VNQ vs XLRE: Dividend Yield, Total Return & Fees Compared
Vanguard Real Estate Index Fund ETF SharesState Street Real Estate Select Sector SPDR ETF
Data as of the close · refreshed automatically every trading day
VNQ vs XLRE at a glance
This page compares Vanguard Real Estate Index Fund ETF Shares (VNQ) with State Street Real Estate Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLRE) 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 +3.72% for XLRE. VNQ currently yields 3.74% (trailing 12-month) against 3.47% for XLRE. Across five years the total-return gap is +7.25% for XLRE vs +5.42% for VNQ.
VNQ leads on both current yield and 1-year total return. Yields and returns move with markets, so check the longer periods below before drawing conclusions.
| Metric | VNQ | XLRE |
|---|---|---|
| Last close | $90.99 | $41.56 |
| Dividend yield | 3.74% (TTM) | 3.47% (TTM) |
| Expense ratio | — | — |
| Pays | quarterly | quarterly |
| Dividends, last 12 months | $3.41 (4 payments) | $1.44 (4 payments) |
| Issuer | Vanguard | State Street |
| Inception | — | — |
Performance: VNQ vs XLRE
Total return assumes every distribution is reinvested. Switch to price return to see the change in share price alone.
Total Return (%) · dividends reinvested · Sep 25, 2025 – Sep 25, 2026
Overview
Key fund stats as of the latest close.
Total returns
Price change plus dividends paid, by holding period. Best in each period is outlined.
Dividends
Latest payout, trailing 12-month total and the last 12 distributions.
Recent dividend payments
The latest 12 distributions per share for each fund, newest first.
| VNQ | XLRE | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 23, 2026 | $0.805 | Sep 21, 2026 | $0.355 |
| Jun 24, 2026 | $0.855 | Jun 22, 2026 | $0.381 |
| Mar 24, 2026 | $0.946 | Mar 23, 2026 | $0.271 |
| Dec 22, 2025 | $0.801 | Dec 22, 2025 | $0.436 |
| Sep 24, 2025 | $0.872 | Sep 22, 2025 | $0.317 |
| Jun 26, 2025 | $0.868 | Jun 23, 2025 | $0.375 |
| Mar 25, 2025 | $0.932 | Mar 24, 2025 | $0.264 |
| Dec 23, 2024 | $0.856 | Dec 23, 2024 | $0.434 |
| Sep 27, 2024 | $0.813 | Sep 23, 2024 | $0.311 |
| Jun 28, 2024 | $1.03 | Jun 24, 2024 | $0.387 |
| Mar 22, 2024 | $0.732 | Mar 18, 2024 | $0.264 |
| Dec 21, 2023 | $1.07 | Dec 18, 2023 | $0.421 |
VNQ vs XLRE: common questions
Which pays a higher dividend, VNQ or XLRE?
As of September 25, 2026, VNQ yields 3.74% (trailing 12-month) and XLRE yields 3.47% (trailing 12-month), so VNQ currently pays the higher yield. A higher yield does not guarantee a higher total return.
Which has performed better, VNQ or XLRE?
Over the past year with dividends reinvested, VNQ returned +4.79% and XLRE returned +3.72%. Over five years, VNQ returned +5.42% and XLRE returned +7.25%. Past performance does not predict future results.
What would $10,000 in VNQ vs XLRE be worth after one year?
With dividends reinvested, $10,000 invested one year before September 25, 2026 would have grown to about $10,479 in VNQ and $10,372 in XLRE.
How often do VNQ and XLRE pay dividends?
VNQ pays quarterly (4 payments in the last 12 months) and XLRE pays quarterly (4 payments).
Is VNQ or XLRE 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 VNQ and XLRE.
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.