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.
Updated October 16, 2026
How these figures are calculated: methodology.
Best for
- ADCInvestors who want higher current income (4.85% vs 4.33% for STAG).
- STAGInvestors who want real-estate income and inflation sensitivity.
Visual comparison
Key metrics
Projected income on $10K
Projections assume the current yield and share price remain constant. Actual results will vary.
Total returns
100% reinvested · ex-date convention. Period returns use this fixed assumption, independent of chart settings. YTD and 1Y are cumulative period returns; 3Y, 5Y, and 10Y are annualized. The shared Since-start window is annualized only when it covers at least one year.
ADC has lagged STAG over the trailing twelve months, posting a -6.15% total return against -0.74%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: STAG has compounded at 9.34% a year, against 7.98% for ADC. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested.
| Symbol | YTD cumulative | 1Y cumulative | 3Y annualized | 5Y annualized | 10Y annualized | Since Apr 2011 | Volatility | Sharpe | Sortino | Max drawdown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ADC | -3.90% | -6.15% | 11.08% | 3.69% | 7.98% | 12.24% | 17.6% | 0.36 | 0.52 | -18.9% |
| STAG | 0.57% | -0.74% | 5.11% | 0.60% | 9.34% | 13.02% | 21.5% | 0.04 | 0.05 | -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 October 16, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative period returns; 3Y, 5Y, and 10Y are annualized. The shared Since-start window is annualized only when it covers at least one year. “Since Apr 2011” measures every fund from April 15, 2011 — the start of shared available history — 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 | $67.04 as of October 16, 2026 | $35.83 as of October 16, 2026 |
| Distribution rate | 4.85% | 4.33% |
| Trailing 12-month yield | 4.73% | 4.28% |
| Distribution Safety Score™ | 91 | 79 |
| Safety-Adjusted Yield | 4.41% | 3.42% |
| 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 | 0.424 | 0.957 |
| Last dividend | $0.271 declared, pays 11/13/2026 | $0.3875 |
| Ex-dividend date | 10/30/2026 upcoming | 09/30/2026 |
Bottom lineChoose ADC if you want higher current income (4.85% vs 4.33% for STAG). Choose STAG if you want real-estate income and inflation sensitivity.
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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 4.85% vs 4.33% 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 $40.42 cash per distribution, while STAG would produce $108.25 cash per distribution, 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 0.424 for ADC and 0.957 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 rate for ADC and STAG?
ADC currently distributes 4.85% and STAG 4.33%, based on fund data updated October 2026. Distribution rate 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 — ADC scores 91, STAG scores 79, so ADC's payout currently looks the more resilient of the two. ADC has also shown lower price volatility (beta 0.42 vs 0.96 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 $40.42 cash per distribution ($485.00 annually). The same in STAG would produce about $108.25 cash per distribution ($433.00 annually).
Which has performed better historically, ADC or STAG?
ADC has lagged STAG over the trailing twelve months, posting a -6.15% total return against -0.74%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: STAG has compounded at 9.34% a year, against 7.98% 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 October 17, 2026.
Overview
ADC and STAG are both diversified real estate investment trusts that own and lease income-producing properties. This higher yield comes paired with ADC's lower beta of 0.424, suggesting its net-lease retail portfolio has historically moved less sharply with broader market swings than STAG's industrial exposure, which carries a beta of 0.957. The two REITs likely hold different property types and geographies—retail-anchored locations versus logistics and warehousing—so their underlying cash flow drivers and tenant credit profiles differ materially.
Who each is best for
ADC: Fits investors seeking steady monthly income with lower market sensitivity, particularly those drawn to net-lease real estate where a single anchor tenant typically covers the bulk of lease revenue on a long-term fixed contract.
STAG: Designed for income investors comfortable with quarterly payout timing and industrial real estate exposure, where demand is tied to e-commerce and supply-chain activity rather than traditional retail traffic.
Key risks to know
- Tenant concentration and lease rollover: Both REITs depend on tenant credit quality and ability to renew or refinance leases at maturity. Deterioration in a major tenant's credit or unexpectedly high vacancy rates can pressure distributions.
- Interest-rate sensitivity: REITs typically fund acquisitions through debt. Rising rates increase borrowing costs and refinancing risk, which can crimp funds available for distribution or require dividend cuts to maintain debt covenants.
- Sector-specific headwinds: ADC's retail-focused portfolio faces ongoing structural pressure from e-commerce and tenant bankruptcies in traditional retail, while STAG's industrial exposure, though historically resilient, depends on sustained logistics demand and could suffer if supply-chain activity cools materially.
- NAV volatility from cap-rate moves: Both trade at premiums or discounts to their embedded property values. Rising cap rates (yields) compress real estate valuations, which can pressure the share price independent of distribution changes. Both carry tenant credit and interest-rate risk inherent to REIT structure, and past performance does not predict future results.
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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These comparisons follow the Dividend Vision methodology.