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Schwab U.S. REIT ETF offers a more concentrated domestic portfolio with a lower expense ratio than its international Vanguard counterpart. Vanguard Global ex-U.S. Real Estate ETF provides exposure to over 30 countries and a higher dividend yield but has lagged in total returns over the last five years.
While the Federal Reserve has held rates steady since its December 2025 meeting, investor expectations for future interest rate decisions have shifted drastically over the course of the year. Early expectations for 2026 rate cuts quickly faded as stubborn inflation fueled interest rate volatility, heavily impacting real estate ETFs.
The choice between Vanguard Real Estate ETF (NYSEARCA:VNQ) and Schwab U.S.
The Vanguard Real Estate ETF (VNQ) offers a higher dividend yield than the Schwab U.S. REIT ETF (SCHH). SCHH has a lower expense ratio than VNQ.
Markets have been hyper-focused on AI, crypto and buffer ETFs, but REIT ETFs have quietly staged an impressive comeback. The REIT terrain has shifted rapidly over recent years, and forward-looking investors and advisors have taken notice.
Schwab U.S. REIT ETF offers a significantly lower expense ratio and a higher dividend yield than iShares Select U.S. REIT ETF. The iShares ETF maintains a more concentrated portfolio of 30 holdings compared to the 120 positions held by Schwab's fund.
The average short interest in US equity real estate investment trusts grew in May compared with the prior month. US equity REITs' average short interest rose 5 basis points from April to about 5.0% of shares outstanding in May, according to an S&P Global Market Intelligence analysis. Farmland REITs posted the largest month-over-month increase in average short interest in May, rising 89 basis points to 5.6% of shares outstanding.
REITs have refused to break in 2026 despite oil-driven inflation pressure, rising Treasury yields, and a Fed narrative that flipped from multiple rate cuts to potential hikes. The “Rates Up, REITs Down” regime has weakened, with REIT-rate correlations falling sharply as fundamentals, strategy, capital allocation, and valuation catalysts increasingly drive performance. M&A has helped break the rate-driven narrative, validating public-market discounts to NAV and proving that REITs can unlock value through consolidation, privatizations, and strategic alternatives.