The Vanguard Real Estate Index Fund ETF Shares (VNQ) and the Industrial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLI) are both among the Top 100 ETFs. VNQ is a Vanguard Real Estate fund and XLI is a SPDR State Street Global Advisors Industrials fund. So, what’s the difference between VNQ and XLI? And which fund is better?
VNQ and XLI have the same expense ratio: 0.12%. VNQ also has a higher exposure to the real estate sector and a lower standard deviation. Overall, VNQ has provided lower returns than XLI over the past ten years.
In this article, we’ll compare VNQ vs. XLI. We’ll look at industry exposure and holdings, as well as at their risk metrics and annual returns. Moreover, I’ll also discuss VNQ’s and XLI’s performance, portfolio growth, and fund composition and examine how these affect their overall returns.
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Summary
| VNQ | XLI | |
| Name | Vanguard Real Estate Index Fund ETF Shares | Industrial Select Sector SPDR Fund |
| Category | Real Estate | Industrials |
| Issuer | Vanguard | SPDR State Street Global Advisors |
| AUM | 77.34B | 19.33B |
| Avg. Return | 11.05% | 14.44% |
| Div. Yield | 2.34% | 1.25% |
| Expense Ratio | 0.12% | 0.12% |
The Vanguard Real Estate Index Fund ETF Shares (VNQ) is a Real Estate fund that is issued by Vanguard. It currently has 77.34B total assets under management and has yielded an average annual return of 11.05% over the past 10 years. The fund has a dividend yield of 2.34% with an expense ratio of 0.12%.
The Industrial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLI) is a Industrials fund that is issued by SPDR State Street Global Advisors. It currently has 19.33B total assets under management and has yielded an average annual return of 14.44% over the past 10 years. The fund has a dividend yield of 1.25% with an expense ratio of 0.12%.
VNQ’s dividend yield is 1.09% higher than that of XLI (2.34% vs. 1.25%). Also, VNQ yielded on average 3.39% less per year over the past decade (11.05% vs. 14.44%). VNQ and XLI have the same expense ratio: 0.12%.
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Fund Composition
Industry Exposure
| VNQ | XLI | |
| Technology | 0.0% | 1.82% |
| Industrials | 0.0% | 97.49% |
| Energy | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Communication Services | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Utilities | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Healthcare | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Consumer Defensive | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Real Estate | 100.0% | 0.0% |
| Financial Services | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Consumer Cyclical | 0.0% | 0.69% |
| Basic Materials | 0.0% | 0.0% |
The Vanguard Real Estate Index Fund ETF Shares (VNQ) has the most exposure to the Real Estate sector at 100.0%. This is followed by Technology and Industrials at 0.0% and 0.0% respectively. Consumer Cyclical (0.0%), Financial Services (0.0%), and Consumer Defensive (0.0%) only make up 0.00% of the fund’s total assets.
VNQ’s mid-section with moderate exposure is comprised of Healthcare, Utilities, Communication Services, Energy, and Industrials stocks at 0.0%, 0.0%, 0.0%, 0.0%, and 0.0%.
The Industrial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLI) has the most exposure to the Industrials sector at 97.49%. This is followed by Technology and Consumer Cyclical at 1.82% and 0.69% respectively. Financial Services (0.0%), Real Estate (0.0%), and Consumer Defensive (0.0%) only make up 0.00% of the fund’s total assets.
XLI’s mid-section with moderate exposure is comprised of Healthcare, Utilities, Communication Services, Energy, and Consumer Cyclical stocks at 0.0%, 0.0%, 0.0%, 0.0%, and 0.69%.
VNQ is 100.00% more exposed to the Real Estate sector than XLI (100.0% vs 0.0%). VNQ’s exposure to Technology and Industrials stocks is 1.82% lower and 97.49% lower respectively (0.0% vs. 1.82% and 0.0% vs. 97.49%). In total, Consumer Cyclical, Financial Services, and Consumer Defensive also make up 0.69% less of the fund’s holdings compared to XLI (0.00% vs. 0.69%).
Holdings
| VNQ Holdings | Weight |
| Vanguard Real Estate II Index | 11.62% |
| American Tower Corp | 7.24% |
| Prologis Inc | 5.33% |
| Crown Castle International Corp | 5.01% |
| Equinix Inc | 4.3% |
| Public Storage | 2.85% |
| Simon Property Group Inc | 2.52% |
| Digital Realty Trust Inc | 2.49% |
| SBA Communications Corp | 2.1% |
| Welltower Inc | 2.09% |
VNQ’s Top Holdings are Vanguard Real Estate II Index, American Tower Corp, Prologis Inc, Crown Castle International Corp, and Equinix Inc at 11.62%, 7.24%, 5.33%, 5.01%, and 4.3%.
