PKST vs GNL vs EPRT

For growth investors, Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc.

(EPRT) is the stronger pick with 25. 0% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -53. 5% for Peakstone Realty Trust (PKST). Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. (EPRT) offers the better valuation at 24. 6x trailing P/E (24. 1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Global Net Lease, Inc. (GNL) a "Buy" — based on 16 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 forward P/E, Global Net Lease, Inc.

is actually cheaper at 21. 2x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Peakstone Realty Trust (PKST) delivered a total return of +100.

6%, compared to -19. 2% for Global Net Lease, Inc. (GNL). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: EPRT returned +190. 2% versus GNL's -4. 2%. 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), Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc.

(EPRT) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 01β versus Peakstone Realty Trust's 0. 50β — meaning PKST is approximately 5552% more volatile than EPRT relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. (EPRT) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 60% versus 155% for Global Net Lease, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc.

(EPRT) is pulling ahead at 25. 0% versus -53. 5% for Peakstone Realty Trust (PKST). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. grew EPS 11. 3% year-over-year, compared to -27. 9% for Peakstone Realty Trust. Over a 3-year CAGR, EPRT leads at 25. 2% 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.

Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc.

(EPRT) is the more profitable company, earning 45. 0% net margin versus -290. 3% for Peakstone Realty Trust — meaning it keeps 45. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: EPRT leads at 64. 5% versus -56. 6% for PKST. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — EPRT leads at 84. 0%, 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.

On forward earnings alone, Global Net Lease, Inc.

(GNL) trades at 21. 2x forward P/E versus 48. 2x for Peakstone Realty Trust — 27. 0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for EPRT: 16. 0% to $36. 50.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Global Net Lease, Inc. (GNL) offers the highest yield at 9. 4%, versus 3. 7% for Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. (EPRT).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc.

(EPRT) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 01), 3. 7% yield, +190. 2% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (EPRT: +190. 2%, PKST: +100. 6%), 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.

In terms of investment character: PKST is a small-cap income-oriented stock; GNL is a small-cap income-oriented stock; EPRT is a small-cap high-growth stock. 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.