O vs NNN

For growth investors, Realty Income Corporation (O) is the stronger pick with 9.

1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 6. 6% for NNN REIT, Inc. (NNN). NNN REIT, Inc. (NNN) offers the better valuation at 21. 6x trailing P/E (21. 8x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Realty Income Corporation (O) a "Hold" — based on 34 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

On trailing P/E, NNN REIT, Inc.

(NNN) is the cheapest at 21. 6x versus Realty Income Corporation at 54. 7x. On forward P/E, NNN REIT, Inc. is actually cheaper at 21. 8x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: NNN REIT, Inc. wins at 1. 95x versus Realty Income Corporation's 73. 84x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.

Over the past 5 years, Realty Income Corporation (O) delivered a total return of +21.

3%, compared to +17. 7% for NNN REIT, Inc. (NNN). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: O returned +49. 7% versus NNN's +39. 7%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Realty Income Corporation (O) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

09β versus NNN REIT, Inc. 's 0. 15β — meaning NNN is approximately 70% more volatile than O relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Realty Income Corporation (O) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 82% versus 109% for NNN REIT, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Realty Income Corporation (O) is pulling ahead at 9.

1% versus 6. 6% for NNN REIT, Inc. (NNN). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Realty Income Corporation grew EPS 19. 4% year-over-year, compared to -3. 7% for NNN REIT, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, O leads at 19. 8% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

NNN REIT, Inc.

(NNN) is the more profitable company, earning 42. 1% net margin versus 18. 4% for Realty Income Corporation — meaning it keeps 42. 1% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: NNN leads at 61. 5% versus 28. 3% for O. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — O leads at 89. 8%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.

By this metric, NNN REIT, Inc. (NNN) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 1. 95x versus Realty Income Corporation's 73. 84x. Both stocks trade at elevated growth-adjusted valuations, so expected growth needs to materialise. On forward earnings alone, NNN REIT, Inc. (NNN) trades at 21. 8x forward P/E versus 38. 5x for Realty Income Corporation — 16. 7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for NNN: 3. 0% to $46. 06.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

NNN REIT, Inc. (NNN) offers the highest yield at 5. 3%, versus 5. 0% for Realty Income Corporation (O).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Realty Income Corporation (O) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

09), 5. 0% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (O: +49. 7%, NNN: +39. 7%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

Both stocks operate in the Real Estate sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.