# Real Estate ETF Comparison: ICF vs GQRE

> iShares' ICF offers lower cost for U.S. REITs; Northern Trust's GQRE provides higher yield with global diversification.
- Title: Real Estate ETF Comparison: ICF vs GQRE · The Motley Fool
- Summary: iShares' ICF offers lower cost for U.S. REITs; Northern Trust's GQRE provides higher yield with global diversification. For income-focused investors…
- Keywords: ishares, icf, gqre, northern trust, real estate etf, dividend yield, reit, finance, money, Real, Estate, ETF
- Source: The Motley Fool — https://fool.com/coverage/etfs/2026/10/26/which-real-estate-etf-is-the-better-buy-ishares-concentrated-icf-or-northern-trust-s-global-gqre
- Author: Sara Appino
- Published: 2026-10-26T11:38:09+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: ishares, icf, gqre, northern trust, real estate etf, dividend yield, reit, finance, money
## Key ETFs Compared
iShares Select U.S. REIT ETF (ICF) offers lower-cost concentrated U.S. real estate exposure while Northern Trust Global Quality Real Estate ETF (GQRE) provides broader global diversification with higher dividend yield.
## Performance Metrics
ICF trades at $66.13 with 2.65% yield; GQRE trades at $60.75 with 4.39% yield, showing a significant yield gap for income-focused investors.
## Expense Ratios
ICF charges 0.32% expense ratio versus GQRE's 0.46%, making ICF more affordable for long-term holders despite lower yield.
## Portfolio Focus
ICF targets 30 largest U.S. REITs with heavy exposure to Welltower, Equinix, and Prologis; GQRE covers 201 global holdings including international real estate.
## Yield Advantage
GQRE provides nearly twice the dividend yield of ICF, appealing to investors seeking current income and global diversification in volatile markets.
## Investment Recommendation
For income-focused investors, GQRE's higher yield and global exposure make it the better choice despite higher fees; ICF suits those prioritizing low cost and U.S. concentration.
## Key takeaway

For income-focused investors, Northern Trust's Global Quality Real Estate ETF (GQRE) offers higher dividend yield and global exposure despite higher fees compared to iShares' concentrated U.S. REIT ETF (ICF).