The Bullish Bears break down a list of the largest real estate stocks and ETFs list. Real estate stocks are shares of companies that own or operate real property. These stocks can be divided into sub-sectors based on the property type they own or operate, such as residential, commercial, or healthcare properties. Real estate stocks allow investors to diversify portfolios, access professional management, and receive regular income through dividends. However, they also come with management costs, low growth, interest rate risk, and potential market downturns.
Click any symbols on our real estate stocks list to get a stock quote and overview of each company.
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Table of Contents
List of the Largest Real Estate Stocks
| Symbol | Name | Industry |
|---|---|---|
| PLD | Prologis, Inc. | REIT - Industrial |
| AMT | American Tower Corporation | REIT - Specialty |
| EQIX | Equinix, Inc. | REIT - Specialty |
| CCI | Crown Castle Inc. | REIT - Specialty |
| PSA | Public Storage | REIT - Industrial |
| SPG | Simon Property Group, Inc. | REIT - Retail |
| O | Realty Income Corporation | REIT - Retail |
| VICI | VICI Properties Inc. | REIT - Diversified |
| CSGP | CoStar Group, Inc. | Real Estate Services |
| WELL | Welltower Inc. | REIT - Healthcare Facilities |
| SBAC | SBA Communications Corporation | REIT - Specialty |
| DLR | Digital Realty Trust, Inc. | REIT - Office |
| CBRE | CBRE Group, Inc. | Real Estate Services |
| ARE | Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. | REIT - Office |
| WY | Weyerhaeuser Company | REIT - Specialty |
| AVB | AvalonBay Communities, Inc. | REIT - Residential |
| EQR | Equity Residential | REIT - Residential |
| EXR | Extra Space Storage Inc. | REIT - Industrial |
| INVH | Invitation Homes Inc. | REIT - Residential |
| VTR | Ventas, Inc. | REIT - Healthcare Facilities |
What Are Real Estate Stocks?
For many people, real estate and the stock market are viewed as two different asset classes. While owning real estate has built many fortunes, it isn’t the easiest investment for most investors. It would be best if you had a lot of initial capital and tenants to bring in the rent. On top of that, there is a long list of fees, including property tax, insurance, and maintenance.
Investing in real estate stocks is like getting the best of both worlds. You get exposure to the real estate sector directly within your brokerage account. The costs are lower, and you can build a steady cash flow for your portfolio without worrying about tenants.
You can invest in real estate through the stock market in a few different ways. You can buy stocks in homebuilders or real estate services companies. But the most popular way to invest in real estate stocks is to buy Real Estate Investment Trusts, otherwise known as REITs.
What are REITs? They are companies that own or finance real estate properties that produce income via tenant rental payments. The company avoids paying any corporate income tax in exchange for distributing at least 90% of its taxable income as a shareholder dividend. Many REITs will pay out monthly dividends to shareholders, which is why they are such popular stocks for income-seeking investors.
Real Estate Stocks as an Investment
Real estate stocks can be a good investment if you seek regular dividend income and a reasonable level of safety. In exchange for this, real estate stocks generally offer little capital appreciation, at least compared to growth stocks.
REIT stocks allow investors to invest in real estate without needing a large downpayment for physical real estate. Investments in REITs with large, successful businesses, such as grocery stores or residential REITs that own apartment buildings, are nearly guaranteed for constant cash flow. People need to buy groceries, and people need somewhere to live.
PLD Stock Rover Report
List of the Best Real Estate Stocks
1. Prologis Inc. (NYSE: PLD)
Prologis is the world’s largest REIT by market capitalization. It is worth more than $121 billion, with nearly $45 billion of investments made in global real estate. Prologis owns 5,500 buildings across the United States, Europe, Asia, and South America, with $197 billion in assets under management.
This REIT partners with some of the most valuable real estate in the world, including properties in Silicon Valley. It is also making heavy investments in the Data Center industry, with an anticipated 3 GW of power and spending $7-8 billion over the next five years. Prologis has over 6,700 customers, including FedEx, Home Depot, PepsiCo, Amazon, DHL, UPS, Wal-Mart, and Maersk. The stock has returned more than 100% to shareholders in the past five years and pays a 2.65% dividend yield that is paid quarterly.
2. American Tower Corp. (NYSE: AMT)
American Tower is the second-largest REIT by market cap, with a value of just over $97 billion. It is the global cellular and wireless infrastructure leader, with over 225,000 global communications sites across 25 countries. American Tower works with the world’s largest communications and wireless providers, including AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, Bharti Airtel, and Telefonica.
This company is helping to bring the world ahead into the 5G era. As more countries build up their wireless infrastructure, American Tower will continue to benefit from exposure to some of the largest markets in the world. American Tower’s three largest markets are India, the United States, and Brazil. The stock also pays a healthy 3.25% dividend yield to shareholders quarterly.
3. Lennar Corporation (NYSE: LEN)
Lennar is not a REIT; it is one of the largest home builders and construction companies in the United States. It builds single-family homes and has divisions that provide mortgages, loans, title insurance, and closing services.
This stock is cyclical, and its performance will usually rely on the economy’s strength. Over the past five years, Lennar has returned a market-beating 244% to shareholders. Companies like Lennar are often used as a bellwether gauge for the strength of the US economy and consumer sentiment. It also pays a 1.32% dividend yield to shareholders every quarter.
