REIT Comparison
ADC vs NNN: Which Is the Better Pick in 2026?
A head-to-head comparison of Agree Realty and NNN REIT, Inc. covering yield, cost, risk, and income potential.
Data updated August 13, 2026
Best for
- ADCInvestors who want real-estate income and inflation sensitivity.
- NNNInvestors who want higher current income (5.29% vs 4.37% for ADC).
Side-by-side snapshot
| Metric | ADC | NNN |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Agree Realty | NNN REIT, Inc. |
| Issuer | Agree Realty | NNN REIT |
| Last Close | $74.36 as of August 13, 2026 | $45.81 as of August 13, 2026 |
| Distribution yield | 4.37% | 5.29% |
| Distribution Safety Score™ | 94 | 100 |
| Expense ratio | — | — |
| AUM | — | — |
| Distribution frequency | Monthly | Quarterly |
| Underlying index | — | — |
| Objective | A real estate investment trust focused on income-producing properties. | A net lease REIT that acquires, owns, and manages single-tenant retail properties under long-term net leases. A Dividend Aristocrat with over 35 consecutive years of dividend increases. |
| Asset class | Real Estate | Real Estate |
| Inception date | N/A | N/A |
| Beta | 0.468 | 0.783 |
| Last dividend | $0.2670 | $0.6200 |
| Ex-dividend date | 07/31/2026 | 07/31/2026 |
Bottom lineChoose ADC if you want real-estate income and inflation sensitivity. Choose NNN if you want higher current income (5.29% vs 4.37% for ADC).
Income calculator
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Visual comparison
Key metrics
Projected income on $10K
Projections assume the current yield and share price remain constant. Actual results will vary.
Total returns
ADC has lagged NNN over the trailing twelve months, posting a 6.45% total return against 16.56%. The picture flips over 10 years, though — ADC has compounded at 8.81% a year, ahead of NNN at 3.99%. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested.
| Symbol | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | 10Y | Since Apr 1994 | Volatility | Sharpe | Sortino | Max drawdown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ADC | 5.65% | 6.45% | 10.67% | 4.32% | 8.81% | 11.72% | 17.8% | 0.32 | 0.46 | -13.4% |
| NNN | 20.77% | 16.56% | 11.47% | 4.72% | 3.99% | 10.84% | 18.7% | 0.34 | 0.49 | -22.0% |
Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date, split-adjusted, as of August 12, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative; longer windows are annualized. “Since Apr 1994” measures every fund from April 15, 1994 — the youngest fund's first trading day — so all funds share one comparison window. Volatility is the annualized standard deviation of daily total returns over the trailing 3 years. Sharpe and Sortino divide the annualized return in excess of the risk-free rate by, respectively, that volatility and the downside deviation (both over the trailing 3 years) — higher is better. Max drawdown is the largest peak-to-trough total-return decline over the same window — shallower is better.
Quick verdict
ADC (Agree Realty) and NNN (NNN REIT, Inc.) are both dividend-paying real estate investment trusts (REITs), but they take different approaches.
NNN offers the higher yield at 5.29% vs 4.37% for ADC. A higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, though it may come with different risk characteristics.
Who should choose each?
Choose ADC
Agree Realty
- Want real-estate exposure for income and inflation sensitivity.
- Prefer lower volatility — a beta of 0.5 vs 0.8 for NNN.
Choose NNN
NNN REIT, Inc.
- Want higher current income — NNN yields 5.29% vs 4.37% for ADC.
- Want real-estate exposure for income and inflation sensitivity.
Not sure? Use the income calculator and snapshot above to weigh these trade-offs against your own goals.
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Deep dive
Yield & income
On a $10,000 investment, ADC would generate roughly $36.42/month, while NNN would produce $44.08/month, at current distribution rates.
Strategy & risk
ADC is a real estate investment trust, while NNN is a real estate investment trust. Beta is 0.468 for ADC and 0.783 for NNN, indicating ADC is less volatile relative to the market.
Security details
ADC (Agree Realty) is a real estate investment trust. NNN (NNN REIT, Inc.) is a real estate investment trust.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the current distribution yield for ADC and NNN?
ADC currently distributes 4.37% and NNN 5.29%, based on fund data updated August 2026. Distribution yield moves with both the payout and the share price, so check the as-of date before relying on either figure.
Is ADC or NNN better for dividend income?
