Digital Realty (DLR) vs Welltower (WELL)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Welltower (WELL) has outperformed Digital Realty (DLR) over the past year, gaining 27.8% versus a gain of 3.0%. Over five years, WELL leads with a +162.9% price change compared with +22.3% for DLR. Welltower is the larger company by market cap ($159.33 billion vs $68.16 billion), about 2.3 times the size.
On valuation, Digital Realty trades at a lower forward P/E (65.3x vs 69.5x for Welltower). Digital Realty offers the higher dividend yield (2.70% vs 1.39%). Digital Realty converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 21.4% versus 8.9%.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | DLR | WELL |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $180.47 | $221.12 |
| Market cap | $68.16B | $159.33B |
| 1-day change | -2.26% | -2.06% |
| YTD return | +16.65% | +19.13% |
| 1-year return | +3.04% | +27.82% |
| 5-year return | +22.32% | +162.89% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 87.61 | 99.16 |
| Forward P/E | 65.34 | 69.53 |
| EPS (TTM) | $2.06 | $2.23 |
| Dividend yield | 2.70% | 1.39% |
| Annual dividend | $4.88 | $3.07 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $6.11B | $10.84B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +10.04% | +35.63% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $1.31B | $961.84M |
| Gross margin | — | 40.14% |
| Operating margin | 10.77% | — |
| Net margin | 21.41% | 8.87% |
| 52-week high | $208.14 | $255.20 |
| 52-week low | $146.23 | $163.75 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -13.29% | -13.35% |
| Analyst consensus | strong_buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +23.81% | +18.51% |
| Average volume | 2.29M | 2.78M |
| Shares outstanding | 371.00M | 720.57M |
| Employees | 4,282 | 712 |
| Sector | Real Estate | Real Estate |
| Industry | Real Estate Investment Trusts | Real Estate Investment Trusts |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- Welltower is about 2.3 times larger than Digital Realty by market value ($159.33B vs $68.16B).
- WELL has outperformed DLR by 24.8 percentage points over the past year.
- Digital Realty offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (2.70% vs 1.39%).
- Digital Realty is more profitable, keeping 21.4 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus 8.9 cents for Welltower.
- Welltower grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+35.63% vs +10.04%).
About Digital Realty
DLR stock →Digital Realty Trust, Inc. brings companies and data together by delivering the full spectrum of data center, colocation, and interconnection solutions.
Real Estate · Real Estate Investment Trusts · 4,282 employees
About Welltower
WELL stock →Welltower Inc., an S&P 500 company, is positioned at the center of the silver economy, focusing on rental housing for aging seniors across the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada. Their portfolio of 2,500+ seniors and wellness housing communities are positioned at the intersection of housing and hospitality, creating vibrant communities for mature renters and older adults.
Real Estate · Real Estate Investment Trusts · 712 employees
DLR vs WELL FAQ
Which is bigger, Digital Realty or Welltower?
Welltower (WELL) is larger, with a market capitalization of $159.33B compared with $68.16B for Digital Realty (DLR).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, DLR or WELL?
WELL returned +27.82% over the past 12 months, compared with +3.04% for DLR (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, DLR or WELL?
DLR has the lower trailing P/E at 87.6, versus 99.2 for WELL. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, Digital Realty or Welltower?
Digital Realty has the higher yield at 2.70%, compared with 1.39% for Welltower.
Are Digital Realty and Welltower in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Real Estate Investment Trusts industry within the Real Estate sector.