URA vs. VNQ
URA (Global X Uranium ETF) and VNQ (Vanguard Real Estate ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - URA is a Uranium fund tracking the Solactive Global Uranium & Nuclear Components Total Return Index, while VNQ is a REIT fund tracking the MSCI US Investable Market Real Estate 25/50 Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, URA returned 16.50%/yr vs 5.44%/yr for VNQ. At a 0.34 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. URA charges 0.69%/yr vs 0.13%/yr for VNQ.
Performance
URA vs. VNQ - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, URA achieves a 12.47% return, which is significantly higher than VNQ's 11.72% return. Over the past 10 years, URA has outperformed VNQ with an annualized return of 16.50%, while VNQ has yielded a comparatively lower 5.44% annualized return.
URA
- 1D
- 5.58%
- 1M
- -3.75%
- YTD
- 12.47%
- 6M
- 12.83%
- 1Y
- 39.37%
- 3Y*
- 34.52%
- 5Y*
- 21.19%
- 10Y*
- 16.50%
VNQ
- 1D
- -0.70%
- 1M
- 4.16%
- YTD
- 11.72%
- 6M
- 11.19%
- 1Y
- 13.22%
- 3Y*
- 9.58%
- 5Y*
- 2.68%
- 10Y*
- 5.44%
URA vs. VNQ - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
URA Global X Uranium ETF | 12.47% | 67.18% | -0.58% | 46.25% | -11.32% | 57.57% | 41.33% | -3.54% | -22.11% | 19.36% |
VNQ Vanguard Real Estate ETF | 11.72% | 3.24% | 4.81% | 11.85% | -26.25% | 40.54% | -4.61% | 28.91% | -6.03% | 4.90% |
Correlation
The correlation between URA and VNQ is 0.12, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.12 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.17 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.29 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.30 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Nov 5, 2010 | 0.34 |
Over the past year, the correlation between URA and VNQ has dropped to 0.12 - well below their long-term average of 0.34, suggesting their price drivers have been diverging.
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Return for Risk
URA vs. VNQ — Risk / Return Rank
URA
VNQ
URA vs. VNQ - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Global X Uranium ETF (URA) 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.
| URA | VNQ | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.22 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.07 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.16 | 1.18 | -0.02 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.26 | 1.59 | -0.34 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 2.78 | 5.01 | -2.23 |
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Drawdowns
URA vs. VNQ - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum URA drawdown since its inception was -93.54%, which is greater than VNQ's maximum drawdown of -73.07%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for URA and VNQ.
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Drawdown Indicators
| URA | VNQ | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -93.54% | -73.07% | -20.47% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -31.48% | -8.34% | -23.14% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -37.81% | -17.46% | -20.35% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -37.90% | -34.48% | -3.42% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -61.45% | -42.40% | -19.05% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -45.46% | -0.70% | -44.76% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -74.93% | -13.61% | -61.32% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 14.19% | 2.64% | +11.55% |
Volatility
URA vs. VNQ - Volatility Comparison
Global X Uranium ETF (URA) has a higher volatility of 18.71% compared to Vanguard Real Estate ETF (VNQ) at 4.74%. This indicates that URA's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than VNQ based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| URA | VNQ | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 18.71% | 4.74% | +13.97% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 40.22% | 9.79% | +30.43% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 51.62% | 13.54% | +38.08% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 43.93% | 18.85% | +25.08% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 37.95% | 20.72% | +17.23% |
URA vs. VNQ - Expense Ratio Comparison
URA has a 0.69% expense ratio, which is higher than VNQ's 0.13% expense ratio.
Dividends
URA vs. VNQ - Dividend Comparison
URA's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.34%, more than VNQ's 3.56% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
URA Global X Uranium ETF | 4.34% | 4.88% | 2.86% | 6.07% | 0.76% | 5.84% | 1.69% | 1.66% | 0.44% | 2.03% | 7.28% | 1.96% |
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
URA and VNQ have a correlation of 0.12, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
URA has higher volatility (18.71%) compared to VNQ (4.74%). In terms of maximum drawdown, URA dropped -93.54% vs VNQ's -73.07%.
On 10-year performance, URA leads with 16.50% vs 5.44% for VNQ. On fees, VNQ is cheaper at 0.13% per year. On volatility, VNQ has been the lower-risk option at 4.74%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 10-year period, URA has performed better with a 16.50% return vs 5.44%. 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 0.69% for URA.
URA has the higher dividend yield at 4.34%, compared with 3.56% for VNQ.
URA is categorized as Uranium, while VNQ is REIT. URA tracks Solactive Global Uranium & Nuclear Components Total Return Index, while VNQ tracks MSCI US Investable Market Real Estate 25/50 Index. They also come from different issuers: Global X and Vanguard. Their fees differ too: 0.69% for URA and 0.13% for VNQ.
VNQ currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (0.98 vs 0.77), 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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