Vanguard Real Estate Index Fund ETF vs Williams Companies Inc — how do they compare? Vanguard Real Estate Index Fund ETF trades at $96.4, while Williams Companies Inc trades at $73.75 (market cap $88.45B). The key difference: Williams Companies Inc pays a 2.9% dividend while Vanguard Real Estate Index Fund ETF pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| VNQ | WMB | |
|---|---|---|
52-Week High | $100.95 | $79.40 |
52-Week Low | $87.00 | $56.51 |
Market Cap | — | $88.45B |
Sector | — | Energy |
Enterprise Value | — | $119.07B |
Dividend Yield | — | 2.9% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
VNQ, the Vanguard Real Estate ETF, trades at $97.31, up 0.21% on the day, but technical indicators signal a bearish trend with moving averages and overall signals pointing lower. The ETF's financial ratios are not disclosed in the provided data, limiting fundamental assessment. Recent news highlights institutional selling, with firms like City Holding Co. and Bank of America reducing positions, while media comparisons focus on VNQ's U.S. REIT exposure and low fees versus global alternatives.
Outlook remains cautious due to bearish technicals and institutional outflows, though the neutral oscillator reading and upcoming dividend in June 2026 offer some balance. Risks include interest rate sensitivity and real estate market volatility, but the ETF's low expense ratio and diversification provide a defensive income option for long-term investors amid economic uncertainty.
Williams Companies (WMB) trades at $73.60, up 2.44% with a bullish technical signal despite mixed earnings history. The company reported strong Q1 2026 results but missed Q2 estimates, while raising full-year EBITDA guidance to $8.4 billion. Analyst consensus remains strongly bullish with a $87.14 price target, supported by the recent $5.5 billion Momentum Midstream acquisition that enhances Gulf Coast exposure and supports 11% annual growth targets through 2030.
WMB presents a compelling investment case with strong profitability metrics (25.18% net margin, 24.02% ROE) and dividend stability ($2.10 annualized). Key risks include execution challenges from the Momentum integration, debt levels at 52.07% of assets, and potential volatility from energy market fluctuations. The stock offers 18% upside to consensus target with institutional support despite recent position reductions.
Trailing returns across standard periods
The fund employs an indexing investment approach designed to track the performance of the MSCI US Investable Market Real Estate 25/50 Index, an index made up of stocks of large, mid-size, and small US companies within the real estate sector. The Advisor attempts to replicate the target index by seeking to invest all of its assets in the stocks that make up the index, in order to hold each stock in approximately the same proportion as its weighting in the index. It is non-diversified.
Read more on VNQ →Williams is a midstream energy company that owns and operates the large Transco and Northwest pipeline systems and associated natural gas gathering, processing, and storage assets. In August 2018, the firm acquired the remaining 26% ownership of its limited partner, Williams Partners.
Read more on WMB →