Public Storage (2.85%), Simon Property Group Inc (2.52%), and Digital Realty Trust Inc (2.49%) have a slightly smaller but still significant weight. SBA Communications Corp and Welltower Inc are also represented in the VNQ’s holdings at 2.1% and 2.09%.
| XLI Holdings | Weight |
| Honeywell International Inc | 4.9% |
| United Parcel Service Inc Class B | 4.84% |
| Union Pacific Corp | 4.7% |
| Boeing Co | 4.24% |
| Raytheon Technologies Corp | 4.16% |
| Caterpillar Inc | 3.84% |
| General Electric Co | 3.8% |
| 3M Co | 3.7% |
| Deere & Co | 3.54% |
| Lockheed Martin Corp | 2.98% |
XLI’s Top Holdings are Honeywell International Inc, United Parcel Service Inc Class B, Union Pacific Corp, Boeing Co, and Raytheon Technologies Corp at 4.9%, 4.84%, 4.7%, 4.24%, and 4.16%.
Caterpillar Inc (3.84%), General Electric Co (3.8%), and 3M Co (3.7%) have a slightly smaller but still significant weight. Deere & Co and Lockheed Martin Corp are also represented in the XLI’s holdings at 3.54% and 2.98%.
Risk Analysis
| VNQ | XLI | |
| Mean Return | 0.89 | 1.14 |
| R-squared | 44.4 | 78.97 |
| Std. Deviation | 16.13 | 17.13 |
| Alpha | 2.47 | 2.38 |
| Beta | 0.76 | 1.08 |
| Sharpe Ratio | 0.62 | 0.76 |
| Treynor Ratio | 11.9 | 11.34 |
The Vanguard Real Estate Index Fund ETF Shares (VNQ) has a Alpha of 2.47 with a Beta of 0.76 and a Mean Return of 0.89. Its Standard Deviation is 16.13 while VNQ’s Sharpe Ratio is 0.62. Furthermore, the fund has a Treynor Ratio of 11.9 and a R-squared of 44.4.
The Industrial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLI) has a Sharpe Ratio of 0.76 with a Beta of 1.08 and a Alpha of 2.38. Its Mean Return is 1.14 while XLI’s R-squared is 78.97. Furthermore, the fund has a Standard Deviation of 17.13 and a Treynor Ratio of 11.34.
VNQ’s Mean Return is 0.25 points lower than that of XLI and its R-squared is 34.57 points lower. With a Standard Deviation of 16.13, VNQ is slightly less volatile than XLI. The Alpha and Beta of VNQ are 0.09 points higher and 0.32 points lower than XLI’s Alpha and Beta.
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Performance
Annual Returns
| Year | VNQ | XLI |
| 2020 | -4.72% | 11.0% |
| 2019 | 28.91% | 29.11% |
| 2018 | -5.95% | -13.1% |
| 2017 | 4.95% | 23.85% |
| 2016 | 8.53% | 19.93% |
| 2015 | 2.37% | -4.27% |
| 2014 | 30.29% | 10.44% |
| 2013 | 2.42% | 40.44% |
| 2012 | 17.67% | 14.86% |
| 2011 | 8.62% | -1.01% |
| 2010 | 28.44% | 27.62% |
VNQ had its best year in 2014 with an annual return of 30.29%. VNQ’s worst year over the past decade yielded -5.95% and occurred in 2018. In most years the Vanguard Real Estate Index Fund ETF Shares provided moderate returns such as in 2017, 2016, and 2011 where annual returns amounted to 4.95%, 8.53%, and 8.62% respectively.
The year 2013 was the strongest year for XLI, returning 40.44% on an annual basis. The poorest year for XLI in the last ten years was 2018, with a yield of -13.1%. Most years the Industrial Select Sector SPDR Fund has given investors modest returns, such as in 2020, 2012, and 2016, when gains were 11.0%, 14.86%, and 19.93% respectively.
Portfolio Growth
| Fund | Initial Balance | Final Balance | CAGR |
| VNQ | $10,000 | $29,506 | 11.05% |
| XLI | $10,000 | $39,853 | 14.44% |
A $10,000 investment in VNQ would have resulted in a final balance of $29,506. This is a profit of $19,506 over 11 years and amounts to a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.05%.
With a $10,000 investment in XLI, the end total would have been $39,853. This equates to a $29,853 profit over 11 years and a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14.44%.
VNQ’s CAGR is 3.39 percentage points lower than that of XLI and as a result, would have yielded $10,347 less on a $10,000 investment. Thus, VNQ performed worse than XLI by 3.39% annually.
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