W. P. Carey Inc. (WPC) AI Stock Analysis
WPC AI stock analysis summary
AI ResearchW. P. Carey Inc. (WPC) is a diversified net lease real estate investment trust with an enterprise value of $23.84B and a market cap of $14.84B. In the trailing twelve months, the company generated $1.82B in revenue with an operating margin of 59.3% and a profit margin of 35.8%. It offers a 5.83% dividend yield while carrying total debt of $8.95B as of June 30, 2026.
- Market cap
- $14.84B
- Revenue (TTM)
- $1.82B
- P/E
- 22.3x fwd 24.2x
- 1Y return
- 1.0% S&P 500 16.8%
- Avg. target
- $77.93 19.6% vs last close
Bull case
- Revenue in the latest quarter ended June 30, 2026, accelerated 18.4% year-over-year, supported by a 256.5% surge in quarterly earnings growth.
- The stock provides an annual forward dividend of $3.80 per share, yielding 5.83% with a 29-year payment history.
- Analysts maintain a mean price target of $77.93, which sits 19.6% above the last closing price of $65.14.
Bear case
- Dividend payouts exceeded net earnings with a payout ratio of 110.7%, while the five-year annualized dividend growth was -2.4%.
- The balance sheet carries $8.95B in total debt with cash of just $163.5M, contributing to a current ratio of 0.46.
- W. P. Carey has underperformed the broader market, gaining 1.0% over the past year compared to a 16.8% return for the S&P 500.
What W. P. Carey does
W. P. Carey Inc. is a net lease REIT investing in critical commercial real estate properties across the United States, Northern Europe, and Western Europe. Its portfolio includes single-tenant industrial, warehouse, office, retail, and self-storage properties operated under long-term net leases with built-in rent escalators. As of September 30, 2020, its portfolio spanned 1,215 net lease properties totaling approximately 142 million square feet. The company focuses on acquiring high-quality assets backed by strong tenant covenants to maintain steady cash flow and low vacancy risks across diverse industries.
Growth and profitability
Revenue expanded at an 8.0% compound annual rate from FY2020 to FY2025. Annual revenue grew from $1.26B in FY2021 to $1.47B in FY2022 and $1.74B in FY2023. Revenue fell 9.2% to $1.58B in FY2024 before rebounding 8.9% to $1.72B in FY2025. Net income was $466.4M in FY2025, yielding an EPS of $2.72 and an operating margin of 44.4%, down from 83.5% in FY2024. For the latest quarter ended June 30, 2026, revenue increased 18.4% year-over-year, while quarterly earnings surged 256.5%.
Balance sheet and cash flow
As of June 30, 2026, W. P. Carey held $163.5M in cash and short-term investments against total debt of $8.95B, resulting in net debt of $8.79B. Shareholders' equity stood at $8.67B, producing a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.03 and a current ratio of 0.46. In FY2025, operating cash flow reached $1.28B and free cash flow was $1.09B. Cash deployment in FY2025 included $790.0M for dividends paid, $191.2M for capital expenditures, and $14.9M for share buybacks.
Valuation and performance
At a share price of $65.14, W. P. Carey trades at a trailing P/E of 22.3x and a forward P/E of 24.2x, compared to medians of 21.6x and 23.5x for its US-listed Real Estate peers. Its EV to EBITDA ratio is 15.4x, slightly above the peer group median of 14.7x, while its price-to-sales multiple of 8.2x compares to the peer median of 3.7x. Over the past year, the stock returned 1.0%, trailing the S&P 500 return of 16.8%, and gained 15.3% over five years versus 83.0% for the index.
WPC dividend
W. P. Carey pays a quarterly dividend with an annualized forward rate of $3.80 per share, representing a dividend yield of 5.83%. The dividend has been paid for 29 consecutive years. Its payout ratio stands at 110.7%, and its five-year annualized dividend growth is -2.4%. The most recent ex-dividend date was September 30, 2026.
What analysts expect
Wall Street analysts maintain 4 Strong Buy ratings, 4 Buy ratings, and 7 Hold ratings, with zero Sell or Strong Sell recommendations. The mean price target is $77.93, indicating an upside of 19.6% from the closing price of $65.14. For the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026, consensus estimates project revenue of $1.85B and EPS of $3.29, reflecting 27.5% EPS growth. The company has beaten EPS expectations in 3 of the last 4 quarters, with the next earnings date scheduled for October 27, 2026.
Key risks and what to watch
- Total debt of $8.95B and net debt of $8.79B expose the REIT to higher refinancing and borrowing costs relative to its $163.5M cash reserve.
- Operating margin contracted significantly from 83.5% in FY2024 to 44.4% in FY2025, indicating shifting cost structures.
- Shareholder dilution has occurred over time, with the five-year share count expanding by 20.7%.
- For the next fiscal year, analyst forecasts anticipate an EPS decline of 4.2% to $3.15 alongside estimated revenue of $1.99B.
AI-generated research summary. Written with AI from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 and checked so every figure matches that data. For information only, not investment advice. Disclaimer
About this WPC AI stock analysis
This page is an AI-written research summary of W. P. Carey Inc. (WPC). The text was generated on October 30, 2026 from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 (company profile, annual results, latest balance sheet, valuation, price performance and analyst estimates). An automatic check rejects any draft that contains a figure not found in that data. It is not investment advice; verify figures on the linked tabs before making decisions.
Related: WPC income statement, WPC balance sheet, WPC key metrics, WPC analyst forecast, WPC chart. See the WPC stock overview for the latest quote and news.
WPC AI stock analysis FAQ
What is W. P. Carey's dividend yield and payout schedule?
W. P. Carey pays a quarterly dividend with a forward annual payout of $3.80 per share, equating to a 5.83% dividend yield. The company has paid dividends for 29 consecutive years, and its last ex-dividend date was September 30, 2026.
How much debt does W. P. Carey carry?
As of June 30, 2026, the company held total debt of $8.95B and net debt of $8.79B, compared to $163.5M in cash and short-term investments. This results in a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.03 and a current ratio of 0.46.
When does W. P. Carey report its next quarterly earnings?
The company's next earnings date is scheduled for October 27, 2026. Over the prior 4 quarters, the REIT exceeded EPS estimates in 3 quarters.
What are Wall Street analysts' price targets for WPC?
Analysts have set a mean price target of $77.93, representing an upside of 19.6% from the closing price of $65.14. The consensus comprises 4 Strong Buy, 4 Buy, and 7 Hold ratings.