DLR
Digital Realty Trust, Inc.
REIT - Office
Market Cap$67.59B
5Y Perf.+37.0%
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Stock Comparison
DLR vs WELL
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
WELL
Welltower Inc.
REIT - Healthcare Facilities
Market Cap$150.14B
5Y Perf.+322.9%
DLR vs WELL — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | DLR | WELL |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | REIT - Office | REIT - Healthcare Facilities |
| Market Cap | $67.59B | $150.14B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $6.19B | $11.63B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $1.31B | $1.43B |
| Gross Margin | 40.0% | 39.1% |
| Operating Margin | 13.7% | 4.4% |
| Forward P/E | 97.2x | 78.9x |
| Total Debt | $24.18B | $21.38B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $3.45B | $5.03B |
DLR vs WELL — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
DLR
WELL
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Digital Realty Trus… (DLR) | 100 | 137.0 | +37.0% |
| Welltower Inc. (WELL) | 100 | 422.9 | +322.9% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: DLR vs WELL
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: WELL leads in 4 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and valuation and capital efficiency. Digital Realty Trust, Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for profitability and margin quality and dividend income and shareholder returns. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
DLR
Digital Realty Trust, Inc.
The Real Estate Income Play
DLR is the clearest fit if your priority is quality and dividends.
- 21.1% margin vs WELL's 12.3%
- 2.5% yield, vs WELL's 1.3%
- 2.7% ROA vs WELL's 2.3%, ROIC 1.2% vs 0.5%
Best for: quality and dividends
WELL
Welltower Inc.
The Real Estate Income Play
WELL carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 2 yrs, beta 0.13, yield 1.3%
- Rev growth 35.8%, EPS growth -11.5%, 3Y rev CAGR 22.7%
- 230.2% 10Y total return vs DLR's 163.8%
Best for: income & stability and growth exposure
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | WELL | 35.8% FFO/revenue growth vs DLR's 10.0% |
| Value | WELL | Lower P/E (78.9x vs 97.2x) |
| Quality / Margins | DLR | 21.1% margin vs WELL's 12.3% |
| Stability / Safety | WELL | Beta 0.13 vs DLR's 0.77, lower leverage |
| Dividends | DLR | 2.5% yield, vs WELL's 1.3% |
| Momentum (1Y) | WELL | +43.9% vs DLR's +21.0% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | DLR | 2.7% ROA vs WELL's 2.3%, ROIC 1.2% vs 0.5% |
DLR vs WELL — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2025
DLR vs WELL — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLDLRLAGGINGWELL
WELLWelltower Inc.
2leads
DLRDigital Realty Trust,…
2leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs WELLMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
Tied
—
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
DLR5/6
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
DLR5/8
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
WELL5/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
WELL2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
Tied
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
Evenly matched — DLR and WELL each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
WELL is the larger business by revenue, generating $11.6B annually — 1.9x DLR's $6.2B. DLR is the more profitable business, keeping 21.1% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to WELL's 12.3%. On growth, WELL holds the edge at +40.3% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | DLRDigital Realty Tr… | WELLWelltower Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $6.2B | $11.6B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $2.7B | $2.8B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $1.3B | $1.4B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $233M | $2.5B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +40.0% | +39.1% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +13.7% | +4.4% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +21.1% | +12.3% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +3.8% | +21.9% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +19.3% | +40.3% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -51.0% | +22.5% |
Evenly matched — DLR and WELL each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
DLR leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 54.9x trailing earnings, DLR trades at a 64% valuation discount to WELL's 154.2x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, DLR's 34.6x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than WELL's 66.8x.
| Metric | DLRDigital Realty Tr… | WELLWelltower Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $67.6B | $150.1B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $88.3B | $166.5B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 54.94x | 154.17x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 97.24x | 78.89x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 1.89x | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 34.59x | 66.76x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 11.06x | 14.08x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 2.78x | 3.37x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 28.02x | 52.72x |
DLR leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
DLR leads this category, winning 5 of 8 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
DLR delivers a 5.3% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $5 in annual profit, vs $3 for WELL. WELL carries lower financial leverage with a 0.49x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to DLR's 0.97x.
