O vs NNN vs KO

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

1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 1. 9% for The Coca-Cola Company (KO). NNN REIT, Inc. (NNN) offers the better valuation at 21. 7x trailing P/E (22. 3x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate The Coca-Cola Company (KO) 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.

On trailing P/E, NNN REIT, Inc.

(NNN) is the cheapest at 21. 7x versus Realty Income Corporation at 51. 5x. On forward P/E, NNN REIT, Inc. is actually cheaper at 22. 3x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: NNN REIT, Inc. wins at 2. 00x versus Realty Income Corporation's 72. 32x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.

Over the past 5 years, The Coca-Cola Company (KO) delivered a total return of +65.

3%, compared to +16. 8% for Realty Income Corporation (O). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: KO returned +115. 0% versus NNN's +40. 8%. 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), The Coca-Cola Company (KO) is the lower-risk stock at -0.

23β versus Realty Income Corporation's 0. 07β — meaning O is approximately -129% more volatile than KO relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Realty Income Corporation (O) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 82% versus 133% for The Coca-Cola Company — 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 1. 9% for The Coca-Cola Company (KO). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: The Coca-Cola Company grew EPS 23. 6% 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 2. 00x versus Realty Income Corporation's 72. 32x. Both stocks trade at elevated growth-adjusted valuations, so expected growth needs to materialise. On forward earnings alone, NNN REIT, Inc. (NNN) trades at 22. 3x forward P/E versus 37. 7x for Realty Income Corporation — 15. 4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for O: 12. 9% to $68. 00.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Realty Income Corporation (O) offers the highest yield at 5. 4%, versus 2. 6% for The Coca-Cola Company (KO).

For long-horizon retirement investors, The Coca-Cola Company (KO) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β -0.

23), 2. 6% yield, +115. 0% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (KO: +115. 0%, O: +43. 4%), 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (O (Real Estate) and NNN (Real Estate) and KO (Consumer Defensive)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: O is a mid-cap income-oriented stock; NNN is a small-cap income-oriented stock; KO is a large-cap quality compounder 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.