AMT vs. O: American Tower vs. Realty Income Stock Comparison
This page compares American Tower (AMT) with Realty Income (O) using performance and risk, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividends, and valuation metrics.
Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Performance at a Glance
| Metric | AMT | O |
|---|---|---|
| 1-Year Return | -10.00% | 14.25% |
Risk
Drawdown
Risk at a Glance
| Metric | AMT | O |
|---|---|---|
| 1-Year Volatility | 24.21% | 16.24% |
| Beta | 0.88 | 0.72 |
| 3-Month Avg. Volume | 3.17M | 5.86M |
Company Profile
American Tower (AMT) and Realty Income (O) both fall under the Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) industry group, but AMT is classified in Specialized REITs while O is classified in Retail REITs.
Both American Tower (AMT) and Realty Income (O) are REITs — read their payout ratios and P/E alongside FFO (funds from operations) rather than at face value.
| Profile Item | AMT | O |
|---|---|---|
| Name | American Tower Corporation | Realty Income Corporation |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Real Estate | Real Estate |
| GICS Industry Group | Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) | Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) |
| GICS Industry | Specialized REITs | Retail REITs |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Telecom Tower REITs | Retail REITs |
| Market Capitalization | 87.21 billion USD | 58.49 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | February 27, 1998 | October 18, 1994 |
| Security Type | REIT | REIT |
Valuation
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)
P/E ratio is not a meaningful valuation yardstick for either American Tower (AMT) in Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) or Realty Income (O) in Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs): depreciation suppresses reported earnings in their businesses, and price-to-FFO is the conventional yardstick instead.
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)
American Tower (AMT) at 8.06 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Realty Income (O) at 9.86 sits in the pricier quartile — O costs more per dollar of sales.
AMT
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) industry group
8.06
- Max
- 15.01
- Q3
- 8.66
- AMT
- 8.06
- Median
- 6.65
- Q1
- 3.87
- Min
- 0.60
O
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) industry group
9.86
- Max
- 15.01
- O
- 9.86
- Q3
- 8.66
- Median
- 6.65
- Q1
- 3.87
- Min
- 0.60
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)
Realty Income (O) at 1.49 sits near its industry’s typical P/B ratio, while American Tower (AMT) at 24.76 prices above its benchmark range — AMT looks rich relative to book.
AMT
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) industry group
24.76
- AMT
- 24.76
- Max
- 4.20
- Q3
- 2.66
- Median
- 1.74
- Q1
- 1.16
- Min
- 0.33
O
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) industry group
1.49
- Max
- 4.20
- Q3
- 2.66
- Median
- 1.74
- O
- 1.49
- Q1
- 1.16
- Min
- 0.33
Valuation at a Glance
| Metric | AMT | O |
|---|---|---|
| Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) | -- | -- |
| Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) | 8.06 | 9.86 |
| Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) | 24.76 | 1.49 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield | -- | -- |
Profitability
Return on Equity (TTM)
American Tower (AMT) at 29.95% clears its industry range for ROE, a sharper capital-efficiency signal than Realty Income (O) at 2.83%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.
AMT
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) industry group
29.95%
- AMT
- 29.95%
- Max
- 21.85%
- Q3
- 9.82%
- Median
- 5.84%
- Q1
- 1.39%
- Min
- -9.66%
O
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) industry group
2.83%
- Max
- 21.85%
- Q3
- 9.82%
- Median
- 5.84%
- O
- 2.83%
- Q1
- 1.39%
- Min
- -9.66%
Net Profit Margin (TTM)
Neither American Tower (AMT) in Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) nor Realty Income (O) in Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) is well served by net margin: heavy depreciation makes net income a poor profitability proxy in their businesses, where FFO-based measures are the standard read.
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)
Neither side reports a meaningful operating margin: for American Tower (AMT) in Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) and Realty Income (O) in Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), funding costs are part of the core business, so net margin and ROE are the cleaner profitability reads.
Profitability at a Glance
| Metric | AMT | O |
|---|---|---|
| Return on Equity (TTM) | 29.95% | 2.83% |
| Return on Assets (TTM) | 4.91% | 2.31% |
| Net Profit Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
| Operating Profit Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
| Gross Profit Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Revenue Growth at a Glance
| Metric | AMT | O |
|---|---|---|
| 1-Year Revenue Growth | 5.11% | 9.07% |
| 3-Year Revenue CAGR | 3.34% | 19.80% |
EPS Growth
EPS Growth at a Glance
| Metric | AMT | O |
|---|---|---|
| 1-Year EPS Growth | -- | -- |
| 3-Year EPS CAGR | -- | -- |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Realty Income (O) at 2.06 carries current ratio above its industry’s typical mid-range, while American Tower (AMT) at 0.30 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — different working-capital profiles, both worth examining.
AMT
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) industry group
0.30
- Max
- 4.00
- Q3
- 1.92
- Median
- 1.04
- Q1
- 0.47
- AMT
- 0.30
- Min
- 0.08
O
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) industry group
2.06
- Max
- 4.00
- O
- 2.06
- Q3
- 1.92
- Median
- 1.04
- Q1
- 0.47
- Min
- 0.08
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)
Realty Income (O) at 0.73 keeps leverage in the lower quartile, while American Tower (AMT) at 4.45 is above its industry debt-to-equity ratio range.
AMT
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) industry group
4.45
- AMT
- 4.45
- Max
- 2.63
- Q3
- 1.55
- Median
- 1.04
- Q1
- 0.75
- Min
- 0.19
O
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) industry group
0.73
- Max
- 2.63
- Q3
- 1.55
- Median
- 1.04
- Q1
- 0.75
- O
- 0.73
- Min
- 0.19
Financial Strength at a Glance
| Metric | AMT | O |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 0.30 | 2.06 |
| Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) | 4.45 | 0.73 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 6.23 | 5.72 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both American Tower (AMT) at 3.73% and Realty Income (O) at 5.18% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.
AMT
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) industry group
3.73%
- Max
- 8.05%
- Q3
- 5.81%
- Median
- 4.33%
- AMT
- 3.73%
- Q1
- 3.39%
- Min
- 0.00%
O
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) industry group
5.18%
- Max
- 8.05%
- Q3
- 5.81%
- O
- 5.18%
- Median
- 4.33%
- Q1
- 3.39%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
An earnings-based payout ratio fits neither American Tower (AMT) in Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) nor Realty Income (O) in Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs): their distributions are mandated and conventionally measured against FFO, so the accounting-earnings ratio overstates both.
Dividends at a Glance
| Metric | AMT | O |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 3.73% | 5.18% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | -- | -- |