What if you invested monthly in a US REIT ETF (VNQ) for 10 years?
See how a 10-year monthly investment into VNQ, which broadly holds U.S.-listed real estate investment trusts (REITs), would have looked. Behind the appeal of property dividends lies sensitivity to rates and the economy.
Investment conditions
Asset · US REIT ETF (VNQ)
Method · Recurring monthly investment
Period · 2016-07-01 ~ 2026-07-01
Amount · $222 / month
As of · 2026-07-01
Key metrics
These results do not reflect taxes. Based on historical data.
Risk & recovery
As important as returns. This service does not hide maximum drawdown or loss periods.
Maximum drawdown (MDD)
-41.3%
Largest drop from peak
Longest loss period
6months
Months in loss: 16
Recovery period
5months
Growth over time
Invested principal (dashed) and portfolio value (solid). Values below match the calculation.
Total invested $26,889 → Final value $36,754 (+36.7%), Maximum drawdown (MDD) -41.3%
Why this period and asset
VNQ broadly invests in U.S.-listed REITs (real estate investment trusts). REITs distribute rental income from offices, retail, logistics, and housing as dividends, giving them dividend appeal, but their heavy use of debt makes them sensitive to interest rates. During the 2020 COVID period, fears over commercial real estate hit them, and in 2022 the rate surge shook REITs hard. In the 2008 financial crisis, this asset class also took a direct hit alongside property.
Interpreting the result
REITs combine the appeal of dividends with sensitivity to rates and the economy. Check the maximum drawdown, underwater period, and recovery time on the results screen to understand the volatility behind the dividends. Unlike physical property, REITs trade like stocks and can fall just as quickly during downturns. Monthly investing spreads out timing but does not remove losses.
Caveats & limits
REITs are sensitive to rising rates and slowing growth, and their dividends are not always steady. As a foreign asset, exchange rates affect won-denominated returns, and expense ratios, trading costs, and dividend taxes (including local withholding) lower performance. Past performance does not guarantee the future, and this page does not recommend buying.
Data sources & limits
- Price data source: Yahoo Finance / FinanceDataReader
- Collected on: 2026-07-23
- Effective trading date: 2026-07-01
- Price basis: Adjusted close (reflects dividends and stock splits)
- Trading fees and taxes are not reflected — figures are pre-tax.
- Based on historical data; does not guarantee future returns.
Frequently asked questions
Are REITs as stable as physical property?
REITs are based on property rental income but trade like stocks, so their prices are volatile. Unlike physical property, they can fall quickly like stocks in downturns, so checking the maximum drawdown on the results screen matters.
Why are REITs sensitive to interest rates?
REITs often use debt to buy property, so when rates rise their interest burden grows and the relative appeal of their dividends falls. That is why their prices tend to be pushed down during rate surges.
If there are dividends, is a loss okay?
Dividends are only part of the return; if the price falls sharply, the total can still be a loss even after dividends. You should weigh the dividends together with the maximum drawdown and underwater period.
Related scenarios
📋 Results are based on historical data; past returns do not guarantee future returns.
📋 This service is provided for educational purposes to help you understand investing, not as investment advice.