ETF Spotlight: High-Yielding International Real Estate

ETF Spotlight on the SPDR Dow Jones International Real Estate ETF (RWX) , part of an ongoing series.

Assets : $4.8 billion

Objective : The SPDR Dow Jones International Real Estate ETF tries to reflect the performance of the Dow Jones Global ex-U.S. Select Real Estate Securities Index, which is comprised of international REITs and real estate developers.

Holdings : Top holdings include Mitsui Fudosan Co. 7.1%, Unibail-Rodamco 6.5%, Brookfield Asset Management 5.8%, Westfield Group 4.6% and Land Securities Group PLC 3.2%.

What You Should Know :

  • State Street Global Advisors sponsors the fund.

  • RWX has a 0.59% expense ratio.

  • The ETF has 136 holdings and the top ten make up 38.5% of the overall portfolio.

  • Sector allocations include real estate operating company 32.8%, diversified 18.0%, unassigned 14.2%, regional malls 14.0%, office 8.9%, strip centers 4.4%, mixed industrial 4.1%, industrial 1.2%, other retail 1.2%, apartments 0.6%, self-storage 0.3% and healthcare 0.2%.

  • Country allocations include Japan 21.9%, U.K. 13.8%, Australia 13.7%, France 9.9%, Hong Kong 9.9%, Canada 9.6%, Singapore 7.7%, Netherlands 2.3%, Switzerland 2.0%, Austria 1.7%, South Africa 1.6%, Philippines 1.6%, Sweden 1.4%, Brazil 0.9%, New Zealand 0.8%, Belgium 0.8%, Thailand 0.5%, and Italy 0.2%.

  • RWX has a 4.45% 12-month yield.

  • The ETF is up 0.4% over the past month, up 10.5% over the past three months and up 7.8% year-to-date.

  • The fund is currently trading 3.3% above its 200-day exponential moving average.

  • Real estate investment trusts, or REITs, are required to distribute the majority of their taxable income to shareholders to meet favorable tax requirements.

  • “RWX’s relatively small allocation to real estate developers and non-REIT property managers also contributes to the fund’s lower volatility – REITs are restricted from taking on speculative development projects, making their payout ratios higher and cash flows more predictable,” according to Morningstar analyst Abby Woodham.

  • Potential investors should be aware that REITs typically underperform in a rising rate envrionment.

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