The iShares Cohen & Steers REIT ETF (ICF) is an exchange-traded fund designed to track the performance of U.S. real estate investment trusts. The ETF is managed by BlackRock through its iShares platform and trades under the ticker ICF on the NYSE Arca.

Classified as a real estate sector equity ETF, the fund invests in publicly traded REITs, which own, operate, or finance income-producing real estate assets. Its strategy provides exposure to the U.S. real estate market through listed companies.

The ETF follows a passive management approach and seeks to replicate the performance of the Cohen & Steers Realty Majors Index, a benchmark composed of large U.S. REITs.

Diversification and sector exposure

ICF provides exposure primarily associated with:

• U.S. REITs.

• Commercial real estate.

• Residential real estate.

• Data centers.

• Logistics properties.

• Communication towers.

• Retail properties.

• Real estate sector.

The portfolio includes REITs across different areas of the real estate market, providing diversified exposure to assets such as offices, industrial properties, multifamily housing, digital infrastructure, and commercial properties.

The ETF’s performance reflects both the market value of the underlying REITs and the income distributed by these companies.

Structure and costs

ICF shares trade on the secondary market on the NYSE Arca during regular trading hours. Share creation and redemption occur through authorized participants, a mechanism intended to help align the ETF’s market price with its net asset value (NAV).

The fund charges a management fee as outlined in its prospectus and does not apply a performance fee. Dividends and income distributed by the REITs held in the portfolio may be passed on periodically to shareholders according to the ETF’s distribution policy.

Because the fund focuses on the real estate sector, it may be more sensitive to changes in interest rates and credit-market conditions than broader equity ETFs.

History and evolution of the ETF

The iShares Cohen & Steers REIT ETF was launched in 2001 to provide exchange-traded access to the U.S. REIT market. Since inception, the fund has tracked multiple U.S. real estate cycles, including periods of expansion, credit-market adjustments, and shifts in interest rates.

In recent years, segments such as data centers, logistics, and digital infrastructure have gained importance within listed real estate, while interest rates and financing conditions have continued to shape REIT performance.

Additional Information

iShares Cohen & Steers REIT ETF (United States) is an exchange-traded fund (ETF), with assets under management totaling $2.11 billion.

Over the past 12 months, iShares Cohen & Steers REIT ETF recorded a return of 16.56%, with its price trading between $58.98 and $70.44 during the same period.

The ETF is traded under the ticker ICF.