CRED attempts to capture a highly liquid portfolio of US-listed REITs built by the adviser and its subsidiary. The investment process begins with a broad universe of publicly traded REIT companies. Columbia applies a multi-factor quantitative investment model that rates companies based on quality, value, and catalyst. Companies that score in the bottom 35% are excluded. Remaining securities are then ranked based on liquidity, narrowing to the top 75%. Lionstone Investments then assesses an exposure score multiplier (LES) based on the percentage of assets REITs hold, located within favored markets. These markets are US cities and regions evaluated by their local real estate market's growth potential and secular and cyclical trends, such as employment, demographics, and migration. The portfolio holds 70-90 REITs, weighted based on their market capitalization summed with their LES and 12-month forward dividend yield multipliers. The index is reconstituted annually in March.