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O vs WELL
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
REIT - Healthcare Facilities
O vs WELL — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Industry | REIT - Retail | REIT - Healthcare Facilities |
| Market Cap | $57.62B | $149.25B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $5.92B | $11.63B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $800M | $1.43B |
| Gross Margin | 68.6% | 39.1% |
| Operating Margin | 29.3% | 4.4% |
| Forward P/E | 37.1x | 78.4x |
| Total Debt | $32.85B | $21.38B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $435M | $5.03B |
O vs WELL — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Realty Income Corpo… (O) | 100 | 115.4 | +15.4% |
| Welltower Inc. (WELL) | 100 | 420.4 | +320.4% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: O vs WELL
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
O carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and sleep-well-at-night.
- Dividend streak 14 yrs, beta 0.09, yield 5.2%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.09, Low D/E 81.9%, current ratio 0.51x
- Beta 0.09, yield 5.2%, current ratio 0.51x
WELL is the clearest fit if your priority is growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth 35.8%, EPS growth -11.5%, 3Y rev CAGR 22.7%
- 223.1% 10Y total return vs O's 45.1%
- 35.8% FFO/revenue growth vs O's 9.1%
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 35.8% FFO/revenue growth vs O's 9.1% | |
| Value | Lower P/E (37.1x vs 78.4x) | |
| Quality / Margins | 13.5% margin vs WELL's 12.3% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 0.09 vs WELL's 0.13 | |
| Dividends | 5.2% yield, 14-year raise streak, vs WELL's 1.3% | |
| Momentum (1Y) | +42.7% vs O's +14.6% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | 2.3% ROA vs O's 1.1%, ROIC 0.5% vs 1.8% |
O vs WELL — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
O vs WELL — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
O leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
WELL is the larger business by revenue, generating $11.6B annually — 2.0x O's $5.9B. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 13.5% (O) to 12.3% (WELL). On growth, WELL holds the edge at +40.3% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $5.9B | $11.6B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $4.2B | $2.8B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $800M | $1.4B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $4.0B | $2.5B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +68.6% | +39.1% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +29.3% | +4.4% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +13.5% | +12.3% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +67.1% | +21.9% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +12.2% | +40.3% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -103.6% | +22.5% |
Valuation Metrics
O leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 52.8x trailing earnings, O trades at a 66% valuation discount to WELL's 153.3x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, O's 22.0x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than WELL's 66.4x.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $57.6B | $149.2B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $90.0B | $165.6B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 52.81x | 153.25x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 37.13x | 78.42x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 71.28x | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 21.96x | 66.40x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 10.02x | 13.99x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.39x | 3.35x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 14.91x | 52.41x |
Profitability & Efficiency
WELL leads this category, winning 6 of 8 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
WELL delivers a 3.5% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $3 in annual profit, vs $2 for O. WELL carries lower financial leverage with a 0.49x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to O's 0.82x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), WELL scores 7/9 vs O's 5/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +2.0% | +3.5% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +1.1% | +2.3% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +1.8% | +0.5% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +2.4% | +0.6% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.82x | 0.49x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $32.4B | $16.3B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $435M | $5.0B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $32.9B | $21.4B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | — | 0.26x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
WELL leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in WELL five years ago would be worth $30,234 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $11,694 for O. Over the past 12 months, WELL leads with a +42.7% total return vs O's +14.6%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors WELL at 42.5% vs O's 4.3% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +9.7% | +14.3% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +14.6% | +42.7% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +13.6% | +189.5% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +16.9% | +202.3% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +45.1% | +223.1% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +4.3% | +42.5% |
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — O and WELL each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
O is the less volatile stock with a 0.09 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than WELL's 0.13 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. WELL currently trades 97.0% from its 52-week high vs O's 90.9% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.09x | 0.13x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $67.94 | $219.59 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $54.38 | $142.65 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +90.9% | +97.0% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 53.9 | 60.2 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 5.6M | 2.6M |
Analyst Outlook
O leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates O as "Hold" and WELL as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 6.3% upside for WELL (target: $227) vs 5.6% for O (target: $65). For income investors, O offers the higher dividend yield at 5.22% vs WELL's 1.30%.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $65.25 | $226.50 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 34 | 34 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +5.2% | +1.3% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 14 | 2 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $3.23 | $2.76 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | 0.0% |
O leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Valuation Metrics). WELL leads in 2 (Profitability & Efficiency, Total Returns). 1 tied.
O vs WELL: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is O 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 9. 1% for Realty Income Corporation (O). Realty Income Corporation (O) offers the better valuation at 52. 8x trailing P/E (37. 1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Welltower Inc. (WELL) a "Buy" — based on 34 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 — O or WELL?
On trailing P/E, Realty Income Corporation (O) is the cheapest at 52.
8x versus Welltower Inc. at 153. 3x. On forward P/E, Realty Income Corporation is actually cheaper at 37. 1x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — O or WELL?
Over the past 5 years, Welltower Inc.
(WELL) delivered a total return of +202. 3%, compared to +16. 9% for Realty Income Corporation (O). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: WELL returned +223. 1% versus O's +45. 1%. 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 — O or WELL?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Realty Income Corporation (O) is the lower-risk stock at 0.
09β versus Welltower Inc. 's 0. 13β — meaning WELL is approximately 47% more volatile than O relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Welltower Inc. (WELL) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 49% versus 82% for Realty Income Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — O or WELL?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Welltower Inc.
(WELL) is pulling ahead at 35. 8% versus 9. 1% for Realty Income Corporation (O). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Realty Income Corporation grew EPS 19. 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 — O or WELL?
Realty Income Corporation (O) is the more profitable company, earning 18.
4% net margin versus 8. 8% for Welltower Inc. — meaning it keeps 18. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: O leads at 28. 3% versus 3. 3% for WELL. 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.
07Is O or WELL more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Realty Income Corporation (O) trades at 37.
1x forward P/E versus 78. 4x for Welltower Inc. — 41. 3x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for WELL: 6. 3% to $226. 50.
08Which pays a better dividend — O or WELL?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Realty Income Corporation (O) offers the highest yield at 5. 2%, versus 1. 3% for Welltower Inc. (WELL).
09Is O 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, +223. 1% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (WELL: +223. 1%, O: +45. 1%), 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 O 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: O is a mid-cap income-oriented 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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