XRE, thoughts?

[clovis8]

I want to buy put some money in a REIT and am leery of buying individual stocks given my recent run in with CCME (see other thread).

XRE seem like a good choice as it contains most of the major REITs. Anyone else like it?

I currently have no real estate exposure so want to diversify a little.

[Belguy]

Compare it to ZRE which is more diversified and equal weighted while XRE is more heavily weighted to a few companies.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe...mary/?id=80001

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe...mary/?id=56649

[KaeJS]

I don't have it because I think there are better opportunities in the market.

However, I think it is a good choice for diversification purposes.

The approximate 4% dividend is alright and it seems to have a good track record.

Edit: Both ZRE (mentioned above) and XRE have a 0.55% MER, so there is no difference there.

[Financial Cents]

XRE is a pretty good and popular pick.

Decent MER, and REI.UN, HR.UN and REF.UN are the top-3 holdings I recall. Those guys are always making money.

Personally I would not put more than 10% of my total portfolio in REITs, but everyone should have some real estate. Yield is always good.

[larry81]

i own XRE in my TFSA and i am happy

[Mike59]

The Canadian index actually contains quite a few REIT holdings, I calculated that around 10% of one of my index funds was REITs awhile back.

For a lower cost you essentially have REITs built into the mix by simply buying the Canadian index.

As an asset class on their own I find them too volatile, and can't tolerate the 2+% swings on some days...

[clovis8]

The Canadian index actually contains quite a few REIT holdings, I calculated that around 10% of one of my index funds was REITs awhile back.

For a lower cost you essentially have REITs built into the mix by simply buying the Canadian index.

As an asset class on their own I find them too volatile, and can't tolerate the 2+% swings on some days...

What do you mean by "The Canadian Index"?

[davext]

I'd rather get a couple of the REITS that XRE holds.

[clovis8]

I'd rather get a couple of the REITS that XRE holds.

Why if I get to own them in the ETF anyway? Because of the higher dividends?

[slacker]

XRE demonstrated the benefit of diversification in the last few weeks when the broad indexes went on a nose dive. XRE pretty much ignored the rest of the world's troubles.