REIT Comparison
ADC vs STAG: Which Is the Better Pick in 2026?
A head-to-head comparison of Agree Realty and STAG Industrial covering yield, cost, risk, and income potential.
Data updated September 4, 2026
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 STAG over the trailing twelve months, posting a 5.01% total return against 6.84%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: STAG has compounded at 9.00% a year, against 8.47% for ADC. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested.
| Symbol | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | 10Y | Since Apr 2011 | Volatility | Sharpe | Sortino | Max drawdown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ADC | 3.18% | 5.01% | 11.17% | 3.76% | 8.47% | 12.86% | 17.8% | 0.34 | 0.50 | -13.0% |
| STAG | 4.20% | 6.84% | 5.32% | 1.21% | 9.00% | 13.41% | 21.7% | 0.03 | 0.04 | -24.6% |
Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date (a modeling convention, not the cash-settlement date), split-adjusted, as of September 4, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative; windows of one year or longer are annualized. “Since Apr 2011” measures every fund from April 15, 2011 — 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.
Side-by-side snapshot
| Metric |  ADC |  STAG |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Agree Realty | STAG Industrial |
| Issuer | Agree Realty | STAG Industrial |
| Last Close | $72.62 as of September 4, 2026 | $37.68 as of September 4, 2026 |
| Distribution yield | 4.41% | 4.14% |
| Distribution Safety Score™ | 94 | 100 |
| Safety-Adjusted Yield | 4.15% | 4.14% |
| Expense ratio | — | — |
| AUM | — | — |
| Distribution frequency | Monthly | Quarterly |
| Underlying index | — | — |
| Objective | A real estate investment trust focused on income-producing properties. | A real estate investment trust focused on income-producing properties. |
| Asset class | Real Estate | Real Estate |
| Inception date | N/A | N/A |
| Beta | 0.468 | 0.967 |
| Last dividend | $0.267 declared, pays 09/15/2026 | $0.39 declared, pays 10/15/2026 |
| Ex-dividend date | 08/31/2026 | 09/30/2026 upcoming |
Bottom lineADC and STAG are nearly interchangeable — both offer very similar diversified reit exposure with very similar cost and risk. Neither charges a fund expense ratio, so the decision rests on business fundamentals, payout history, and valuation.
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Quick verdict
ADC (Agree Realty) and STAG (STAG Industrial) are both dividend-paying real estate investment trusts (REITs), but they take different approaches.
ADC offers the higher yield at 4.41% vs 4.14% for STAG. A higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, though it may come with different risk characteristics.
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Deep dive
Yield & income
On a $10,000 investment, ADC would generate roughly $36.75/month, while STAG would produce $34.50/month, at current distribution rates.
Strategy & risk
ADC is a real estate investment trust built around diversified REIT exposure, while STAG is a real estate investment trust built around diversified REIT exposure. Beta is 0.468 for ADC and 0.967 for STAG, making ADC the less volatile of the two by this measure.
Security details
ADC (Agree Realty) is a real estate investment trust. STAG (STAG Industrial) is a real estate investment trust.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the current distribution yield for ADC and STAG?
ADC currently distributes 4.41% and STAG 4.14%, based on fund data updated September 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 STAG better for dividend income?
It depends on your goals. ADC 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 STAG?
ADC (Agree Realty) is a real estate investment trust built around diversified REIT exposure, while STAG (STAG Industrial) is a real estate investment trust built around diversified REIT exposure. They are issued by Agree Realty and STAG Industrial respectively.
Can I hold both ADC and STAG?
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 STAG safer?
By Dividend Vision's Distribution Safety Score — a rules-based 0–100 estimate of how resilient a distribution looks, where higher is safer — STAG scores 100, ADC scores 94, so STAG's payout currently looks the more resilient of the two. ADC has also shown lower price volatility (beta 0.47 vs 0.97 for STAG). 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 STAG generate?
At current rates, $10,000 in ADC would generate roughly $36.75 per month ($441.00 annually). The same in STAG would produce about $34.50 per month ($414.00 annually).
Which has performed better historically, ADC or STAG?
ADC has lagged STAG over the trailing twelve months, posting a 5.01% total return against 6.84%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: STAG has compounded at 9.00% a year, against 8.47% for ADC. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
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ADC vs STAG — at a glance
Generated September 2, 2026.
Overview
ADC and STAG are both diversified real estate investment trusts focused on income-producing properties, but they differ meaningfully in tenant base, property type, and payout cadence. ADC leans toward retail and service properties with monthly income timing. STAG concentrates on industrial and warehouse assets and now pays quarterly. Their current yields are close enough that property exposure and volatility matter more than a headline yield gap.
How they differ
ADC currently distributes 4.41% compared with STAG at 4.14%, so ADC has a slight income edge on the current forward rate. STAG carries materially higher beta (0.967 versus ADC's 0.468), meaning it tends to swing more with broader market moves; that lines up with industrial REIT exposure being more tied to economic growth and logistics demand. ADC still pays monthly. STAG shifted to quarterly distributions in 2026.
Who each is best for
ADC: Fits investors seeking lower volatility and monthly income from a retail and service-property REIT, with current yield in the mid-4% range.
STAG: Fits investors who want industrial-property exposure and can accept higher market sensitivity and quarterly payout timing for a similar current yield.
Key risks to know
- Sector concentration. STAG's focus on industrial logistics exposes holders to sector-specific headwinds if e-commerce growth slows or logistics utilization declines. ADC's retail and service mix carries different concentration risk tied to consumer spending, tenant health, and lease rollover.
- Yield sustainability. ADC and STAG both sit in the 4% range on current Dividend Vision rates, so neither should be treated as a high-yield outlier; coverage, occupancy, debt costs, and payout history still matter.
- Interest-rate sensitivity. Both REITs are sensitive to cap-rate expansion and borrowing costs, but STAG's higher beta suggests it may experience sharper price swings in a risk-off or rate-sensitive market.
- Economic cyclicality mismatch. ADC's defensive properties may underperform in a strong growth environment, while STAG's industrial assets may face headwinds if logistics demand cools or supply chains normalize.
Bottom line
ADC offers a slightly higher current distribution rate, monthly payments, and lower beta. STAG offers industrial REIT exposure with quarterly payments and higher market sensitivity. The choice is less about chasing yield and more about which property mix and cash-flow rhythm fits the portfolio. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
AI-generated analysis for educational purposes only. Verify important details independently; past performance does not guarantee future results.
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