GQRE Offers Higher Yield While HAUZ Is More Affordable

By John Ballard – Mar 18, 2026 at 1:36PM ESTKey PointsHAUZ offers a much lower expense ratio and broader international real estate exposure than GQRE.GQRE has a slightly higher dividend yield and a heavier tilt toward U.S.-listed REITs.Both funds experienced similar maximum drawdowns over five years, but HAUZ lagged GQRE in five-year total return.The Xtrackers International Real Estate ETF (NYSEMKT:HAUZ) keeps costs low and covers more international ground. At the same time, the FlexShares Global Quality Real Estate Index Fund (NYSEMKT:GQRE) offers a slightly higher yield and greater U.S. exposure, while both funds display comparable long-term risk profiles.Both HAUZ and GQRE are designed to give investors access to the real estate sector, but they differ in cost, yield, and geographic composition. This comparison examines how these two real estate ETFs compare on performance, risk, and portfolio composition.ExpandNYSEMKT: GQREFlexShares Trust - FlexShares Global Quality Real Estate Index FundToday's Change(-0.48%) $-0.30Current Price$61.97Key Data PointsDay's Range$61.85 - $62.0452wk Range$51.25 - $65.47Volume9.1KSnapshot (cost & size)MetricHAUZGQREIssuerXtrackersFlexSharesExpense ratio0.10%0.45%1-yr return (as of 2026-03-16)20.0%12.9%Dividend yield4.4%4.5%Beta0.951.01AUM$1.0 billion$357.0 millionBeta measures price volatility relative to the S&P 500; beta is calculated from five-year monthly returns. The 1-yr return represents total return over the trailing 12 months.HAUZ is considerably more affordable than GQRE, with an expense ratio less than one-fourth as high, while GQRE offers a slightly higher dividend yield by 0.1 percentage point.Performance & risk comparisonMetricHAUZGQREMax drawdown (5 y)-34.53%-35.07%Growth of $1,000 over 5 years$1,039$1,202What's insideGQRE focuses entirely on real estate, with 100% sector allocation, and holds 174 securities. The fund’s top holdings include American Tower Corp Reit Usd 0.01 (AMT 1.68%) at 6.3%, Prologis Inc Reit Usd 0.01 (PLD 0.79%) at 4.3%, and Welltower Inc (WELL 0.14%) at 4.0%, highlighting a strong tilt toward large, U.S.-listed real estate investment trusts (REITs). No notable structural quirks or index-tracking details are disclosed in the available data.ExpandNYSEMKT: HAUZDbx ETF Trust - Xtrackers International Real Estate ETFToday's Change(-0.69%) $-0.16Current Price$23.50Key Data PointsDay's Range$23.45 - $23.5552wk Range$18.76 - $25.73Volume50KHAUZ, by contrast, holds 413 securities, with 96% in real estate and 1% in communication services. Its largest positions include Goodman Group (ASX:GMG.AX) at 3.8%, Mitsubishi Estate Co Ltd (8802.T) at 3.7%, and Mitsui Fudosan Co Ltd (8801.T) at 3.3%, reflecting a heavier non-U.S. and Asia-Pacific concentration compared to GQRE.For more guidance on ETF investing, check out the full guide at this link.What this means for investorsBoth funds can add income, serve as a decent hedge against inflation, and diversify a stock-heavy portfolio. But HAUZ and GQRE are not equal real estate funds, with key differences in returns and costs.The advantage for GQRE is that it delivered a higher five-year return: $1,000 grew to over $1,200 (including dividends), while HAUZ grew to $1,039. While GQRE has a higher expense ratio, its focus on U.S. real estate may offer greater stability over HAUZ’s greater diversification across international markets. Interest rates are showing potential to decline, especially after the Federal Reserve’s two rate cuts last year. The higher one-year return for HAUZ may indicate that its portfolio of international securities is more undervalued following the downturn.While GQRE offers a higher yield, it’s not enough to offset the cost difference. HAUZ’s expense ratio is 0.35 percentage points lower than GQRE, more than offsetting GQRE’s tenth of a point higher yield. Overall, both funds are solid real estate ETFs. It boils down to whether an investor wants more international exposure or places greater value on investing in domestic companies. HAUZ can save you money and outperform over the next few years, but GQRE’s focus on quality U.S.-based REITs has its advantages in potentially delivering superior returns over the long term.Read NextMar 18, 2026 •By John BallardREET Offers Greater Scale Than GQREMar 18, 2026 •By Andy GouldGQRE vs. VNQ: For These Real Estate ETFs, Is a Higher Yield Worth the Extra Cost?Mar 17, 2026 •By Jake LerchReal Estate ETFs: Should Investors Favor VNQI's Lower Fees or GQRE's Performance?Jan 10, 2026 •By Adé HennisGQRE vs. REET: The Rising ETF Against the Largest Global Real Estate ETFJan 10, 2026 •By Sarah SidlowInvesting in Real Estate? VNQI Goes Global While GQRE Focuses on Quality.About the AuthorJohn Ballard has been a contributing writer at The Motley Fool since 2016, covering consumer goods and technology stocks. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a focus in real estate finance from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.TMFRazorbackStocks MentionedFlexShares Trust - FlexShares Global Quality Real Estate Index FundNYSEMKT: GQRE$61.97(-0.48%)-$0.30Dbx ETF Trust - Xtrackers International Real Estate ETFNYSEMKT: HAUZ$23.48(-0.81%)-$0.19American TowerNYSE: AMT$181.72(-1.81%)-$3.35PrologisNYSE: PLD$132.20(-0.76%)-$1.01WelltowerNYSE: WELL$212.39(-0.36%)-$0.77*Average returns of all recommendations since inception. Cost basis and return based on previous market day close.