Real Estate ETF List
| Symbol | Name | Industry |
|---|---|---|
| VNQ | Vanguard Real Estate ETF | Broad Real Estate |
| SCHH | Schwab US REIT ETF | Broad Real Estate |
| XLRE | Real Estate Select Sector SPDR Fund | Broad Real Estate |
| IYR | iShares U.S. Real Estate ETF | Broad Real Estate |
| VNQI | Vanguard Global ex-U.S. Real Estate ETF | Broad Real Estate |
| REET | iShares Global REIT ETF | Broad Real Estate |
| ICF | iShares Cohen & Steers REIT ETF | Broad Real Estate |
| USRT | iShares Core U.S. REIT ETF | Broad Real Estate |
| RWR | SPDR Dow Jones REIT ETF | Broad Real Estate |
| FREL | Fidelity MSCI Real Estate Index ETF | Broad Real Estate |
| RWO | SPDR Dow Jones Global Real Estate ETF | Broad Real Estate |
| SRVR | Pacer Data & Infrastructure Real Estate ETF | Broad Real Estate |
| BBRE | JPMorgan BetaBuilders MSCI US REIT ETF | Broad Real Estate |
| REZ | iShares Residential and Multisector Real Estate ETF | Residential Real Estate |
| REM | iShares Mortgage Real Estate ETF | Mortgage REITs |
| HAUZ | DBX ETF Trust - Xtrackers International Real Estate ETF | Broad Real Estate |
| RWX | SPDR Dow Jones International Real Estate ETF | Broad Real Estate |
| GQRE | FlexShares Global Quality Real Estate Index Fund | Broad Real Estate |
| SRET | Global X SuperDividend REIT ETF | Broad Real Estate |
| KBWY | Invesco KBW Premium Yield Equity REIT ETF | Broad Real Estate |
| DRV | Direxion Daily Real Estate Bear 3X Shares | Broad Real Estate |
| INDS | Pacer Industrial Real Estate ETF | Industrial/Office Real Estate |
| MORT | VanEck Mortgage REIT Income ETF | Mortgage REITs |
| IFGL | iShares International Developed Real Estate ETF | Broad Real Estate |
| PSR | Invesco Active U.S. Real Estate Fund | Broad Real Estate |
| FRI | First Trust S&P REIT Index Fund | Broad Real Estate |
| PPTY | US Diversified Real Estate ETF | Broad Real Estate |
| EWRE | Invesco S&P 500® Equal Weight Real Estate ETF | Broad Real Estate |
| NETL | NETLease Corporate Real Estate ETF | Broad Real Estate |
| SRS | ProShares UltraShort Real Estate | Broad Real Estate |
| REK | ProShares Short Real Estate | Broad Real Estate |
| NURE | Nuveen Short-Term REIT ETF | Broad Real Estate |
| URE | ProShares Ultra Real Estate | Broad Real Estate |
| WPS | iShares International Developed Property ETF | Broad Real Estate |
| DRN | Direxion Daily Real Estate Bull 3x Shares | Broad Real Estate |
| SPRE | SP Funds S&P Global REIT Sharia ETF | Mortgage REITs |
| VRAI | Virtus Real Asset Income ETF | Broad Real Estate |
| ROOF | IQ CBRE NextGen Real Estate ETF | Broad Real Estate |
| GREI | Goldman Sachs Future Real Estate and Infrastructure Equity ETF | Broad Real Estate |
| BLDG | Cambria Global Real Estate ETF | Broad Real Estate |
| RDOG | ALPS REIT Dividend Dogs ETF | Broad Real Estate |
| REIT | ALPS Active REIT ETF | Broad Real Estate |
| FPRO | Fidelity Real Estate Investment ETF | Broad Real Estate |
| RITA | ETFB Green SRI REITs ETF | Mortgage REITs |
| CHIR | Global X MSCI China Real Estate ETF | Broad Real Estate |
| HAUS | Residential REIT Income ETF | Mortgage REITs |
| JRE | Janus Henderson U.S. Real Estate ETF | Broad Real Estate |
| RESI | Kelly Residential & Apartment Real Estate ETF | Residential Real Estate |
Final Thoughts: Real Estate Stocks
The biggest downside to investing in real estate stocks is the same as with most other cyclical sectors: long-term growth trails behind other sectors like tech. Real estate stocks and REITs are assets that can provide excellent cash flow to your portfolio.
REIT stocks can be difficult to research since they are different business types. There aren’t goods and services that are sold for a profit. Instead, it would be best if you took the time to learn about things like tenant occupancy and Funds From Operations or FFO. This measures the cash flow from operations for a REIT and indicates how well the company is doing and how safe the dividend is.
Owning real estate stocks won’t provide the same outsized returns as owning real properties. They also require much less upfront capital and not require you to deal with tenants or rent collection.
Frequently Asked Questions
The real estate stocks list includes stocks like $EQIX, $STAG, and $O. Make sure to read the chart before investing.
2024 is considered a good year to trade from a real estate stocks list. Rate cuts are rumored to be happening.
REITs from a real estate stocks list can have high fees upfront. Commissions and fees apply.
Historically, REITs have performed well during a recession. With anything, make sure to check the charts of any stock you buy from a real estate stocks list.
