O vs VNQ: Yield, Cost and Returns Compared
As of Nov 5, 2026, O yields more: 5.50% (dividend yield) against 3.53% for VNQ. Over the same 18 years (Dec 2007 to Oct 2026), O returned 9.7% a year with distributions reinvested, and VNQ 6.6%.
ORealty Income Corporation5.50%dividend yield
VNQVanguard Real Estate Index Fund ETF Shares3.53%dividend yield| Compared | O | VNQ |
|---|---|---|
| YieldDividend yield | 5.50% | 3.53% |
| Expense ratio | None | 0.13% |
| Total return, 1 yr | +3.6% | +9.3% |
| Total return, 3 yr (a year) | +12.3% | +13.2% |
| Total return, 5 yr (a year) | +1.5% | +0.9% |
| Total return, 10 yr (a year) | +4.9% | +5.5% |
| Worst drop since Dec 2007 | -38.0% | -62.0% |
| Share price since Dec 2007 | +118% | +53% |
| Pays | Monthly | Quarterly |
| Issuer | — | Vanguard |
| Assets | $56.1B | $68.1B |
| Started | — | 2004 |
| Type | stock | Real Estate |
Higher yield
O
5.50%
Better total return
O
9.7%/yr
Smaller worst drop
O
-38.0%
Key facts: O vs VNQ
Data as of · Source: SmarterDividends data
- As of Nov 5, 2026, O yields 5.50% (dividend yield) and VNQ yields 3.53% (dividend yield).
- From Dec 2007 to Oct 2026, $10,000 in O grew to $56,703 (9.7% a year) and $10,000 in VNQ to $33,159 (6.6% a year), distributions reinvested.
- Their worst month-end drops over that time: -38.0% for O and -62.0% for VNQ.
Cite this page
SmarterDividends, "O vs VNQ: Yield, Cost and Returns Compared," updated Nov 5, 2026, https://smarterdividends.com/compare/o-vs-vnq
$10,000 in each, Dec 2007 to Oct 2026
Distributions reinvested, month-end values, with the S&P 500 for reference.
O became
$56,703
9.7% a year
VNQ became
$33,159
6.6% a year
Year by year
| Year | O | VNQ |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | +12.2% | +3.2% |
| 2024 | −2.1% | +4.8% |
| 2023 | −4.5% | +11.8% |
| 2022 | −7.0% | −26.2% |
| 2021 | +24.1% | +40.5% |
| 2020 | −11.6% | −4.6% |
| 2019 | +21.2% | +28.9% |
| 2018 | +16.0% | −6.0% |
| 2017 | +3.7% | +4.9% |
| 2016 | +15.8% | +8.6% |
| 2015 | +13.4% | +2.4% |
| 2014 | +34.4% | +30.4% |
| 2013 | −2.3% | +2.3% |
| 2012 | +20.3% | +17.6% |
| 2011 | +7.5% | +8.6% |
| 2010 | +39.4% | +28.4% |
| 2009 | +20.7% | +30.1% |
| 2008 | −8.2% | −37.0% |
Total return each calendar year, distributions reinvested.
Top holdings
No overlap in the top ten.
O
- A single company.
VNQ
- VRTPX Vanguard Real Estate II Index14.5%
- WELL Welltower Inc9.1%
- PLD Prologis Inc6.9%
- EQIX Equinix Inc5.7%
- AMT American Tower Corp4.3%
- SPG Simon Property Group Inc3.7%
- DLR Digital Realty Trust Inc3.7%
- O Realty Income Corp2.8%
- PSA Public Storage2.7%
- VMRK Vivmark Residential2.5%
O vs VNQ: questions
Is O or VNQ better?
It depends on the job. O pays more today (5.50% vs 3.53%), and O has the better total return over Dec 2007 to Oct 2026, with O holding up better in its worst stretch. For income, look at yield and whether the payouts hold up; for growth, total return and drawdowns.
Which pays a higher dividend, O or VNQ?
O, at 5.50% against 3.53% for VNQ as of Nov 5, 2026. On $10,000 that's about $550 vs $353 a year at today's rates.
Which has the better total return?
O. From Dec 2007 to Oct 2026, it returned 9.7% a year with distributions reinvested, against 6.6% for VNQ. $10,000 became $56,703 vs $33,159.
Related comparisons
Yields, costs and holdings as each fund reports them (via Yahoo Finance), updated daily; returns from month-end prices with distributions reinvested. O leads on 5 of 8 measures above. For information only, not investment advice. Last fund data: —.