O vs VNQ: Dividend Yield, Total Return & Fees Compared

Realty Income CorporationVanguard Real Estate Index Fund ETF Shares

Data as of the close · refreshed automatically every trading day

Higher yieldO5.84% vs 3.74%
Better 1-year total returnVNQ+4.79% vs -2.05%
Better 5-year total returnO+11.66% vs +5.42%

O vs VNQ at a glance

This page compares Realty Income Corporation (O) with Vanguard Real Estate Index Fund ETF Shares (VNQ) using prices and distributions through September 25, 2026. The numbers update automatically after each trading session.

With dividends reinvested, VNQ has led over the last 12 months at +4.79% versus -2.05% for O. O currently yields 5.84% (trailing 12-month) against 3.74% for VNQ. Across five years the total-return gap is +11.66% for O vs +5.42% for VNQ.

The higher-yielding fund (O) has trailed on 1-year total return. Yield only measures the income a fund pays; total return also counts the change in share price, so it is the fuller basis for comparing the two.

Key figures for O and VNQ
MetricOVNQ
Last close$55.54$90.99
Dividend yield5.84% (TTM)3.74% (TTM)
Expense ratio——
Paysmonthlyquarterly
Dividends, last 12 months$3.25 (12 payments)$3.41 (4 payments)
Issuer—Vanguard
Inception——

Performance: O vs VNQ

Total return assumes every distribution is reinvested. Switch to price return to see the change in share price alone.

OVNQ

Total Return (%) · dividends reinvested · Sep 25, 2025 – Sep 25, 2026

DividendDuel.com

Overview

Key fund stats as of the latest close.

ETFTTM yield1Y total returnLast closeLast dividendPaysIssuer
ORealty Income Corporation
5.84%
-2.05%$55.54$0.271Monthly—
VNQVanguard Real Estate Index Fund ETF Shares
3.74%
+4.79%Best$90.99$0.805QuarterlyVanguard

Total returns

Price change plus dividends paid, by holding period. Best in each period is outlined.

ETF1M3M6M1Y2Y5Y
ORealty Income Corporation-11.21%-9.30%-5.08%-2.05%-1.12%+11.66%
VNQVanguard Real Estate Index Fund ETF Shares-7.52%-5.56%+5.42%+4.79%+0.83%+5.42%

Dividends

Latest payout, trailing 12-month total and the last 12 distributions.

ETFLatest payoutvs. priorTrailing 12MRecent payouts
ORealty Income Corporation$0.271Aug 31, 2026+0.00%$3.24612 payoutsOct 1, 2025: $0.27Oct 31, 2025: $0.27Nov 28, 2025: $0.27Dec 31, 2025: $0.27Jan 30, 2026: $0.27Feb 27, 2026: $0.27Mar 31, 2026: $0.271Apr 30, 2026: $0.271May 29, 2026: $0.271Jun 30, 2026: $0.271Jul 31, 2026: $0.271Aug 31, 2026: $0.271
VNQVanguard Real Estate Index Fund ETF Shares$0.805Sep 23, 2026-5.85%$3.4074 payoutsDec 21, 2023: $1.068Mar 22, 2024: $0.732Jun 28, 2024: $1.033Sep 27, 2024: $0.813Dec 23, 2024: $0.856Mar 25, 2025: $0.932Jun 26, 2025: $0.868Sep 24, 2025: $0.872Dec 22, 2025: $0.801Mar 24, 2026: $0.946Jun 24, 2026: $0.855Sep 23, 2026: $0.805

Recent dividend payments

The latest 12 distributions per share for each fund, newest first.

OVNQ
Aug 31, 2026$0.271Sep 23, 2026$0.805
Jul 31, 2026$0.271Jun 24, 2026$0.855
Jun 30, 2026$0.271Mar 24, 2026$0.946
May 29, 2026$0.271Dec 22, 2025$0.801
Apr 30, 2026$0.271Sep 24, 2025$0.872
Mar 31, 2026$0.271Jun 26, 2025$0.868
Feb 27, 2026$0.270Mar 25, 2025$0.932
Jan 30, 2026$0.270Dec 23, 2024$0.856
Dec 31, 2025$0.270Sep 27, 2024$0.813
Nov 28, 2025$0.270Jun 28, 2024$1.03
Oct 31, 2025$0.270Mar 22, 2024$0.732
Oct 1, 2025$0.270Dec 21, 2023$1.07

O vs VNQ: common questions

Which pays a higher dividend, O or VNQ?

As of September 25, 2026, O yields 5.84% (trailing 12-month) and VNQ yields 3.74% (trailing 12-month), so O currently pays the higher yield. A higher yield does not guarantee a higher total return.

Which has performed better, O or VNQ?

Over the past year with dividends reinvested, O returned -2.05% and VNQ returned +4.79%. Over five years, O returned +11.66% and VNQ returned +5.42%. Past performance does not predict future results.

What would $10,000 in O vs VNQ be worth after one year?

With dividends reinvested, $10,000 invested one year before September 25, 2026 would have grown to about $9,795 in O and $10,479 in VNQ.

How often do O and VNQ pay dividends?

O pays monthly (12 payments in the last 12 months) and VNQ pays quarterly (4 payments).

Is O or VNQ the better investment?

It depends on your goals, time horizon and tax situation. Income-focused investors often weigh yield and payment frequency, while long-term investors usually compare total return and fees. Dividend Duel is an educational tool and does not provide investment advice.

Related comparisons

More side-by-side comparisons with O and VNQ.

Figures come from end-of-day prices and distributions and are recalculated after every trading session; see our methodology. This page is for education only and is not investment advice. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Read the full disclosure.