US REITs returns by year
US REITs has returned +7.4% annually (CAGR) since 2005. Calendar-year, monthly and weekly total returns for US REITs (proxied by VNQ, dividends reinvested) below, through September 4, 2026 — the most recent year is Through September 4, 2026; the running year is year-to-date.
- Annualized
- +7.4%
- 2005–2026
- Average year
- +8.5%
- 21 full years
- Best year
- +40.5%
- 2021
- Worst year
- -37.0%
- 2008
- Positive years
- 16/21
- 76% up
US REITs returns by year (2005–2026)#
Calendar-year returns with each year's path and its dividend contribution (dividend return = total minus price return). Every year has a direct link you can bookmark or share.
| Year | Start price | End price | Path | Dividend | Total return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | $88.49 | $96.03 | +2.1% | +10.6% | |
| 2025 | $89.08 | $88.49 | +3.9% | +3.2% | |
| 2024 | $88.36 | $89.08 | +4.0% | +4.8% | |
| 2023 | $82.48 | $88.36 | +4.7% | +11.9% | |
| 2022 | $116.01 | $82.48 | +2.7% | -26.3% | |
| 2021 | $84.93 | $116.01 | +3.9% | +40.5% | |
| 2020 | $92.79 | $84.93 | +3.9% | -4.6% | |
| 2019 | $74.57 | $92.79 | +4.5% | +28.9% | |
| 2018 | $82.98 | $74.57 | +4.1% | -6.0% | |
| 2017 | $82.53 | $82.98 | +4.4% | +4.9% | |
| 2016 | $79.73 | $82.53 | +5.1% | +8.6% | |
| 2015 | $81 | $79.73 | +4.0% | +2.4% | |
| 2014 | $64.56 | $81 | +4.9% | +30.4% | |
| 2013 | $65.8 | $64.56 | +4.2% | +2.3% | |
| 2012 | $58 | $65.8 | +4.2% | +17.6% | |
| 2011 | $55.37 | $58 | +3.9% | +8.6% | |
| 2010 | $44.74 | $55.37 | +4.6% | +28.4% | |
| 2009 | $36.45 | $44.74 | +7.4% | +30.1% | |
| 2008 | $61.46 | $36.45 | +3.7% | -37.0% | |
| 2007 | $77 | $61.46 | +3.7% | -16.5% | |
| 2006 | $59.56 | $77 | +5.4% | +34.6% | |
| 2005 | $56.55 | $59.56 | +5.3% | +10.6% |
Total return by period#
Methodology#
Returns are total returns (dividends reinvested), computed from VNQ's split- and dividend-adjusted closes — a standard proxy for US REITs. The bar chart switches between annual and monthly periods. Annualized return is the compound annual growth rate over the full period. The current year is year-to-date. Past performance does not predict future returns; not investment advice.
FAQ#
- What is US REITs's average annual return?
- Since 2005, US REITs (proxied by VNQ, dividends reinvested) has returned about 7.4% a year (the compound annual growth rate) and an average calendar-year return of 8.5%.
- What were US REITs's best and worst years?
- Over 2005–2026, the best year was 2021 (+40.5%) and the worst was 2008 (-37.0%).
- How often is US REITs up in a year?
- 16 of the 21 full years since 2005 were positive — about 76% of the time.