Real Estate Stocks in the S&P 500 Index
A comprehensive directory of Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) and real estate service corporations currently comprising the S&P 500 sector.
The Real Estate Stocks in the S&P 500 Index represent a vital segment of the U.S. economy, primarily composed of Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) that own, operate, or finance income-producing real estate. As of April 2026, the sector maintains approximately 31-32 constituents, accounting for roughly 2.5% to 3% of the total S&P 500 index weight. These companies provide investors with exposure to diverse property types, including data centers, industrial warehouses, residential apartments, and healthcare facilities. While the sector was historically grouped with Financials, it has operated as a standalone GICS sector since 2016, reflecting its unique performance drivers and high dividend-paying characteristics.
Market Intelligence
Key Sector Insights
Performance Leadership
REITs showed resilience in early 2026, with a total return of +3.8% in Q1, significantly outperforming the broader S&P 500 which saw a decline of -4.3% during the same period.
Subsector Strength
Self-storage and strip centers led gains in 2026, with leaders like Public Storage (PSA) returning over 13% YTD.
Index Heavyweights
The sector is dominated by mega-cap names including Welltower (WELL) and Prologis (PLD), which together represent significant index weight.
ETF Proxy
Investors seeking broad exposure often utilize the Real Estate Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLRE), which tracks the S&P 500 Real Estate Index components.
Live Metrics
Top S&P 500 Real Estate Components (2026)
| Ticker | Company Name | Market Cap | YTD Return | Dividend Yield | Subsector |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WELL | Welltower Inc. | $131B | +5.4% | 2.8% | Healthcare |
| PLD | Prologis, Inc. | $123B | +2.1% | 3.1% | Industrial |
| PSA | Public Storage | $58B | +13.7% | 4.2% | Self-Storage |
| IRM | Iron Mountain | $24B | +15.2% | 3.4% | Data Center |
| EQIX | Equinix, Inc. | $82B | +4.2% | 2.1% | Data Center |
Directory
S&P 500 Real Estate Constituents
The companies on this list are REITs and real estate companies in the S&P 500 index. Additional S&P 500 companies can be located in our S&P 500 section.
Select the company’s link to access charts, news links and company website and social media information.
Apartment REITs
- Apartment Investment and Management Company (AIV)
- AvalonBay Communities, Inc. (AVB)
- Equity Residential (EQR)
- Essex Property Trust, Inc. (ESS)
- Mid-America Apartment Communities, Inc. (MAA)
- UDR, Inc. (UDR)
Communications Infrastructure
- American Tower Corporation (AMT) (REIT: communications real estate)
- Crown Castle International Corporation (CCI) (REIT: wireless infrastructure, towers, distributed antenna systems)
- SBA Communications Corporation (SBAC) (Wireless infrastructure)
Data Center REITs
Diversified REITs
- Duke Realty Corporation (DRE) (Industrial, office and medical office)
- SL Green Realty Corporation (SLG) (Office and Retail)
- Vornado Realty Trust (VNO) (Office and retail)
Health Care and Senior Housing REITs
- HCP, Inc. (HCP) (Hospitals, life science, medical office, post-acute/skilled nursing and senior housing)
- Ventas, Inc. (VTR) (Seniors housing and healthcare properties)
- Welltower Inc. (WELL) (Seniors housing and health care real estate)
Hotel REITs
Industrial REITs
Mall REITs
Office REITs
Real Estate Services
- CBRE Group, Inc. (CBRE) (Commercial Real Estate Services include Appraisal, Consulting, Development, Investment Management, Project Management, Property Management, Research and Sales and Leasing)
Retail REITs
Shopping Center REITs
Self-Storage REITs
Timberland REITs
Risk Profile
Investor Considerations
Interest Rate Sensitivity
REITs are historically sensitive to interest rate hikes, which can increase borrowing costs and make their dividend yields less attractive compared to fixed-income assets.
Economic Sensitivity
Occupancy rates and rental income are closely tied to the health of the economy, particularly in the office, retail, and hospitality subsectors.
Concentration Risk
Investing in specific subsectors (like data centers or malls) exposes investors to technological shifts or changing consumer behaviors that may not impact the broader market.
Information provided is for educational purposes and does not constitute a recommendation.
Common Questions