RIT.TO vs. VNQ

Last updated Jun 4, 2026

RIT.TO (CI Canadian REIT ETF) and VNQ (Vanguard Real Estate ETF) are both REIT funds. RIT.TO is actively managed, while VNQ is passively managed. Over the past 10 years, RIT.TO returned 6.65%/yr vs 5.97%/yr for VNQ. At a 0.41 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. RIT.TO charges 0.87%/yr vs 0.13%/yr for VNQ.

Performance

RIT.TO vs. VNQ - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a CA$10,000 investment in CI Canadian REIT ETF (RIT.TO) and Vanguard Real Estate ETF (VNQ). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Different Trading Currencies

RIT.TO is traded in CAD, while VNQ is traded in USD. To make them comparable, the VNQ values have been converted to CAD using the latest available exchange rates.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, RIT.TO achieves a 7.57% return, which is significantly lower than VNQ's 9.20% return. Over the past 10 years, RIT.TO has outperformed VNQ with an annualized return of 6.65%, while VNQ has yielded a comparatively lower 5.97% annualized return.

RIT.TO

• 1D: -0.62%
• 1M: -0.30%
• YTD: 7.57%
• 6M: 9.98%
• 1Y: 10.62%
• 3Y*: 8.19%
• 5Y*: 3.71%
• 10Y*: 6.65%

VNQ

• 1D: 0.29%
• 1M: 0.87%
• YTD: 9.20%
• 6M: 6.34%
• 1Y: 11.39%
• 3Y*: 10.42%
• 5Y*: 5.10%
• 10Y*: 5.97%

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

RIT.TO vs. VNQ - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
RIT.TO CI Canadian REIT ETF	7.57%	11.98%	2.51%	5.37%	-20.74%	34.36%	-6.83%	22.86%	3.92%	11.74%
VNQ Vanguard Real Estate ETF	9.20%	-1.49%	13.82%	9.39%	-21.00%	39.27%	-6.22%	22.57%	1.94%	-1.78%

Correlation

The correlation between RIT.TO and VNQ is 0.53, 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	0.53
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.63
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.62
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.56
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jun 23, 2009	0.41

The correlation between RIT.TO and VNQ shifts across timeframes, from 0.41 (all time) to 0.63 (3 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.

RIT.TO vs. VNQ - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors	RIT.TO	VNQ
Real Estate	96.0%	97.3%
Healthcare	4.0%	-
Basic Materials	-	1.1%
Communication Services	-	0.6%
Consumer Cyclical	-	-
Consumer Defensive	-	-
Energy	-	0.1%
Financial Services	-	0.1%
Industrials	-	0.0%
Technology	-	0.3%
Utilities	-	-

Return for Risk

RIT.TO vs. VNQ — Risk / Return Rank

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

RIT.TO

RIT.TO Risk / Return Rank: 29
RIT.TO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 28
RIT.TO Sortino Ratio Rank: 28
RIT.TO Omega Ratio Rank: 26
RIT.TO Calmar Ratio Rank: 30
RIT.TO Martin Ratio Rank: 30

VNQ

VNQ Risk / Return Rank: 23
VNQ Sharpe Ratio Rank: 22
VNQ Sortino Ratio Rank: 21
VNQ Omega Ratio Rank: 20
VNQ Calmar Ratio Rank: 25
VNQ Martin Ratio Rank: 27

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.

RIT.TO vs. VNQ - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for CI Canadian REIT ETF (RIT.TO) 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.

	RIT.TO	VNQ	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	1.01	0.87	+0.14
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	1.53	1.24	+0.29
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.18	1.16	+0.02
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	1.48	1.59	-0.12
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	4.25	4.12	+0.13
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

RIT.TO vs. VNQ - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current RIT.TO Sharpe Ratio is 1.01, which is comparable to the VNQ Sharpe Ratio of 0.87. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of RIT.TO and VNQ, 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

	RIT.TO	VNQ	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	1.01	0.87	+0.14
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.25	0.30	-0.05
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.43	0.31	+0.12
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.52	0.67	-0.15

Drawdowns

RIT.TO vs. VNQ - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum RIT.TO drawdown since its inception was -56.72%, which is greater than VNQ's maximum drawdown of -36.98%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for RIT.TO and VNQ.

Drawdown Indicators

	RIT.TO	VNQ	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-56.72%	-36.98%	-19.74%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-7.21%	-7.18%	-0.03%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-17.16%	-16.07%	-1.09%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-30.75%	-28.84%	-1.91%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-40.90%	-36.98%	-3.92%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-1.31%	-2.30%	+0.99%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-8.81%	-7.35%	-1.46%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	2.50%	2.77%	-0.27%

Volatility

RIT.TO vs. VNQ - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for CI Canadian REIT ETF (RIT.TO) is 2.92%, while Vanguard Real Estate ETF (VNQ) has a volatility of 3.80%. This indicates that RIT.TO experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than VNQ based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	RIT.TO	VNQ	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	2.92%	3.80%	-0.88%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	7.92%	9.57%	-1.65%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	10.52%	13.14%	-2.62%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	14.67%	16.86%	-2.19%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	15.46%	19.04%	-3.58%

RIT.TO vs. VNQ - Expense Ratio Comparison

RIT.TO has a 0.87% expense ratio, which is higher than VNQ's 0.13% expense ratio.

Dividends

RIT.TO vs. VNQ - Dividend Comparison

RIT.TO's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.59%, more than VNQ's 3.69% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
RIT.TO CI Canadian REIT ETF	4.59%	4.85%	5.17%	5.04%	5.04%	3.82%	4.92%	4.35%	5.11%	5.05%	5.28%	4.79%
VNQ Vanguard Real Estate ETF	3.69%	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

Can I hold both RIT.TO and VNQ in my portfolio?

RIT.TO and VNQ have a correlation of 0.53, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which ETF is better, RIT.TO or VNQ?

On fees, VNQ is cheaper at 0.13% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF is cheaper, RIT.TO or VNQ?

VNQ is cheaper with a 0.13% expense ratio, compared with 0.87% for RIT.TO.

What is the main difference between RIT.TO and VNQ?

They also come from different issuers: CI Investments and Vanguard. Their fees differ too: 0.87% for RIT.TO and 0.13% for VNQ.