Core Insights - The article compares two global real estate ETFs: FlexShares Global Quality Real Estate Index Fund (GQRE) and iShares Global REIT ETF (REET), focusing on their cost, performance, risk, and portfolio composition to help investors determine which ETF may better suit their needs [1] Cost & Size - GQRE has an expense ratio of 0.45%, which is three times higher than REET's 0.14% [2][3] - As of January 8, 2026, GQRE has a one-year return of 7.08% and a dividend yield of 4.66%, while REET has a one-year return of 6.65% and a dividend yield of 3.62% [2][3] - GQRE's assets under management (AUM) stand at $342.55 million, significantly lower than REET's $4.33 billion [2] Performance & Risk Comparison - Over the past five years, GQRE experienced a maximum drawdown of -35.08%, compared to REET's -32.09% [4] - An investment of $1,000 in GQRE would have grown to $1,032 over five years, while the same investment in REET would have grown to $1,053 [4] Portfolio Composition - REET, established in 2014, is the largest global real estate ETF, holding 377 assets, with top positions in Welltower, Prologis, and Equinix, which collectively account for about 20% of its total holdings [5] - GQRE, created in 2013, has 150 total holdings, focusing on higher-quality real estate assets, with its top three holdings being American Tower Corporation, Digital Realty Trust, and Public Storage [6] Investment Strategy - GQRE tracks the Northern Trust Global Quality Real Estate Index, selecting securities based on value, momentum, and quality factors, aiming for long-term capital appreciation while mitigating risk [7] - GQRE has outperformed REET in both 12-month and 5-year price gains, with its price approximately 20% higher since inception, while REET's price has only increased by 0.68% since 2014 [8][9]

Explore how each ETF’s unique approach to global real estate shapes risk, diversification, and portfolio fit for investors.The main differences between FlexShares Global Quality Real Estate Index Fund (GQRE +0.17%) and Vanguard Global ex-U.S. Real Estate ETF (VNQI +0.11%) come down to cost, geographic exposure, and recent performance, with VNQI offering a lower fee and wider international diversification.Both GQRE and VNQI aim to give investors access to real estate equities, but their approaches diverge: G ...