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VNQvsDFARETF Comparison
Vanguard Real Estate ETF (VNQ) and Dimensional US Real Estate ETF (DFAR) belong to the same industry segment: US Real Estate. VNQ's top 3 sector exposures are Real Estate and Industrials. In contrast, DFAR's top sector exposures are Real Estate VNQ is less expensive with a Total Expense Ratio (TER) of 0.13%, versus 0.2% for DFAR. VNQ is up 4.75% year-to-date (YTD) with +$420M in YTD flows. DFAR performs better with 8.25% YTD performance, and +$71M in YTD flows. Run a side-by-side ETF comparison of VNQ and DFAR below, and assess how they stack up in performance, liquidity, risk, exposure, holdings, and more, helping you select the best ETF for your investments.
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VNQ vs DFAR performance and flow charts
Performance
Cumulative Flows
Historic performance and flows
Data as of 03/11/2026
| 1M | 3M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perf. | VNQ DFAR | -0.76%+1.27% | +4.43%+8.62% | +4.75%+8.25% | +6.48%+7.21% | +27.64%+31.06% | +23.79%n/a |
| Flows | VNQ DFAR | +$169M+$12M | +$848M+$109M | +$420M+$71M | +$342M+$256M | -$671M+$874M | +$1.06B- |
Volatility and drawdown
| 3M | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volatility | VNQ DFAR | +11.84%+12.06% | +16.34%+16.17% | +17.07%+17.43% | +18.78%n/a |
| Max drawdown | VNQ DFAR | -3.42%-3.63% | -12.42%-12.27% | -17.41%-17.73% | -34.43%n/a |
| Max drawdown duration | VNQ DFAR | 18d17d | 79d79d | 141d514d | 1529dn/a |
Trading data
VNQ | DFAR | |
Last sale 3/11/2026 at 1:30 PM | $92.65 | $24.55 |
| Previous close 03/11/2026 | $93.62 | $24.81 |
| Consolidated volume 03/11/2026 | ||
| Average volume 30 days | ||
| Average discount or premium 30 days | ||
| Average Bid/Ask spread 30 days |
Replication quality
Data as of February 27, 2026
1-year trailing difference
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DFAR
is actively managed and doesn’t replicate an indexVNQ | DFAR | |
|---|---|---|
| Tracking error | ||
| Tracking difference | ||
| 1 year cumulative return difference | ||
| Best | ||
| Worst | ||
| Daily return difference | ||
| Average | ||
| Worst | ||
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Main metrics
Last update 3/11/2026 at 1:30 PM
Live
Closed
VNQ | DFAR | |
|---|---|---|
| Last price | $92.65 | $24.55 |
| 1D performance | -1.04% | -1.03% |
| AuM | $35.90 B | $1.62 B |
| E/R | 0.13% | 0.2% |
Characteristics
VNQ | DFAR | |
|---|---|---|
| Management strategy | Passive | Active |
| Provider | Vanguard | Dimensional |
| Benchmark | MSCI US Investable Market Real Estate 25/50 Transition Index | - |
| N° of holdings | 128 | 121 |
| Asset class | Equities | - |
| Trailing 12m distribution yield | Join | Join |
| Inception date | September 23, 2004 | February 23, 2022 |
| ESG | No | No |
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Exposure
Countries
VNQ
USA
98.96%
Other
1.04%
DFAR
USA
98.18%
Other
1.82%
Sectors
VNQ
Real Estate
94.71%
Other
5.29%
DFAR
Real Estate
97.72%
Other
2.28%
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Diversification
VNQ
Total weight of top 15 holdings out of 15
57.03%
DFAR
Total weight of top 15 holdings out of 15
58.83%
Top 15 holdings
Data as of January 31, 2026
VNQ
WELLTOWER INC
8.26%
PROLOGIS REIT
8.02%
AMERICAN TOWER CL A REIT
5.53%
EQUINIX INC COMMON STOCK REIT
5.31%
SIMON PROPERTY GROUP REIT
4.13%
DIGITAL REALTY REIT
3.74%
REALTY INCOME REIT
3.67%
CBRE GROUP
3.35%
PUBLIC STORAGE REIT
2.88%
CROWN CASTLE INTERNATIONAL
2.50%
VENTAS REIT
2.33%
EXTRA SPACE STORAGE REIT
1.94%
VICI PROPERTIES INC
1.85%
IRON MOUNTAIN
1.80%
COSTAR GROUP
1.72%
DFAR
WELLTOWER INC
7.38%
PROLOGIS REIT
7.06%
AMERICAN TOWER CL A REIT
4.97%
EQUINIX INC COMMON STOCK REIT
4.76%
DIGITAL REALTY REIT
4.75%
REALTY INCOME REIT
4.61%
SIMON PROPERTY GROUP REIT
4.59%
PUBLIC STORAGE REIT
3.60%
CROWN CASTLE INTERNATIONAL
3.11%
VENTAS REIT
2.98%
VICI PROPERTIES INC
2.47%
EXTRA SPACE STORAGE REIT
2.40%
IRON MOUNTAIN
2.28%
AVALONBAY COMMUNITIES REIT
2.04%
EQUITY RESIDENTIAL REIT
1.84%
Frequently asked questions about VNQ and DFAR
How have the VNQ and DFAR ETFs performed in 2026?
As of March 11, 2026, VNQ is up 4.75% year-to-date (YTD), while DFAR has returned 8.25%. That puts DFAR better performer ahead so far this year.
Which ETF is attracting more investor money: VNQ or DFAR?
Year-to-date, the VNQ ETF saw +$420M in flows, compared to +$71M for DFAR.
Which ETF is more volatile: VNQ or DFAR?
Over the past year, VNQ had a volatility of 16.34%, while DFAR experienced 16.17%.
Which ETF is bigger: VNQ or DFAR?
As of March 11, 2026, VNQ holds $35.90 B in assets under management (AUM), while DFAR manages $1.62 B.
What sectors do the VNQ and DFAR ETFs invest in?
VNQ leans toward sectors like Real Estate. Meanwhile, DFAR focuses on Real Estate.
What are the top holdings of the VNQ ETF and DFAR ETF?
VNQ top holdings include WELLTOWER INC, PROLOGIS REIT and AMERICAN TOWER CL A REIT. DFAR holds in its top three: WELLTOWER INC, PROLOGIS REIT and AMERICAN TOWER CL A REIT.
Which ETF is more diversified: VNQ or DFAR?
VNQ holds 147 securities with 57.03% of its assets in the top 15. DFAR has 121 securities and a top 15 weight of 58.83%.
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Latest news about VNQ & DFAR
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Real Estate Sector Declines on Fed Minutes
May 27, 2024
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Real Estate Sector Suffers Third Weekly Loss Amid Rising Treasury Yields
April 22, 2024
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DFAR
Real Estate Sector Suffers Third Weekly Loss Amid Rising Treasury Yields
April 22, 2024
VNQ
DFAR
Real Estate ETFs Hit Again by the Rise in Treasury Yields
April 15, 2024
VNQ
DFAR
Real Estate Sector Hit by Stronger-Than-Expected Inflation Data
March 19, 2024
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DFAR
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