REM vs XLRE: Yield, Cost and Returns Compared
As of Nov 5, 2026, REM yields more: 11.39% (dividend yield) against 3.25% for XLRE. XLRE is cheaper to own at 0.08% a year vs 0.48%. Over the same 11 years (Oct 2015 to Oct 2026), XLRE returned 6.7% a year with distributions reinvested, and REM 1.6%.
| Compared | REM | XLRE |
|---|---|---|
| YieldDividend yield | 11.39% | 3.25% |
| Expense ratio | 0.48% | 0.08% |
| Total return, 1 yr | −13.7% | +9.3% |
| Total return, 3 yr (a year) | +4.4% | +13.1% |
| Total return, 5 yr (a year) | −6.2% | +1.4% |
| Total return, 10 yr (a year) | +0.1% | +7.0% |
| Worst drop since Oct 2015 | -57.3% | -32.3% |
| Share price since Oct 2015 | −57% | +39% |
| Pays | Quarterly | Quarterly |
| Issuer | iShares | State Street Investment Management |
| Assets | $451.0M | $8.2B |
| Started | 2007 | 2015 |
| Type | Real Estate | Real Estate |
Higher yield
REM
11.39%
Lower cost
XLRE
0.08%
Better total return
XLRE
6.7%/yr
Smaller worst drop
XLRE
-32.3%
Key facts: REM vs XLRE
Data as of · Source: SmarterDividends data
- As of Nov 5, 2026, REM yields 11.39% (dividend yield) and XLRE yields 3.25% (dividend yield).
- REM's expense ratio is 0.48% and XLRE's is 0.08%: $48 vs $8 a year on $10,000.
- From Oct 2015 to Oct 2026, $10,000 in REM grew to $11,895 (1.6% a year) and $10,000 in XLRE to $20,363 (6.7% a year), distributions reinvested.
- Their worst month-end drops over that time: -57.3% for REM and -32.3% for XLRE.
- 0 of REM's top ten holdings are also in XLRE's top ten.
Cite this page
SmarterDividends, "REM vs XLRE: Yield, Cost and Returns Compared," updated Nov 5, 2026, https://smarterdividends.com/compare/rem-vs-xlre
$10,000 in each, Oct 2015 to Oct 2026
Distributions reinvested, month-end values, with the S&P 500 for reference.
REM became
$11,895
1.6% a year
XLRE became
$20,363
6.7% a year
Year by year
| Year | REM | XLRE |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | +13.3% | +2.6% |
| 2024 | −1.0% | +5.1% |
| 2023 | +14.5% | +12.4% |
| 2022 | −27.6% | −26.2% |
| 2021 | +16.2% | +46.1% |
| 2020 | −20.0% | −2.2% |
| 2019 | +21.4% | +28.6% |
| 2018 | −3.1% | −2.4% |
| 2017 | +18.4% | +10.7% |
| 2016 | +21.9% | +2.8% |
Total return each calendar year, distributions reinvested.
Top holdings
No overlap in the top ten.
REM
- NLY Annaly Capital Management Inc22.8%
- AGNC AGNC Investment Corp16.0%
- STWD Starwood Property Trust Inc6.8%
- RITM Rithm Capital Corp5.3%
- EFC Ellington Financial Inc4.8%
- DX Dynex Capital Inc4.7%
- BXMT Blackstone Mortgage Trust Inc Class A4.4%
- ARR ARMOUR Residential REIT Inc4.4%
- LADR Ladder Capital Corp Class A3.5%
- ORC Orchid Island Capital Inc3.3%
XLRE
- WELL Welltower Inc11.3%
- PLD Prologis Inc8.1%
- EQIX Equinix Inc6.7%
- AMT American Tower Corp5.9%
- PSA Public Storage5.0%
- SPG Simon Property Group Inc4.8%
- DLR Digital Realty Trust Inc4.3%
- VMRK Vivmark Residential4.3%
- VTR Ventas Inc4.3%
- O Realty Income Corp4.3%
REM vs XLRE: questions
Is REM or XLRE better?
It depends on the job. REM pays more today (11.39% vs 3.25%), XLRE costs less, and XLRE has the better total return over Oct 2015 to Oct 2026, with XLRE 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, REM or XLRE?
REM, at 11.39% against 3.25% for XLRE as of Nov 5, 2026. On $10,000 that's about $1,139 vs $325 a year at today's rates.
Which has the better total return?
XLRE. From Oct 2015 to Oct 2026, it returned 6.7% a year with distributions reinvested, against 1.6% for REM. $10,000 became $20,363 vs $11,895.
Which is cheaper, REM or XLRE?
XLRE, with a 0.08% expense ratio against 0.48%.
Do REM and XLRE hold the same things?
Not at the top: none of their top ten holdings match.
Yields, costs and holdings as each fund reports them (via Yahoo Finance), updated daily; returns from month-end prices with distributions reinvested. XLRE leads on 7 of 8 measures above. For information only, not investment advice. Last fund data: Nov 5, 2026.