USRT vs. XLRE
USRT (iShares Core U.S. REIT ETF) and XLRE (Real Estate Select Sector SPDR Fund) are both REIT funds - USRT tracks the FTSE Nareit Equity REITS 40 Act Capped Index while XLRE tracks the Real Estate Select Sector Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, USRT returned 6.04%/yr vs 6.29%/yr for XLRE. Their correlation of 0.94 suggests significant overlap in exposure. USRT charges 0.08%/yr vs 0.13%/yr for XLRE.
Performance
USRT vs. XLRE - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, USRT achieves a 19.09% return, which is significantly higher than XLRE's 12.50% return. Both investments have delivered pretty close results over the past 10 years, with USRT having a 6.04% annualized return and XLRE not far ahead at 6.29%.
USRT
- 1D
- 0.70%
- 1M
- 1.10%
- 6M
- 17.11%
- YTD
- 19.09%
- 1Y
- 21.42%
- 3Y*
- 11.47%
- 5Y*
- 5.20%
- 10Y*
- 6.04%
XLRE
- 1D
- 0.56%
- 1M
- -0.59%
- 6M
- 11.76%
- YTD
- 12.50%
- 1Y
- 11.24%
- 3Y*
- 8.48%
- 5Y*
- 2.76%
- 10Y*
- 6.29%
USRT vs. XLRE - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
USRT iShares Core U.S. REIT ETF | 19.09% | 2.44% | 8.58% | 13.64% | -24.43% | 43.26% | -8.06% | 25.98% | -4.67% | 5.27% |
XLRE Real Estate Select Sector SPDR Fund | 12.50% | 2.63% | 5.09% | 12.36% | -26.25% | 46.10% | -2.18% | 28.68% | -2.39% | 10.69% |
Correlation
The correlation between USRT and XLRE 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 | 0.97 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.95 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Oct 8, 2015 | 0.94 |
The correlation between USRT and XLRE has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.94 to 0.97 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
USRT vs. XLRE — Risk / Return Rank
USRT
XLRE
USRT vs. XLRE - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Core U.S. REIT ETF (USRT) and Real Estate Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLRE). 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.
| USRT | XLRE | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.76 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +1.00 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.27 | 1.14 | +0.13 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.68 | 1.35 | +1.32 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 8.66 | 3.72 | +4.95 |
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Drawdowns
USRT vs. XLRE - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum USRT drawdown since its inception was -69.92%, which is greater than XLRE's maximum drawdown of -38.83%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for USRT and XLRE.
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Drawdown Indicators
| USRT | XLRE | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -69.92% | -38.83% | -31.09% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -8.04% | -8.33% | +0.29% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -18.70% | -16.74% | -1.96% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -31.03% | -34.12% | +3.09% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -44.38% | -38.83% | -5.55% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.66% | -1.19% | +0.53% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -12.91% | -9.52% | -3.39% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.48% | 3.03% | -0.55% |
Volatility
USRT vs. XLRE - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for iShares Core U.S. REIT ETF (USRT) is 4.76%, while Real Estate Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLRE) has a volatility of 5.20%. This indicates that USRT experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than XLRE based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| USRT | XLRE | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 4.76% | 5.20% | -0.44% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 10.41% | 11.06% | -0.65% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 13.91% | 14.31% | -0.40% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 18.94% | 19.17% | -0.23% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 21.32% | 20.45% | +0.87% |
USRT vs. XLRE - Expense Ratio Comparison
USRT has a 0.08% expense ratio, which is lower than XLRE's 0.13% 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
USRT vs. XLRE - Dividend Comparison
USRT's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.54%, less than XLRE's 3.14% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
USRT iShares Core U.S. REIT ETF | 2.54% | 3.07% | 2.85% | 3.18% | 3.46% | 2.27% | 3.12% | 3.34% | 5.66% | 3.44% | 3.98% | 3.59% |
XLRE Real Estate Select Sector SPDR Fund | 3.14% | 3.45% | 3.43% | 3.31% | 3.70% | 2.61% | 3.15% | 3.06% | 3.78% | 3.25% | 4.22% | 1.09% |
Frequently Asked Questions
With a correlation of 0.94, USRT and XLRE 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.
XLRE has higher volatility (5.20%) compared to USRT (4.76%). In terms of maximum drawdown, USRT dropped -69.92% vs XLRE's -38.83%.
On 10-year performance, XLRE leads with 6.29% vs 6.04% for USRT. On fees, USRT is cheaper at 0.08% per year. On volatility, USRT has been the lower-risk option at 4.76%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 10-year period, XLRE has performed better with a 6.29% return vs 6.04%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
USRT is cheaper with a 0.08% expense ratio, compared with 0.13% for XLRE.
XLRE has the higher dividend yield at 3.14%, compared with 2.54% for USRT.
USRT tracks FTSE Nareit Equity REITS 40 Act Capped Index, while XLRE tracks Real Estate Select Sector Index. They also come from different issuers: iShares and State Street. Their fees differ too: 0.08% for USRT and 0.13% for XLRE.
USRT currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.55 vs 0.79), 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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