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VNQvsFRIETF Comparison
Vanguard Real Estate ETF (VNQ) and First Trust S&P REIT Index Fund ETF (FRI) belong to the same industry segment: US Real Estate. VNQ's top 3 sector exposures are Real Estate and Industrials. In contrast, FRI's top sector exposures are Real Estate VNQ is less expensive with a Total Expense Ratio (TER) of 0.13%, versus 0.49% for FRI. VNQ is up 4.75% year-to-date (YTD) with +$420M in YTD flows. FRI performs better with 7.69% YTD performance, and +$3M in YTD flows. Run a side-by-side ETF comparison of VNQ and FRI below, and assess how they stack up in performance, liquidity, risk, exposure, holdings, and more, helping you select the best ETF for your investments.
VNQ vs FRI performance and flow charts
Performance
Cumulative Flows
| 1M | 3M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perf. | VNQ FRI | -0.76%-0.14% | +4.43%+7.82% | +4.75%+7.69% | +6.48%+10.38% | +27.64%+35.01% | +23.79%+35.14% |
| Flows | VNQ FRI | +$169M-$1M | +$848M+$3M | +$420M+$3M | +$342M-$4M | -$671M+$16M | +$1.06B+$87M |
| 3M | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volatility | VNQ FRI | +11.84%+11.49% | +16.34%+16.69% | +17.07%+17.26% | +18.78%+18.94% |
| Max drawdown | VNQ FRI | -3.42%-3.36% | -12.42%-13.04% | -17.41%-18.74% | -34.43%-31.41% |
| Max drawdown duration | VNQ FRI | 18d17d | 79d68d | 141d434d | 1529d1496d |
VNQ | FRI | |
Last sale 3/12/2026 at 6:27 PM | $92.31 | $29.39 |
| Previous close 03/11/2026 | $92.65 | $29.40 |
| Consolidated volume 03/11/2026 | ||
| Average volume 30 days | ||
| Average discount or premium 30 days | ||
| Average Bid/Ask spread 30 days |
Create an account to view replication metrics
VNQ | FRI | |
|---|---|---|
| Tracking error | ||
| Tracking difference | ||
| 1 year cumulative return difference | ||
| Best | ||
| Worst | ||
| Daily return difference | ||
| Average | ||
| Worst | ||
VNQ | FRI | |
|---|---|---|
| Last price | $92.31 | $29.39 |
| 1D performance | -0.37% | -0.04% |
| AuM | $35.90 B | $163.28 M |
| E/R | 0.13% | 0.49% |
VNQ | FRI | |
|---|---|---|
| Management strategy | Passive | Passive |
| Provider | Vanguard | First Trust |
| Benchmark | MSCI US Investable Market Real Estate 25/50 Transition Index | S&P United States REIT Index |
| N° of holdings | 128 | 115 |
| Asset class | Equities | Equities |
| Trailing 12m distribution yield | Join | Join |
| Inception date | September 23, 2004 | May 8, 2007 |
| ESG | No | No |
Countries
Sectors
Diversification
Total weight of top 15 holdings out of 15
Total weight of top 15 holdings out of 15
Top 15 holdings
How have the VNQ and FRI ETFs performed in 2026?
As of March 11, 2026, VNQ is up 4.75% year-to-date (YTD), while FRI has returned 7.69%. That puts FRI better performer ahead so far this year.
Which ETF is attracting more investor money: VNQ or FRI?
Year-to-date, the VNQ ETF saw +$420M in flows, compared to +$3M for FRI.
Which ETF is more volatile: VNQ or FRI?
Over the past year, VNQ had a volatility of 16.34%, while FRI experienced 16.69%.
Which ETF is bigger: VNQ or FRI?
As of March 11, 2026, VNQ holds $35.90 B in assets under management (AUM), while FRI manages $163.28 M.
What sectors do the VNQ and FRI ETFs invest in?
VNQ leans toward sectors like Real Estate. Meanwhile, FRI focuses on Real Estate.
What are the top holdings of the VNQ ETF and FRI ETF?
VNQ top holdings include WELLTOWER INC, PROLOGIS REIT and AMERICAN TOWER CL A REIT. FRI holds in its top three: WELLTOWER INC, PROLOGIS REIT and EQUINIX INC COMMON STOCK REIT.
Which ETF is more diversified: VNQ or FRI?
VNQ holds 147 securities with 57.03% of its assets in the top 15. FRI has 130 securities and a top 15 weight of 58.47%.
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