Top REITs
Every US-listed REIT and REIT ETF, ranked by annual return since it started trading, dividends included. The risk-return chart plots the top 25.
About this tool
Compare 25 leading REITs and REIT ETFs on annualized return, volatility, Sharpe and Sortino ratios and maximum drawdown, with category labels separating apartment, industrial, data-center, healthcare and other property types.
REITs are real estate with a stock ticker: legally required to pay out at least 90% of taxable income as dividends, which makes them income machines with equity volatility. They are also rate-sensitive, competing with bonds for income investors and borrowing heavily to grow, so rising yields hit them from both sides.
What is a REIT?
A real estate investment trust: a company owning income-producing property that must distribute at least 90% of taxable income to shareholders as dividends in exchange for paying no corporate tax.
How do interest rates affect REITs?
Doubly. Higher rates raise REIT borrowing costs and make bond yields more competitive with REIT dividends, which is why REITs have historically struggled during fast rate-hiking cycles and thrived when rates fall.
Are REIT dividends taxed differently?
Mostly as ordinary income rather than at qualified-dividend rates, which is why many investors prefer holding REITs inside tax-advantaged accounts.