.93%

Volatility (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized

28.27%

22.13%

+6.14%

REM vs. VRAI - Expense Ratio Comparison

REM has a 0.48% expense ratio, which is lower than VRAI's 0.55% expense ratio.

Dividends

REM vs. VRAI - Dividend Comparison

REM's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 9.19%, more than VRAI's 3.23% yield.

PositionTTM20252024202320222021202020192018201720162015
REM
iShares Mortgage Real Estate ETF		9.19%8.70%9.61%9.46%11.13%7.29%7.72%8.16%10.00%9.97%10.03%11.99%
VRAI
Virtus Real Asset Income ETF		3.23%4.68%7.13%5.02%4.48%3.34%3.91%2.80%0.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%

Frequently Asked Questions

REM and VRAI have a correlation of 0.44, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

REM has higher volatility (3.81%) compared to VRAI (3.50%). In terms of maximum drawdown, REM dropped -74.73% vs VRAI's -47.51%.

On 5-year performance, VRAI leads with 5.40% vs -2.48% for REM. On fees, REM is cheaper at 0.48% per year. On volatility, VRAI has been the lower-risk option at 3.50%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Over the 5-year period, VRAI has performed better with a 5.40% return vs -2.48%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

REM is cheaper with a 0.48% expense ratio, compared with 0.55% for VRAI.

REM has the higher dividend yield at 9.19%, compared with 3.23% for VRAI.

REM tracks FTSE NAREIT All Mortgage Capped Index, while VRAI tracks Indxx Real Asset Income Index. They also come from different issuers: iShares and Virtus Investment Partners. Their fees differ too: 0.48% for REM and 0.55% for VRAI.

VRAI currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.27 vs 0.69), 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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