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.
We are not affiliated with nor endorse any of these companies, and nothing on this site constitutes a recommendation to buy or sell.
Best Real Estate Stocks 2026
| Symbol | Name |
|---|---|
| AMT | American Tower Corporation |
| PLD | Prologis, Inc. |
| LEN | Lennar Corporation |
| EQIX | Equinix, Inc. |
| WELL | Welltower Inc. |
| SPG | Simon Property Group, Inc. |
| PSA | Public Storage |
| DLR | Digital Realty Trust, Inc. |
| O | Realty Income Corporation |
| CCI | Crown Castle International Corp. |
| GMGSF | Goodman Group |
| DHC | Diversified Healthcare Trust |
| PKST | Peakstone Realty Trust |
| AHR | American Healthcare REIT Inc |
| CTRE | CareTrust REIT Inc |
| PSTL | Postal Realty Trust Inc |
| ILPT | Industrial Logistics Properties Trust |
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What Are Real Estate Stocks? (Introduction)
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.
Are Real Estate Stocks a Good Investment?
Real estate stocks can be a good investment if you seek regular dividend income and a reasonable level of safety. REIT stocks allow investors to invest in real estate without needing a large down payment 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 to have constant cash flow. People need to buy groceries, and people need somewhere to live.
REITs are highly sensitive to interest rates and property-type secular shifts (e.g., office/retail impairments).
Real Estate Stocks Breakdown
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.
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 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.
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 strength of the economy. 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 |
|---|---|
| REIT | ALPS Active REIT ETF |
| RDOG | ALPS REIT Dividend Dogs ETF |
| BLDG | Cambria Global Real Estate ETF |
| HAUZ | DBX ETF Trust - Xtrackers International Real Estate ETF |
| DRV | Direxion Daily Real Estate Bear 3X Shares |
| DRN | Direxion Daily Real Estate Bull 3x Shares |
| RITA | ETFB Green SRI REITs ETF |
| FREL | Fidelity MSCI Real Estate Index ETF |
| FPRO | Fidelity Real Estate Investment ETF |
| FRI | First Trust S&P REIT Index Fund |
| GQRE | FlexShares Global Quality Real Estate Index Fund |
| CHIR | Global X MSCI China Real Estate ETF |
| SRET | Global X SuperDividend REIT ETF |
| GREI | Goldman Sachs Future Real Estate and Infrastructure Equity ETF |
| PSR | Invesco Active U.S. Real Estate Fund |
| KBWY | Invesco KBW Premium Yield Equity REIT ETF |
| EWRE | Invesco S&P 500® Equal Weight Real Estate ETF |
| ROOF | IQ CBRE NextGen Real Estate ETF |
| ICF | iShares Cohen & Steers REIT ETF |
| USRT | iShares Core U.S. REIT ETF |
| REET | iShares Global REIT ETF |
| WPS | iShares International Developed Property ETF |
| IFGL | iShares International Developed Real Estate ETF |
| REM | iShares Mortgage Real Estate ETF |
| REZ | iShares Residential and Multisector Real Estate ETF |
| IYR | iShares U.S. Real Estate ETF |
| JRE | Janus Henderson U.S. Real Estate ETF |
| BBRE | JPMorgan BetaBuilders MSCI US REIT ETF |
| RESI | Kelly Residential & Apartment Real Estate ETF |
| NETL | NETLease Corporate Real Estate ETF |
| NURE | Nuveen Short-Term REIT ETF |
| SRVR | Pacer Data & Infrastructure Real Estate ETF |
| INDS | Pacer Industrial Real Estate ETF |
| REK | ProShares Short Real Estate |
| URE | ProShares Ultra Real Estate |
| SRS | ProShares UltraShort Real Estate |
| XLRE | Real Estate Select Sector SPDR Fund |
| HAUS | Residential REIT Income ETF |
| SCHH | Schwab US REIT ETF |
| SPRE | SP Funds S&P Global REIT Sharia ETF |
| RWO | SPDR Dow Jones Global Real Estate ETF |
| RWX | SPDR Dow Jones International Real Estate ETF |
| RWR | SPDR Dow Jones REIT ETF |
| PPTY | US Diversified Real Estate ETF |
| MORT | VanEck Mortgage REIT Income ETF |
| VNQI | Vanguard Global ex-U.S. Real Estate ETF |
| VNQ | Vanguard Real Estate ETF |
| VRAI | Virtus Real Asset Income ETF |
Real Estate Sector Performance (XLRE ETF - 2026 YTD)
| Year | Performance | 2026 (YTD) | +3.7% |
|---|---|
| 2025 | +9.5% |
| 2024 | -5.2% |
| 2023 | +11.4% |
| 2022 | -26.2% |
Final Thoughts on 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 of 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 do not require you to deal with tenants or rent collection. Please do not buy any of the securities on this real estate stocks list unless you know how to trade.
Frequently Asked Questions
The real estate stocks list includes stocks like $EQIX, $STAG, and $O. Make sure to read the chart before investing.
2025 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 stock 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.
