ICF vs. VNQI: Which Real Estate ETF Is Setup for Better Returns in 2026 and Beyond?

ICF vs. VNQI: Which Real Estate ETF Is Setup for Better Returns in 2026 and Beyond? weighed two real-estate ETFs with contrasting exposures and costs. Investors comparing iShares Select U.S. REIT ETF (NYSEMKT: ICF) and Vanguard Global ex-U.S. Real Estate ETF (NASDAQ: VNQI) face a choice between a concentrated U.S. strategy and a diversified international portfolio. VNQI charges an expense ratio of 0.12%, 0.20 puntos porcentuales less than ICF, and it also shows a higher trailing dividend yield by 2.35 puntos. ICF was launched in 2001 and holds 30 positions, led by Welltower (8.22%), Equinix (7.83%), and Prologis (7.69%), with a trailing 12-month dividend of $1.66 per share at about $68. VNQI launched in 2010 with 682 holdings and a 4.80% trailing yield, but it recently lagged on performance versus ICF over the past year, attributed in part to ICF’s exposure to data-center REITs tied to AI infrastructure.