What Is the IDGT ETF? A Complete Guide to Returns, Expense Ratio, Holdings, and Alternative ETFs
The iShares U.S. Digital Infrastructure and Real Estate ETF (IDGT) is a passive thematic product that invests in digital infrastructure REITs such as data centers and cell towers. Its concentrated digital infrastructure structure and its differences in asset and theme exposure versus VNQ, SCHH, and XLRE are the key selection criteria.
What Is the iShares U.S. Digital Infrastructure and Real Estate ETF?
It is a passive thematic ETF that tracks an index composed of data center REITs, wireless cell tower REITs, and digital infrastructure companies. It offers concentrated exposure to digital infrastructure real estate, which benefits from rising demand for data and connectivity.
It suits investors who want to add a real estate angle to the digital infrastructure theme and are willing to accept the volatility that comes with thematic concentration.
It is a passive (index tracking) ETF managed by iShares.
How Does the iShares U.S. Digital Infrastructure and Real Estate ETF Invest?
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Investment Focus | Digital infrastructure such as data centers and cell towers |
| Management Style | Passive (index tracking) |
| Theme | Digital infrastructure real estate |
| Dividend Frequency | Quarterly |
| Total Expense Ratio | 0.37% |
It tracks an index composed of data center REITs, wireless cell tower REITs, and companies related to digital infrastructure. It concentrates on digital infrastructure real estate that benefits from rising data usage and connectivity demand, and its structure offers exposure closer to technology and data growth themes than conventional real estate.
- Concentrated in data center and cell tower digital infrastructure
- Exposure that combines technology growth with real estate
iShares U.S. Digital Infrastructure and Real Estate ETF Size and Costs (AUM and Management Fee)
Assets under management (AUM) are $481.3M, and the total expense ratio is 0.37% per year.
Compared with general real estate REIT ETFs such as VNQ and SCHH, the main points of comparison are its digital infrastructure concentration and its thematic character.
iShares U.S. Digital Infrastructure and Real Estate ETF Performance and Trends
Digital infrastructure REITs are driven by rising data demand, the interest rate environment, and expectations for technology growth. They tend to be strong when data center and cell tower demand is in the spotlight and weak when interest rates are rising. Because of the thematic concentration, performance can diverge from general real estate indexes.
Fund flows into digital infrastructure REITs shift with expectations for data growth and the interest rate outlook, and money sometimes moves into related products when interest in artificial intelligence and data demand rises. Investors should also keep in mind that performance varies with changes in interest rates and data demand.
iShares U.S. Digital Infrastructure and Real Estate ETF Pros and Cons
Its strengths are the benefit from data growth and its digital infrastructure exposure, while thematic and holding concentration and interest rate sensitivity are points to consider.
💪 Key Strengths
⚠️ Points to Watch
iShares U.S. Digital Infrastructure and Real Estate ETF Alternative ETFs and Related Products
For more concentrated data center exposure, direct substitutes include SRVR, which holds data and infrastructure REITs, and products such as DTCR are also worth comparing for a different approach to data center and digital infrastructure exposure. The three products shown in the table, VNQ, SCHH, and XLRE, are all general REIT ETFs that invest across real estate broadly, so they differ in the degree of digital infrastructure concentration. This ETF is differentiated by its narrower exposure to data center and cell tower digital infrastructure.
| Ticker | Name | Price | Change | AUM | Total Expense Ratio | Dividend Yield | 1Y |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vanguard Real Estate Index Fund ETF | $92.69 | +0.0% | $37.1B | 0.13% | 3.67% | +0.6% | |
| Schwab U.S. REIT ETF | $22.79 | +0.3% | $10.9B | 0.07% | 2.97% | +4.9% | |
| State Street Real Estate Select Sector SPDR ETF | $42.57 | +0.1% | $8.0B | 0.08% | 3.39% | +0.2% | |
| iShares Core U.S. REIT ETF | $63.07 | -0.1% | $4.3B | 0.08% | 2.78% | +6.5% | |
| iShares U.S. Real Estate ETF | $98.40 | +0.0% | $3.9B | 0.37% | 2.42% | +0.5% |
| Ticker | Name | Weight | Price | Change | Market Cap | P/E | Dividend Yield |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EQIX | Equinix Inc | 0.19% | $955.03 | +0.3% | $94.2B | 61.5 | 2.16% |
| AMT | American Tower Corp | 0.17% | $188.97 | +4.1% | $88.1B | 26.0 | 3.8% |
| DLR | Digital Realty Trust Inc | 0.17% | $172.37 | +0.8% | $63.9B | 83.8 | 2.84% |
| Uniti Group Inc | 0.07% | $5.07 | -2.3% | $1.2B | 1.9 | - | |
| SBA Communications Corp | 0.06% | $184.75 | +3.6% | $19.6B | 19.9 | 2.71% | |
| CCI | Crown Castle Inc | 0.11% | $85.97 | +9.1% | $36.6B | 21.9 | 4.95% |
iShares U.S. Digital Infrastructure and Real Estate ETF Investor Checkpoints
Here are the points to review before investing in IDGT. The benefit from data growth is attractive, but thematic and holding concentration, interest rate sensitivity, and theme dependence need to be checked in advance. It is also worth comparing it with general real estate and data center products.
| Checkpoint | What to Check | Current Status |
|---|---|---|
| 💾 Data Demand | Review data center and cell tower demand | Growth theme |
| 🎯 Holding Concentration | Review the weights of the top REITs | Concentrated structure |
| 📉 Interest Rate Sensitivity | Review the interest rate environment and its impact on REITs | Fairly sensitive |
| 💵 Expense Ratio | Check the fee level for a thematic ETF | Needs confirmation |
Slowing data demand, rising interest rates, and thematic concentration are the main variables for short-term performance, and because of the concentration in a small number of data center and cell tower holdings, drawdowns can be large during market crashes. Given its theme dependence, performance depends heavily on changes in expectations for data growth.
It is a suitable candidate for investors who want to add a real estate angle to the digital infrastructure theme. If you want broad real estate exposure, consider products such as VNQ and SCHH, and if you want digital infrastructure concentration, compare them with this product before choosing.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. All investment responsibility lies with the investor.
This article reflects information as of June 10, 2026.