A side-by-side comparison of BMO Equal Weight REITs Index ETF (ZRE) and Vert Global Sustainable Real Estate ETF (VGSR) 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 | ZRE | VGSR |
|---|---|---|
| YTD Return | -1.31%✓ | -1.94% |
| 1-Day Change | -0.95% | +1.89%✓ |
| 1-Week Change | -3.45% | +1.67%✓ |
| 1-Month Change | -2.45% | +3.27%✓ |
| Current Price | $21.86 | $10.97 |
| AUM | $584M✓ | $489M |
| MER (Expense Ratio) | — | 0.43% |
| Dividend Yield | 4.76%✓ | 2.86% |
| Distribution Frequency | Monthly | — |
| Inception Date | 2010-05-19 | 2017-10-31 |
| Holdings Count | 10 | 147 |
| MorningStar Rating | — | — |
| Category | Global Real Estate | Global Real Estate |
| Beta | 0.88 | 1.00 |
| 52-Week High | $24.67 | $12.09 |
| 52-Week Low | $20.44 | $9.82 |
| 50-Day MA | $22.51 | $10.94 |
| 200-Day MA | $23.37 | $11.08 |
✓ marks the better value for return/yield/AUM metrics. Lower ✓ for MER.
Annualised Returns
| Period | ZRE | VGSR |
|---|---|---|
| YTD | -1.31%✓ | -1.94% |
| 1 Year | +2.67% | +3.00%✓ |
| 3 Year | +12.25% | +15.11%✓ |
| 5 Year | +0.49% | +1.40%✓ |
| 10 Year | +6.92% | — |
| 1Y Volatility | 14.03% | 14.99% |
| Sharpe Ratio (3Y) | 0.49 | 0.50 |
Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.
Top 10 Holdings
| 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% |
| 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% |
Sector Weights
| Sector | ZRE | VGSR |
|---|---|---|
| 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 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.
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…
Which ETF is Right for You?
Both ZRE and VGSR 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 ZRE and VGSR?
ZRE (BMO Equal Weight REITs Index ETF) and VGSR (Vert Global Sustainable Real Estate ETF) are both Canadian-listed ETFs. Key differences include their AUM ($584M vs $489M), dividend yield (4.76% vs 2.86%), and year-to-date performance (-1.31% vs -1.94%).
Is ZRE better than VGSR?
There is no single "better" ETF — it depends on your investment goals. If you prioritise recent performance, ZRE has outperformed year-to-date. Always review the fund's prospectus and consider your tax situation.
Can I buy ZRE and VGSR on Wealthsimple?
Most Canadian-listed ETFs are available on Wealthsimple Trade commission-free. Both ZRE and VGSR should be accessible. Check Wealthsimple's supported tickers list to confirm availability.
7 stocks to buy and hold forever
Complement your ETF portfolio with these proven long-term individual stocks.
Get the FREE Report