A side-by-side comparison of Vert Global Sustainable Real Estate ETF (VGSR) and BMO Equal Weight REITs Index ETF (ZRE) to help Canadian investors make an informed decision.
1-Year Performance
Normalised to 100 at the start — shows relative return over the trailing 12 months.
Head-to-Head Comparison
| Metric | VGSR | ZRE |
|---|---|---|
| YTD Return | -1.94% | -1.31%✓ |
| 1-Day Change | +1.89%✓ | -0.95% |
| 1-Week Change | +1.67%✓ | -3.45% |
| 1-Month Change | +3.27%✓ | -2.45% |
| Current Price | $10.97 | $21.86 |
| AUM | $489M | $584M✓ |
| MER (Expense Ratio) | 0.43% | — |
| Dividend Yield | 2.86% | 4.76%✓ |
| Distribution Frequency | — | Monthly |
| Inception Date | 2017-10-31 | 2010-05-19 |
| Holdings Count | 147 | 10 |
| MorningStar Rating | — | — |
| Category | Global Real Estate | Global Real Estate |
| Beta | 1.00 | 0.88 |
| 52-Week High | $12.09 | $24.67 |
| 52-Week Low | $9.82 | $20.44 |
| 50-Day MA | $10.94 | $22.51 |
| 200-Day MA | $11.08 | $23.37 |
✓ marks the better value for return/yield/AUM metrics. Lower ✓ for MER.
Annualised Returns
| Period | VGSR | ZRE |
|---|---|---|
| YTD | -1.94% | -1.31%✓ |
| 1 Year | +3.00%✓ | +2.67% |
| 3 Year | +15.11%✓ | +12.25% |
| 5 Year | +1.40%✓ | +0.49% |
| 10 Year | — | +6.92% |
| 1Y Volatility | 14.99% | 14.03% |
| Sharpe Ratio (3Y) | 0.50 | 0.49 |
Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.
Top 10 Holdings
| 1 | AMT | American Tower Corp | 4.99% |
| 2 | SPG | Simon Property Group Inc | 4.99% |
| 3 | WELL | Welltower Inc | 5.14% |
| 4 | PLD | Prologis Inc | 4.81% |
| 5 | DLR | Digital Realty Trust Inc | 4.70% |
| 6 | EQIX | Equinix Inc | 4.72% |
| 7 | EQR | Equity Residential | 4.66% |
| 8 | VTR | Ventas Inc | 4.42% |
| 9 | GMG | Goodman Group | 3.45% |
| 10 | IRM | Iron Mountain Incorporated | 3.45% |
| 1 | SGR-UN | Slate Grocery REIT | 6.80% |
| 2 | BSRT-UN | BSR Real Estate Investment Trust | 6.02% |
| 3 | PMZ-UN | Primaris Retail R.E. Invest. Tr. Units | 5.61% |
| 4 | FCR-UN | First Capital Real Estate Investment Trust | 5.62% |
| 5 | REI-UN | RioCan Real Estate Investment Trust | 5.65% |
| 6 | CRT-UN | CT Real Estate Investment Trust | 5.55% |
| 7 | CRR-UN | Crombie Real Estate Investment Trust | 5.31% |
| 8 | VITL-UN | NorthWest Healthcare Properties Real Estate Investment Trust | 5.54% |
| 9 | CSH-UN | Chartwell Retirement Residences | 5.75% |
| 10 | SRU-UN | SmartCentres Real Estate Investment Trust | 5.57% |
Sector Weights
| Sector | VGSR | ZRE |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Financial Services | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Healthcare | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Industrials | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Real Estate | 100.00% | 100.00% |
| Technology | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Utilities | 0.00% | 0.00% |
About VGSR
The fund is an actively managed ETF that seeks to provide exposure to a broad portfolio of sustainable real estate companies. It invests in the securities of U.S. and non-U.S. companies with a focus on REITs or other pooled investment vehicles or companies that manage a portfolio of income producing real estate or real estate-related loans and that the advisor considers to be similar to REITs because of the way they are treated by tax authorities or because of the way they are required to conduc…
About ZRE
BMO Equal Weight REITs Index ETF (ZRE.TO) is a Canadian-listed ETF traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange. More detailed information will be available soon.
Which ETF is Right for You?
Both VGSR and ZRE 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, ZRE 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 VGSR and ZRE?
VGSR (Vert Global Sustainable Real Estate ETF) and ZRE (BMO Equal Weight REITs Index ETF) are both Canadian-listed ETFs. Key differences include their AUM ($489M vs $584M), dividend yield (2.86% vs 4.76%), and year-to-date performance (-1.94% vs -1.31%).
Is VGSR better than ZRE?
There is no single "better" ETF — it depends on your investment goals. If you prioritise dividends, compare both yields and choose based on your income needs. Always review the fund's prospectus and consider your tax situation.
Can I buy VGSR and ZRE on Wealthsimple?
Most Canadian-listed ETFs are available on Wealthsimple Trade commission-free. Both VGSR and ZRE should be accessible. Check Wealthsimple's supported tickers list to confirm availability.
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