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ADCAgree Realty CorporationHold5.8·$77.81+2.01%
ADC · Why this verdict

Why Agree Realty (ADC) is rated HOLD

Updated

Model-generated analysis — not investment advice. Not a registered investment advisor. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

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Methodology · Editorial policy & full disclaimer

VerdictHOLD
Overall score5.8/10
ConfidenceMEDIUM
MacroNEUTRAL

Thesis pillars

The company converts 203% of net income into free cash flow, carries margins of 29%, and scores 8 out of 9 on a broad financial-health assessment, reflecting a well-run portfolio with strong capital efficiency that consistently produces cash above reported earnings.

Stable
Quality breakdown
Expectation
Free cash flow conversion stays above 150% of net income and margins remain above 24% over the next four quarters.

CounterRising property operating costs or higher interest expense from refinancing could compress both margins and cash conversion, eroding the quality premium that currently justifies a valuation premium to peers.

With only 2.2% headroom to the analyst consensus target and a reward-to-risk ratio of 0.61, the current entry point offers more downside exposure than potential gain, leaving little margin of safety for new capital.

Stable
Price targets
Expectation
A pullback of sufficient magnitude to restore a reward-to-risk ratio above 1.5 would be needed before the setup becomes constructive for incremental buying.

CounterIf analyst consensus targets are revised materially upward — for example on better-than-expected acquisition activity — the upside gap could widen and reward holders who stayed invested at current prices.

Despite an attractive headline yield, the dividend has been characterized as potentially unsustainable relative to underlying cash flows, suggesting the income return may not be fully supported even in a stable environment.

Stable
Catalyst breakdown
Expectation
Funds from operations payout ratio improves to below 75% over the next 12 months, demonstrating clear dividend coverage and removing the yield-trap concern.

CounterFree cash flow conversion of 203% of net income indicates substantial cash-generation capacity; if the dividend is in fact well-covered by FFO, the sustainability concern may be overstated by trailing accounting metrics.

Falling on-balance volume signals that sellers are absorbing buying interest at current levels, a pattern inconsistent with durable price appreciation even as the stock holds above its long-term moving average.

Stable
Momentum breakdown
Expectation
On-balance volume turns positive and shows consistent accumulation for at least 6 consecutive weeks, confirming a shift in the supply and demand balance.

CounterVolume distribution can reverse quickly on institutional reallocation into defensive real estate names; the trend may not persist if sector rotation or a rate-cutting cycle brings fresh demand.

TrendMatrix Research · core thesis

Engine thesis — one sentence

Agree Realty runs a high-quality property portfolio with margins of 29%, free cash flow conversion of 203% of net income, and a Rule of 40 score of 78, but with only 2.2% headroom to the analyst consensus target and a reward-to-risk ratio of 0.61, the setup favors patience over adding capital at current levels.

Falsifiable statement — pillar-level invalidators below. Engine-derived; not personalized advice.

Per-dimension breakdown

Value

3.5/10data confidence 67%
ComponentSub-score
P/S1.7
EV/EBITDA0.0
p ocf6.2
Analyst target4.0
  • P/OCF: 17.9x (FFO proxy — REITs gated off P/E)

Quality

7.0/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
ROE1.2
ROA1.6
Gross margin10.0
Op margin10.0
Net margin10.0
Current ratio1.2
FCF quality10.0
Moat7.1
Rule of 409.5
Piotroski F8.9
  • Strong margins: 29%
  • Excellent cash conversion: 203% FCF/NI
  • Rule of 40: 78 (elite)
  • Strong Piotroski F-Score: 8/9

Growth

6.5/10data confidence 67%
ComponentSub-score
Rev growth7.2
EPS growth5.8

Momentum

7.2/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
RSI5.0
MACD10.0
OBV10.0
MA position9.0
Volume2.1
  • Volume accumulation (rising OBV)
  • Above 200-day MA

Sentiment

6.4/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
Analyst rating7.4
Price target6.3
erm sentiment5.0

Insider

6.5/10data confidence 75%
ComponentSub-score
materiality6.5
insider conviction8.0
holder change5.1
  • Modest insider buying — $2,907,343 (0.031% of mkt cap)

Peer rank

4.4/10data confidence 80%
ComponentSub-score
value rank1.7
quality rank3.1
growth rank7.9

Technical

3.1/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
bollinger0.0
support resistance0.2
52w position9.2

Risk (lower is worse)

8.1/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
short interest10.0
volatility8.6
put call8.7
implied vol3.8
beta10.0
debt equity7.4

Catalyst

5.4/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
erm5.0
earnings history10.0
earnings timing5.0
surprise avg3.3
dividend safety3.5
  • Yield trap warning: high yield but unsafe

How the verdict was assembled

Engine trigger

Maintain position. Not compelling to add more.

Engine technical detail
verdict_path: L4:PATH_F_HOLD
Passed (7)
  • MOMENTUM:7.2>=5.5
  • INSIDER:OK
  • 8K:CLEAN
  • NEWS_EVENTS:NONE_RECENT
  • EARNINGS_PROXIMITY:26d clear
  • SEMI_CYCLE_PEAK:CLEAR
  • MATERIALS_CYCLE_PEAK:CLEAR
Failed (1)
  • ASYMMETRY:-0.2=NEGATIVE
Warning (0)

none

Reward-to-Risk
-0.25
Upside
-2.2%
Downside
8.8%
Sizing output
AVOID

SetupBreakout Golden cross, above all MAs, RSI 65, MACD bullish

EdgeNo clear edge No clear edge identified

SuitabilityModerate Balanced profile

Investment implication

None of the engine's positive-conviction paths (C-quality, D-momentum) triggered — the F-path HOLD reflects balanced signals. Strongest-cleared gate: MOMENTUM:7.2>=5.5. Top dim: Risk (lower is worse) at 8.1; weakest: Technical at 3.1. No conviction either direction.

The strongest dimensions are Risk (lower is worse) at 8.1, Momentum at 7.2, and Quality at 7.0; the weakest are Technical at 3.1, Value at 3.5, and Peer rank at 4.4. The V9 engine flagged 1 failed gate, producing an asymmetric reward-to-risk of -0.25 and an engine sizing output of AVOID.

What would invalidate the thesis

Falsifying conditions — when triggered, the corresponding pillar's thesis is invalidated.

  • P1Exceptional Cash Flow Quality

    Trip ifOperating margin falls below 20% for 2 consecutive quarters.

  • P2Thin Risk Reward At Target

    Trip ifAnalyst consensus price target rises more than 15% above current price, restoring headroom to take-profit above 12% and improving the reward-to-risk ratio above 1.5.

  • P3Dividend Sustainability Concern

    Trip ifFFO payout ratio falls below 70% for 2 consecutive quarters, confirming the dividend is clearly covered and the sustainability concern is resolved.

  • P4Volume Distribution Pressure

    Trip ifOn-balance volume rises above its prior 6-week average for 6 consecutive weeks, confirming a sustained shift from distribution to accumulation.

Engine reasoning is mechanically derived from pipeline gate outputs. See decision view.

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