Unlike the broader market, REITs (real estate investment trusts) haven’t been messing around this year. : Unlike the broader market, REITs (real estate investment trusts) haven’t been messing around this year. The Vanguard Real Estate ETF (VNQ) has convincingly broken out to new highs. For us dividend stock traders, the choice between the confident VNQ and tip-toeing S&P 500 has been an easy one. With short-term time frames, it’s usually best to ride the hot trend! REITs are on fire—the good kind, not 2020 dumpster variety—but they still have upside thanks to last year.