REIT Comparison
ADC vs O: Which Is the Better Pick in 2026?
A head-to-head comparison of Agree Realty and Realty Income Corporation covering yield, cost, risk, and income potential.
Data updated August 13, 2026
Best for
- ADCInvestors who want real-estate income and inflation sensitivity.
- OInvestors who want higher current income (5.25% vs 4.37% for ADC).
Side-by-side snapshot
| Metric | ADC | O |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Agree Realty | Realty Income Corporation |
| Issuer | Agree Realty | Realty Income |
| Last Close | $74.36 as of August 13, 2026 | $62.59 as of August 13, 2026 |
| Distribution yield | 4.37% | 5.25% |
| Distribution Safety Score™ | 94 | 100 |
| Expense ratio | — | — |
| AUM | — | — |
| Distribution frequency | Monthly | Monthly |
| Underlying index | — | — |
| Objective | A real estate investment trust focused on income-producing properties. | A real estate investment trust that invests in freestanding, single-tenant commercial properties subject to long-term net lease agreements. Known as "The Monthly Dividend Company," Realty Income has a long track record of monthly dividend payments and consistent dividend growth. |
| Asset class | Real Estate | Real Estate |
| Inception date | N/A | N/A |
| Beta | 0.468 | 0.72 |
| Last dividend | $0.2670 | $0.2710 |
| Ex-dividend date | 07/31/2026 | 07/31/2026 |
Bottom lineChoose ADC if you want real-estate income and inflation sensitivity. Choose O if you want higher current income (5.25% 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 O over the trailing twelve months, posting a 6.45% total return against 14.56%. The picture flips over 10 years, though — ADC has compounded at 8.81% a year, ahead of O at 4.27%. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested.
| Symbol | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | 10Y | Since Oct 1994 | Volatility | Sharpe | Sortino | Max drawdown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ADC | 5.65% | 6.45% | 10.67% | 4.32% | 8.81% | 12.38% | 17.8% | 0.32 | 0.46 | -13.4% |
| O | 12.09% | 14.56% | 8.34% | 3.25% | 4.27% | 13.47% | 18.3% | 0.19 | 0.27 | -19.4% |
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 Oct 1994” measures every fund from October 18, 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 O (Realty Income Corporation) are both monthly-pay dividend-paying real estate investment trusts (REITs), but they take different approaches.
O offers the higher yield at 5.25% 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 0.7 for O.
Choose O
Realty Income Corporation
- Want higher current income — O yields 5.25% 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 O would produce $43.75/month, at current distribution rates. Both pay monthly distributions.
Strategy & risk
ADC is a real estate investment trust, while O is a real estate investment trust. Beta is 0.468 for ADC and 0.72 for O, indicating ADC is less volatile relative to the market.
Security details
ADC (Agree Realty) is a real estate investment trust. O (Realty Income Corporation) is a real estate investment trust.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the current distribution yield for ADC and O?
ADC currently distributes 4.37% and O 5.25%, 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 O better for dividend income?
It depends on your goals. O 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 O?
ADC (Agree Realty) is a real estate investment trust, while O (Realty Income Corporation) is a real estate investment trust. They are issued by Agree Realty and Realty Income respectively.
Can I hold both ADC and O?
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 O safer?
By Dividend Vision's Distribution Safety Score — a rules-based 0–100 estimate of how resilient a distribution looks, where higher is safer — O scores 100, ADC scores 94, so O's payout currently looks the more resilient of the two. ADC has also shown lower price volatility (beta 0.47 vs 0.72 for O). 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 O generate?
At current rates, $10,000 in ADC would generate roughly $36.42 per month ($437.00 annually). The same in O would produce about $43.75 per month ($525.00 annually).
Which has performed better historically, ADC or O?
ADC has lagged O over the trailing twelve months, posting a 6.45% total return against 14.56%. The picture flips over 10 years, though — ADC has compounded at 8.81% a year, ahead of O at 4.27%. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
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ADC vs O — 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 O are both monthly-dividend REITs, but they operate in distinct real estate niches. ADC is a diversified REIT investing across property types, while O focuses exclusively on single-tenant, net-lease commercial properties where tenants bear maintenance and operating costs. The key distinction is structural: O's tenants absorb property expenses under triple-net leases, whereas ADC's diversified portfolio carries operational leverage tied to broader commercial real estate performance.
How they differ
O yields 5.19% versus ADC's 4.21%—a 98-basis-point spread that reflects O's net-lease model, where long-term tenant obligations provide predictable, lower-cost cash flow. ADC trades at $75.63 with a beta of 0.468; O trades at $62.51 with a beta of 0.72, meaning ADC has historically moved less with broader market swings. O has operated since 1994 and built a reputation around consistent monthly distributions, while ADC's diversified strategy exposes it to broader commercial real estate cycles and tenant creditworthiness across multiple property types.
The net-lease structure underpinning O typically locks in revenue streams and shifts property maintenance risk to tenants, supporting the higher yield; ADC's diversified exposure means it retains operational responsibility and faces variable leasing risk across its portfolio. Both pay monthly, but O's longer history and tenant-funded expense model have historically provided more stable distribution coverage.
Who each is best for
ADC: Fits investors seeking exposure to commercial real estate through a diversified property portfolio with lower interest-rate sensitivity and who are comfortable with operational complexity tied to multiple tenant bases and property types.
O: Fits investors prioritizing high, predictable monthly income backed by long-term tenant leases that shift operating expenses away from the REIT, and who value a multi-decade track record of consistent dividend payments.
Key risks to know
- Net-lease tenant concentration risk (O): Long-term leases with single tenants per property mean O faces elevated exposure if a large tenant fails or downsizes; diversification is across tenants and properties, not property types.
- Interest-rate sensitivity (both): Both REITs are sensitive to rising rates, which increase financing costs and cap valuations; O's higher beta (0.72) suggests greater historical rate sensitivity than ADC (0.468).
- Inflation pressure on tenant profitability (O): In inflationary environments, O's tenant-funded leases may face renegotiation pressure if single tenants struggle with rising costs; ADC's diversified model spreads this risk across more counterparties.
- Leasing and occupancy risk (ADC): ADC's diversified portfolio requires active tenant management across property types; vacancies and re-leasing costs can pressure distributions if occupancy declines.
- Dividend sustainability at current yields: O's 5.19% yield depends on stable tenant credit and lease renewal at favorable terms; ADC's lower 4.21% yield provides more cushion against operational headwinds.
Bottom line
O offers a higher yield backed by structural predictability (tenant-funded expenses and long-term leases) and a long dividend-growth history, making it attractive if monthly income and stability matter most. ADC provides lower rate sensitivity and diversified property exposure, suited for investors willing to accept a lower yield in exchange for broader real estate diversification. Past performance doesn't predict future results, and both are sensitive to commercial real estate cycles and interest-rate moves.
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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