A side-by-side comparison of iShares Global Infrastructure Common Class (CIF) and NBI Global Real Assets Income ETF (NREA) to help Canadian investors make an informed decision.
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1-Year Performance
Normalised to 100 at the start — shows relative return over the trailing 12 months.
Head-to-Head Comparison
| Metric | CIF | NREA |
|---|---|---|
| YTD Return | +23.95%✓ | +17.53% |
| 1-Day Change | -0.51% | +0.38%✓ |
| 1-Week Change | +0.12% | +0.24%✓ |
| 1-Month Change | +2.16%✓ | +4.00% |
| Current Price | $72.46 | $29.36 |
| AUM | $1.53B✓ | $1.47B |
| MER (Expense Ratio) | 0% | 0% |
| Dividend Yield | 1.53% | 1.84%✓ |
| Distribution Frequency | Quarterly | Monthly |
| Inception Date | 2008-08-27 | 2019-01-15 |
| Holdings Count | 10 | 10 |
| MorningStar Rating | ★★★★★ | ★★★★ |
| Category | Global Infrastructure Equity | Global Infrastructure Equity |
| Beta | 0.91 | 0.00 |
| 52-Week High | $74.19 | $29.67 |
| 52-Week Low | $53.81 | $24.72 |
| 50-Day MA | $71.47 | $28.36 |
| 200-Day MA | $65.35 | $27.08 |
✓ marks the better value for return/yield/AUM metrics. Lower ✓ for MER.
Annualised Returns
| Period | CIF | NREA |
|---|---|---|
| YTD | +23.95%✓ | +17.53% |
| 1 Year | +41.15%✓ | +12.68% |
| 3 Year | +29.51%✓ | +13.26% |
| 5 Year | +21.66%✓ | +10.11% |
| 10 Year | +14.98% | — |
| 1Y Volatility | 12.56% | 7.76% |
| Sharpe Ratio (3Y) | 1.96 | 1.22 |
Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.
Top 10 Holdings
| 1 | CAT | Caterpillar Inc | 4.97% |
| 2 | EIX | Edison International | 4.94% |
| 3 | ACO-X | ATCO Ltd | 4.74% |
| 4 | STRL | Sterling Construction Company Inc | 4.56% |
| 5 | ENIC | Enel Chile SA ADR | 4.13% |
| 6 | TRGP | Targa Resources Inc | 4.03% |
| 7 | SBS | Companhia de Saneamento Basico do Estado de Sao Paulo SABESP ADR | 3.78% |
| 8 | CU | Canadian Utilities Limited | 3.21% |
| 9 | STNG | Scorpio Tankers Inc | 3.00% |
| 10 | KEY | Keyera Corp. | 2.85% |
| 1 | ETR | Entergy Corporation | 6.76% |
| 2 | AEP | American Electric Power Co Inc | 6.10% |
| 3 | NEE | Nextera Energy Inc | 5.97% |
| 4 | XEL | Xcel Energy Inc | 4.92% |
| 5 | IBE | Iberdrola S.A. | 4.40% |
| 6 | AENA | Aena SA | 3.87% |
| 7 | WMB | Williams Companies Inc | 3.60% |
| 8 | ENB | Enbridge Inc | 3.47% |
| 9 | LNG | Cheniere Energy Inc | 3.10% |
| 10 | TRGP | Targa Resources Inc | 3.07% |
Sector Weights
| Sector | CIF | NREA |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Materials | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Communication Services | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Consumer Cyclicals | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Consumer Defensive | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Energy | 21.11% | 17.19% |
| Financial Services | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Healthcare | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Industrials | 33.31% | 29.07% |
| Real Estate | 0.00% | 2.19% |
| Technology | 0.52% | 0.12% |
| Utilities | 45.07% | 51.44% |
About CIF
iShares Global Infrastructure Common Class (CIF.TO) is a Canadian-listed ETF traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange. More detailed information will be available soon.
About NREA
NA
Which ETF is Right for You?
Both CIF and NREA are listed on Canadian exchanges and accessible through most Canadian brokerages including Questrade, Wealthsimple Trade, TD Direct, and Interactive Brokers.
Based on the available data, CIF scores higher across our tracked metrics including YTD performance, dividend yield, and AUM — though both ETFs warrant individual research before investing.
- Consider your account type (TFSA, RRSP, non-registered) as it can affect dividend taxation.
- Compare management expense ratios (MER) directly on each provider's website.
- Look at average daily trading volume to assess liquidity.
- Review the fund's underlying index and holdings to ensure the exposure matches your goals.
This is not financial advice. Always do your own research or consult a licensed financial advisor before investing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between CIF and NREA?
CIF (iShares Global Infrastructure Common Class) and NREA (NBI Global Real Assets Income ETF) are both Canadian-listed ETFs. Key differences include their AUM ($1.53B vs $1.47B), dividend yield (1.53% vs 1.84%), and year-to-date performance (+23.95% vs +17.53%).
Is CIF better than NREA?
There is no single "better" ETF — it depends on your investment goals. If you prioritise recent performance, CIF has outperformed year-to-date. Always review the fund's prospectus and consider your tax situation.
Can I buy CIF and NREA on Wealthsimple?
Most Canadian-listed ETFs are available on Wealthsimple Trade commission-free. Both CIF and NREA should be accessible. Check Wealthsimple's supported tickers list to confirm availability.
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