WPC vs. VNQ
WPC (W. P. Carey Inc.) is a stock, while VNQ (Vanguard Real Estate ETF) is REIT fund tracking the MSCI US Investable Market Real Estate 25/50 Index. Over the past 10 years, WPC returned 7.19%/yr vs 5.44%/yr for VNQ. A 0.60 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined.
Performance
WPC vs. VNQ - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, WPC achieves a 13.90% return, which is significantly higher than VNQ's 11.77% return. Over the past 10 years, WPC has outperformed VNQ with an annualized return of 7.19%, while VNQ has yielded a comparatively lower 5.44% annualized return.
WPC
- 1D
- 1.22%
- 1M
- -2.93%
- YTD
- 13.90%
- 6M
- 15.87%
- 1Y
- 18.48%
- 3Y*
- 10.87%
- 5Y*
- 5.43%
- 10Y*
- 7.19%
VNQ
- 1D
- 1.31%
- 1M
- 1.13%
- YTD
- 11.77%
- 6M
- 12.16%
- 1Y
- 11.59%
- 3Y*
- 11.30%
- 5Y*
- 2.83%
- 10Y*
- 5.44%
WPC vs. VNQ - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
WPC W. P. Carey Inc. | 13.90% | 24.99% | -10.59% | -7.93% | 0.47% | 22.88% | -5.99% | 28.84% | 1.08% | 25.68% |
VNQ Vanguard Real Estate ETF | 11.77% | 3.24% | 4.81% | 11.85% | -26.25% | 40.54% | -4.61% | 28.91% | -6.03% | 4.90% |
Correlation
The correlation between WPC and VNQ is 0.64, 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 | 0.64 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.69 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.73 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.77 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Sep 29, 2004 | 0.60 |
The correlation between WPC and VNQ shifts across timeframes, from 0.60 (all time) to 0.77 (10 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
WPC vs. VNQ — Risk / Return Rank
WPC
VNQ
WPC vs. VNQ - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for W. P. Carey Inc. (WPC) 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.
| WPC | VNQ | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.24 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.28 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.20 | 1.15 | +0.04 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.91 | 1.40 | +0.51 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 5.66 | 4.37 | +1.29 |
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Drawdowns
WPC vs. VNQ - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum WPC drawdown since its inception was -52.45%, smaller than the maximum VNQ drawdown of -73.07%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for WPC and VNQ.
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Drawdown Indicators
| WPC | VNQ | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -52.45% | -73.07% | +20.62% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -9.71% | -8.34% | -1.37% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -27.07% | -17.46% | -9.61% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -36.81% | -34.48% | -2.33% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -52.45% | -42.40% | -10.05% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -5.75% | -0.66% | -5.09% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -10.26% | -13.60% | +3.34% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.28% | 2.66% | +0.62% |
Volatility
WPC vs. VNQ - Volatility Comparison
W. P. Carey Inc. (WPC) has a higher volatility of 7.24% compared to Vanguard Real Estate ETF (VNQ) at 5.19%. This indicates that WPC'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
| WPC | VNQ | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 7.24% | 5.19% | +2.05% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 13.25% | 10.20% | +3.05% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 17.22% | 13.84% | +3.38% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 20.78% | 18.86% | +1.92% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 25.86% | 20.75% | +5.11% |
Dividends
WPC vs. VNQ - Dividend Comparison
WPC's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 5.06%, more than VNQ's 3.56% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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% |
WPC W. P. Carey Inc. | 5.06% | 5.62% | 6.41% | 7.93% | 5.43% | 5.12% | 5.91% | 5.17% | 6.26% | 7.26% | 6.65% | 6.48% |
Frequently Asked Questions
WPC and VNQ have a correlation of 0.64, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
WPC has higher volatility (7.24%) compared to VNQ (5.19%). In terms of maximum drawdown, WPC dropped -52.45% vs VNQ's -73.07%.
WPC currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.08 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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