ONL vs DEA

For growth investors, Easterly Government Properties, Inc.

(DEA) is the stronger pick with 11. 3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -10. 4% for Orion Properties Inc. (ONL). Easterly Government Properties, Inc. (DEA) offers the better valuation at 80. 3x trailing P/E (69. 5x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Orion Properties Inc. (ONL) a "Buy" — based on 4 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.

Over the past 5 years, Easterly Government Properties, Inc.

(DEA) delivered a total return of -37. 0%, compared to -83. 4% for Orion Properties Inc. (ONL). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: DEA returned -8. 7% versus ONL's -83. 4%. 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), Easterly Government Properties, Inc.

(DEA) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 51β versus Orion Properties Inc. 's 1. 28β — meaning ONL is approximately 151% more volatile than DEA relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Orion Properties Inc. (ONL) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 77% versus 123% for Easterly Government Properties, Inc. — 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 -10. 4% for Orion Properties Inc. (ONL). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Orion Properties Inc. grew EPS -34. 8% year-over-year, compared to -37. 0% for Easterly Government Properties, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, DEA leads at 4. 6% 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.

Easterly Government Properties, Inc.

(DEA) is the more profitable company, earning 3. 9% net margin versus -94. 4% for Orion Properties Inc. — meaning it keeps 3. 9% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: DEA leads at 24. 9% versus -65. 4% for ONL. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ONL leads at 56. 1%, 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.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Easterly Government Properties, Inc. (DEA) offers the highest yield at 9. 0%, versus 5. 6% for Orion Properties Inc. (ONL).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Easterly Government Properties, Inc.

(DEA) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 51), 9. 0% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (DEA: -8. 7%, ONL: -83. 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.

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.