RWR vs. GQRE: Which REIT ETF Is the Better Buy for Investors?

Investors often turn to real estate investment trusts (REITs) for income and a hedge against inflation. The State Street SPDR Dow Jones REIT ETF (RWR -1.54%) offers lower costs and a domestic focus, while the FlexShares Global Quality Real Estate Index Fund (GQRE -1.46%) provides a higher yield and global diversification. Performance & risk comparisonMetric GQRE RWR Max drawdown (5 yr) (35.07%) (32.56%) Growth of $1,000 over 5 years (total return) $1,124 $1,253What's insideLaunched in 2001, RWR tracks the Dow Jones U.S. GQRE tracks the Northern Trust Global Quality Real Estate Index, holding 200 global stocks. What this means for investorsThe choice between RWR and GQRE ultimately comes down to what an investor wants from their real estate allocation.