DEA vs GTY vs NNN vs GOOD vs O

For growth investors, Easterly Government Properties, Inc.

(DEA) is the stronger pick with 11. 3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 6. 6% for NNN REIT, Inc. (NNN). NNN REIT, Inc. (NNN) offers the better valuation at 21. 5x trailing P/E (21. 7x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Getty Realty Corp. (GTY) a "Buy" — based on 13 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. 5x versus Easterly Government Properties, Inc. at 80. 3x. On forward P/E, NNN REIT, Inc. is actually cheaper at 21. 7x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: NNN REIT, Inc. wins at 1. 94x versus Realty Income Corporation's 71. 28x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.

Over the past 5 years, Getty Realty Corp.

(GTY) delivered a total return of +32. 2%, compared to -37. 0% for Easterly Government Properties, Inc. (DEA). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: GTY returned +133. 4% versus DEA's -8. 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), Getty Realty Corp.

(GTY) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 05β versus Gladstone Commercial Corporation's 0. 55β — meaning GOOD is approximately 961% more volatile than GTY relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Realty Income Corporation (O) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 82% versus 3% for Gladstone Commercial Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Easterly Government Properties, Inc.

(DEA) is pulling ahead at 11. 3% versus 6. 6% for NNN REIT, Inc. (NNN). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Gladstone Commercial Corporation grew EPS 57. 7% year-over-year, compared to -37. 0% for Easterly Government Properties, 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 3. 9% for Easterly Government Properties, Inc. — 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 24. 9% for DEA. 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. 94x versus Realty Income Corporation's 71. 28x. 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. 7x forward P/E versus 83. 0x for Gladstone Commercial Corporation — 61. 3x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for O: 5. 6% to $65. 25.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Gladstone Commercial Corporation (GOOD) offers the highest yield at 11. 4%, versus 5. 2% for Realty Income Corporation (O).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Getty Realty Corp.

(GTY) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 05), 5. 8% yield, +133. 4% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (GTY: +133. 4%, DEA: -8. 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.