ADC vs FCPT: Which Is the Better Buy in 2026?

Same yardstick, side by side (as of September 2026). Valuation lined up like this is most meaningful for two names in the same corner of the market, which these are. Figures are approximate; verify before investing.

Reading it: FCPT is the cheaper of the two on forward earnings, but cheaper is not the same as better. Pair the valuation with growth (how far the forward P/E sits below the trailing P/E) and risk (beta) before you decide.

The metrics above tell you which is the marginally better business. The bigger risk for most people is not picking the slightly worse stock, it is over-concentrating. ADC and FCPT share themes, so owning both, or adding either to what you already hold, can quietly push a large share of your portfolio into one bet.

This is the part a generic comparison page cannot answer, because it depends on what you own. Connect your brokerage and Walnut shows your real, combined ADC and FCPT exposure, flags overlap with your existing positions, and tells you if adding one would tip you past a concentration you are comfortable with, read-only by default, with your login staying at your broker. Walnut is not an investment adviser.

Agree Realty Corporation (NYSE: ADC) is a real estate investment trust that acquires and develops freestanding, single-tenant retail properties net-leased to national and regional chains. Under net leases, tenants cover most property costs (taxes, insurance, and maintenance), which gives the REIT predictable rent streams and thin operating overhead. As of the end of 2025 the portfolio held roughly 2,674 properties across all 50 states, totaling about 55.5 million square feet, and was effectively fully leased at 99.7% occupancy. Investment-grade retailers generated close to 67% of annualized base rent, with top tenants including Walmart, Tractor Supply, Dollar General, Best Buy, and TJX, tilting the rent roll toward defensive, needs-based retail.

Full ADC guide

Four Corners Property Trust owns freestanding, single-tenant properties leased on long-term triple-net terms, meaning tenants pay taxes, insurance, and maintenance while FCPT collects contractually growing rent. It was created in 2015 when Darden Restaurants separated its owned real estate into a standalone REIT, giving FCPT an initial portfolio anchored by Olive Garden and LongHorn Steakhouse. As of Q1 2026 the portfolio spanned roughly 1,313 properties across 48 states at about 99.6% occupancy with a weighted-average remaining lease term near 6.7 years. Darden remains the largest tenant, with Olive Garden alone around 31.7% of cash base rent and total Darden leases generating roughly $118 million of annual rent.

Full FCPT guide

Both fit overlapping themes, but they are not interchangeable. The useful comparison is which set of drivers and risks you want exposure to.

• ADC drivers: External growth engine; Investment-grade, defensive tenant base.
• FCPT drivers: Acquisition-driven external growth; Tenant and sector diversification.

A faster-growing, richer-valued name usually swings harder, so it suits a longer horizon and a higher tolerance for volatility; a steadier, more cash-generative business suits a more conservative or income-minded investor. The honest test is which set of risks you could hold through a drawdown: Interest-rate sensitivity is the dominant risk, since higher rates lift Agree's borrowing costs and make its dividend yield less competitive versus bonds, which can pressure the share price. For FCPT, the dominant risk is tenant concentration: casual dining, led by Darden, still contributes more than half of rent, so a downturn in restaurant traffic or a Darden operational stumble would pressure FCPT's cash flows.

Growth-minded investors who believe the theme has years to run tend to accept the richer multiple for more upside; value-minded investors lean toward the cheaper forward earnings and steadier profile. Pick ADC if you believe its drivers more; FCPT if you believe its. Many investors hold both, but since they share themes, that is a concentrated bet, not diversification. Decide deliberately and check overlap. For the full detail, see the ADC and FCPT guides.

ADC. Agree trades at a premium multiple of AFFO relative to net-lease peers, roughly the high-teens on a price-to-AFFO basis, a level the market has long assigned to its balance-sheet quality and consistency. With 2026 AFFO guided around $4.56 and shares near $80, the valuation prices in reliable but unspectacular growth. Investors are largely paying for durability of income rather than a discount.

FCPT. FCPT trades around 14 times expected 2026 FFO per share, below its multi-year average multiple, which some observers view as reasonable given tenant concentration. Valuation is best judged on FFO and AFFO multiples and dividend coverage rather than GAAP earnings, as depreciation understates a REIT's cash flow. As with most net-lease REITs, the yield and rate environment drive the price more than any single quarter's beat.

Headline figures (approximate, FEBRUARY 2026): ADC shows revenue (ttm) ~$715M, affo per share (2025) ~$4.32, affo per share (2026 guidance) ~$4.54 to $4.58, dividend (annualized) ~$3.20 (~4.4% yield); FCPT shows market cap ~$2.8B, share price ~$25, revenue (ttm) ~$300M, q1 2026 rental revenue ~$70M (+10% YoY).

ADC and FCPT are related but distinct: same themes, different businesses and risks. Neither wins in the abstract; the right pick is whichever thesis you actually believe, sized so you are not over-concentrated in one theme. Walnut can show your combined ADC and FCPT exposure against your real portfolio. It is not an investment adviser.