IYR: Sell Your REIT ETFs
iShares U.S. Real Estate ETF is underperforming peers and the broader market, with a 3.4% decline over the last month and lagging the S&P 500 in 2025. IYR faces risks from rising Treasury yields, low credit spreads, and potential investor rotation back into bonds if yields rise further. REIT ETFs, including IYR, have enjoyed strong long-term returns but are now rolling over amid macroeconomic headwinds and sector underperformance.
IYR Vs. IYRI: Enhanced Income ETF Gets A Buy Rating
Neos Real Estate High Income ETF offers an income-enhanced alternative to iShares U.S. Real Estate ETF, using an options overlay to boost yield while tracking the same REIT index. IYRI's 11% yield far exceeds IYR's 2.4%, but comes with higher fees (68bps vs. 38bps) and potential NAV erosion from the options strategy. Most of IYRI's distributions are classified as Return of Capital, which can be tax-advantaged for investors, especially in taxable accounts.
IYR: Betting On REITs' Recovery
I rate IYR ETF a buy due to its balanced portfolio: one-third leverages megatrends, while two-thirds provide stability and defensive exposure. The macroeconomic environment is turning favorable for REITs, with expected rate cuts and resilient consumer spending supporting a sector recovery. IYR is well-positioned to benefit from growth in data centers, 5G infrastructure, and industrial real estate, while maintaining diversification and stability.
IYR: Cool Inflation Prints Bode Well For Real Estate Stocks
Inflation data came in below expectations, supporting the case for lower Treasury yields, which is typically positive for real estate stocks and IYR. Despite recent underperformance and tepid momentum, I see IYR's current weakness as a buying opportunity given potential easing in interest rates. IYR offers portfolio diversification, a solid 2.5% yield, and trades at a reasonable valuation relative to historical averages and the S&P 500.
Are REITs The New Safe Haven?
REITs have remained resilient during the market crash due to their reasonable valuations and fundamental advantages, including isolation from tariffs and inflation hedging. The broader market crash is attributed to weak consumer sentiment, high inflation, tariff uncertainty, and tepid employment numbers, compounded by extreme valuations. REITs offer steady, predictable growth through long-term rental contracts and are trading at attractive valuations, especially among small and mid-cap REITs.
IYR: A Mix Of Strong REITs, But At A Price
IYR has strong top REIT holdings, including Prologis, American Tower Corporation, and Welltower that make up about 20% of the fund's weight. While these top REIT holdings have high occupancies and solid fundamental characteristics, they also have high share prices, leading to a high valuation overall for IYR. Compared to top peer REIT funds, IYR has the highest expense ratio and lowest dividend yield.
IYR: Overlooked Real Estate Fundamentals And Technical Tailwinds Heading Into 2025
The real Estate sector has underperformed the S&P 500 due to COVID-19 and high interest rates, but now offers value and income potential for 2025. IYR ETF provides diversified exposure to U.S. real estate companies and REITs, with a solid yield of 2.4% and low expense ratio of 0.39%. IYR's concentrated portfolio and cyclical risks are balanced by its strong liquidity, tight bid/ask spread, and potential for a market rally in 2025.
Earnings Preview: A REIT Revival?
Real estate earnings season kicks into gear this week, and over the next month, we'll hear results from 175 equity REITs, 40 mortgage REITs, and dozens of housing industry companies. The sector with perhaps the most to gain from Fed rate cuts, REITs enter earnings season with upside momentum after a dismal two-year stretch, including 50 percentage-points of market underperformance. Since the start of last earnings season in mid-April, the Equity REIT Index has gained 14.0%, outpacing the 12.8% gains from the S&P 500, led by small-caps and rate-sensitive REITs.
IYR: Cost Of Capital Only Comes Down In Adverse Economic Scenario
To begin with, we are not major fans of ETFs of REITs, since REITs themselves are already asset portfolios and more layering is unnecessary and costly at 0.4% expense ratio. IYR is underperforming because of high costs of capital, and we think high or even higher costs of capital are the status quo for the foreseeable future. An adverse economic scenario could bring down costs of capital, which would be a net positive only for some of the REITs in IYR, with others being exposed on demand-side.
