GNL vs NNN vs O vs WPC

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

1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -38. 2% for Global Net Lease, Inc. (GNL). 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 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 trailing P/E, NNN REIT, Inc.

(NNN) is the cheapest at 21. 5x versus Realty Income Corporation at 52. 8x. On forward P/E, Global Net Lease, Inc. is actually cheaper at 21. 2x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth. 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, W.

P. Carey Inc. (WPC) delivered a total return of +26. 7%, compared to -19. 2% for Global Net Lease, Inc. (GNL). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: WPC returned +80. 9% 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), W.

P. Carey Inc. (WPC) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 02β versus Global Net Lease, Inc. 's 0. 30β — meaning GNL is approximately 1194% more volatile than WPC relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Realty Income Corporation (O) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 82% versus 155% for Global Net Lease, 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 -38. 2% for Global Net Lease, Inc. (GNL). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Realty Income Corporation grew EPS 19. 4% year-over-year, compared to -28. 9% for Global Net Lease, 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 -45. 3% for Global Net Lease, 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 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. 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, Global Net Lease, Inc. (GNL) trades at 21. 2x forward P/E versus 37. 1x for Realty Income Corporation — 15. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for GNL: 15. 1% to $10. 50.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Global Net Lease, Inc. (GNL) offers the highest yield at 9. 4%, versus 4. 8% for W. P. Carey Inc. (WPC).

For long-horizon retirement investors, W.

P. Carey Inc. (WPC) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 02), 4. 8% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (WPC: +80. 9%, GNL: -4. 2%), 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.