| Metric | DLRDigital Realty Tr… | WELLWelltower Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +5.3% | +3.5% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +2.7% | +2.3% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +1.2% | +0.5% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +1.5% | +0.6% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 7 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.97x | 0.49x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $20.7B | $16.3B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $3.5B | $5.0B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $24.2B | $21.4B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 3.87x | 0.26x |
DLR leads this category, winning 5 of 8 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
WELL leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in WELL five years ago would be worth $31,264 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $14,712 for DLR. Over the past 12 months, WELL leads with a +43.9% total return vs DLR's +21.0%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors WELL at 41.3% vs DLR's 29.9% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | DLRDigital Realty Tr… | WELLWelltower Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +27.7% | +15.0% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +21.0% | +43.9% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +119.2% | +182.2% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +47.1% | +212.6% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +163.8% | +230.2% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +29.9% | +41.3% |
WELL leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
WELL leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
WELL is the less volatile stock with a 0.13 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than DLR's 0.77 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. WELL currently trades 97.6% from its 52-week high vs DLR's 94.5% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | DLRDigital Realty Tr… | WELLWelltower Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.77x | 0.13x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $208.09 | $219.59 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $146.23 | $142.65 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +94.5% | +97.6% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 61.0 | 62.6 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 1.9M | 2.6M |
WELL leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Evenly matched — DLR and WELL each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates DLR as "Buy" and WELL as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 6.3% upside for DLR (target: $209) vs 5.7% for WELL (target: $227). For income investors, DLR offers the higher dividend yield at 2.50% vs WELL's 1.29%.
| Metric | DLRDigital Realty Tr… | WELLWelltower Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $209.00 | $226.50 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 48 | 34 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +2.5% | +1.3% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 2 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $4.92 | $2.76 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Evenly matched — DLR and WELL each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
DLR leads in 2 of 6 categories (Valuation Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). WELL leads in 2 (Total Returns, Risk & Volatility). 2 tied.
Best OverallDigital Realty Trust, Inc. (DLR)Leads 2 of 6 categories
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DLR vs WELL: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is DLR or WELL a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Welltower Inc.
(WELL) is the stronger pick with 35. 8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 10. 0% for Digital Realty Trust, Inc. (DLR). Digital Realty Trust, Inc. (DLR) offers the better valuation at 54. 9x trailing P/E (97. 2x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Digital Realty Trust, Inc. (DLR) a "Buy" — based on 48 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.
02Which has the better valuation — DLR or WELL?
On trailing P/E, Digital Realty Trust, Inc.
(DLR) is the cheapest at 54. 9x versus Welltower Inc. at 154. 2x. On forward P/E, Welltower Inc. is actually cheaper at 78. 9x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — DLR or WELL?
Over the past 5 years, Welltower Inc.
(WELL) delivered a total return of +212. 6%, compared to +47. 1% for Digital Realty Trust, Inc. (DLR). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: WELL returned +230. 2% versus DLR's +163. 8%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — DLR or WELL?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Welltower Inc.
(WELL) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 13β versus Digital Realty Trust, Inc. 's 0. 77β — meaning DLR is approximately 481% more volatile than WELL relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Welltower Inc. (WELL) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 49% versus 97% for Digital Realty Trust, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — DLR or WELL?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Welltower Inc.
(WELL) is pulling ahead at 35. 8% versus 10. 0% for Digital Realty Trust, Inc. (DLR). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Digital Realty Trust, Inc. grew EPS 122. 4% year-over-year, compared to -11. 5% for Welltower Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, WELL leads at 22. 7% 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.
06Which has better profit margins — DLR or WELL?
Digital Realty Trust, Inc.
(DLR) is the more profitable company, earning 21. 4% net margin versus 8. 8% for Welltower Inc. — meaning it keeps 21. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: DLR leads at 10. 8% versus 3. 3% for WELL. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — DLR leads at 55. 4%, 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.
07Is DLR or WELL more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Welltower Inc.
(WELL) trades at 78. 9x forward P/E versus 97. 2x for Digital Realty Trust, Inc. — 18. 3x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for DLR: 6. 3% to $209. 00.
08Which pays a better dividend — DLR or WELL?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Digital Realty Trust, Inc. (DLR) offers the highest yield at 2. 5%, versus 1. 3% for Welltower Inc. (WELL).
09Is DLR or WELL better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Welltower Inc.
(WELL) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 13), 1. 3% yield, +230. 2% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (WELL: +230. 2%, DLR: +163. 8%), 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.
10What are the main differences between DLR and WELL?
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: DLR is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; WELL is a mid-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.
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Revenue Growth>
%
(DLR: 19.3% · WELL: 40.3%)Net Margin>
%
(DLR: 21.1% · WELL: 12.3%)P/E Ratio<
x
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