It depends on your goals. NNN currently offers the higher distribution yield, which means more income per dollar invested. However, a lower-yield fund may offer better total return or lower volatility. Consider your time horizon and risk tolerance.
What is the difference between ADC and NNN?
ADC (Agree Realty) is a real estate investment trust, while NNN (NNN REIT, Inc.) is a real estate investment trust. They are issued by Agree Realty and NNN REIT respectively.
Can I hold both ADC and NNN?
Yes — nothing prevents holding both. Whether the combination actually diversifies depends on how much the underlying exposures overlap, which isn't fully measurable from the data on this page; review each security's holdings, sector, and strategy before treating them as complementary.
Is ADC or NNN safer?
By Dividend Vision's Distribution Safety Score — a rules-based 0–100 estimate of how resilient a distribution looks, where higher is safer — NNN scores 100, ADC scores 94, so NNN's payout currently looks the more resilient of the two. ADC has also shown lower price volatility (beta 0.47 vs 0.78 for NNN). No score makes an investment risk-free — treat this as a screening signal, not a guarantee.
How much income does $10,000 in ADC vs NNN generate?
At current rates, $10,000 in ADC would generate roughly $36.42 per month ($437.00 annually). The same in NNN would produce about $44.08 per month ($529.00 annually).
Which has performed better historically, ADC or NNN?
ADC has lagged NNN over the trailing twelve months, posting a 6.45% total return against 16.56%. The picture flips over 10 years, though — ADC has compounded at 8.81% a year, ahead of NNN at 3.99%. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
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ADC vs NNN — at a glance
Generated August 9, 2026.
Figures quoted in this analysis are from its generation date and may lag the live snapshot table above, which always shows the latest data.
Overview
ADC and NNN are both real estate investment trusts that generate income through property leasing, but they serve different investor time horizons and income needs. ADC is a diversified REIT with a 4.21% distribution rate paid monthly, while NNN is a net lease REIT focused exclusively on single-tenant retail properties, yielding 5.07% quarterly and backed by a 35-year streak of consecutive dividend increases as a Dividend Aristocrat.
How they differ
The core distinction is their tenant and lease structure: NNN owns single-tenant retail properties under long-term net leases where the tenant bears most operating costs, while ADC holds a diversified portfolio of income-producing properties. NNN pays a higher yield (5.07% vs. 4.21%), but ADC offers monthly distributions rather than quarterly ones, appealing to investors who value steady cash flow timing. NNN carries higher beta volatility at 0.783 compared to ADC's 0.468, reflecting the concentration risk of retail-focused net leases and the broader sensitivity of that strategy to commercial real estate cycles. ADC trades at $75.63 per share versus NNN at $46.84, a difference that reflects their distinct asset bases and market positioning.
Who each is best for
ADC: Fits investors seeking a lower-volatility REIT with monthly income distributions and exposure to a diversified property portfolio, even at a more modest yield.
NNN: Fits income-focused investors who value a track record of consistent dividend growth, can tolerate retail sector and single-tenant concentration risk, and prefer quarterly payout timing with a higher current yield.
Key risks to know
- Retail net lease concentration: NNN's single-tenant retail focus exposes it to prolonged weakness in brick-and-mortar retail, tenant defaults, and a narrower lease-renewal pool if major retailers restructure. ADC's diversified property base spreads that sector risk.
- Net lease structuring leverage: NNN's model relies on tenants covering most operating expenses; if tenants struggle or exit, NNN faces higher capital calls to renovate or repurpose properties. Long-term net leases can mask deteriorating tenant credit quality.
- Interest rate and cap-rate sensitivity: Both REITs face headwinds if interest rates rise, since cap rates typically expand and property valuations compress. NNN's higher beta suggests sharper drawdowns in such environments.
- Distribution sustainability in downturn: NNN's 35-year dividend growth streak, while impressive, does not guarantee distributions through a severe recession or if retail tenant defaults spike. ADC's lower yield provides a wider margin of safety if property values or rents decline.
Bottom line
If you prioritize monthly income and lower volatility, ADC offers a smoother cash flow profile with diversified property exposure; if you chase yield and dividend growth history, NNN delivers 0.86% more distribution rate backed by an Aristocrat track record, though with concentrated retail risk and higher sensitivity to market swings. Either choice depends on your tolerance for sector concentration and real estate cycle timing—neither shields you from rising rates or commercial property pressure.
AI-generated analysis for educational purposes only. Verify important details independently; past performance does not guarantee future results.
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The metrics behind this comparison, explained in the Academy.
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