Exchange-traded funds that invest the majority of assets in equity REIT securities and related derivatives. REIT ETFs are passively managed around an index of publicly traded real estate owners; indexes may vary from provider to provider but two popular benchmarks are the MSCI U.S. REIT Index and the Dow Jones U.S. REIT Index, both of which cover about two-thirds of the aggregate value of the publicly-traded REIT market domestically. REIT ETFs are characterized by their above-average dividend yields.
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Taobiz explains REIT ETF
REIT securities have traits of both equities and fixed income securities; high dividend yields provide consistent income , but valuations can swing along with the equity market.
Investors should read prospectus materials closely when researching REIT ETFs; many different indexes with a variety of focuses exist.