Better Buy: Realty Income Corporation vs. Simon Property Group

Realty Income Corporation (NYSE: O) is the largest real estate investment trust, or REIT, specializing in net-leased freestanding retail properties. Simon Property Group (NYSE: SPG) is not only the largest mall REIT, but is the largest REIT of any variety.

Since these two companies are leaders in different types of retail, they are a natural comparison, as they give investors who want to put money into retail real estate two very different strategies to invest in. I last compared the two in February, and since that time, both stocks have dropped considerably -- Realty Income by 7% and Simon Property Group by 14%. With the lower valuations and headwinds facing the brick-and-mortar retail industry, let's take a look to see which is the better buy today.

Headwinds in the retail sector have made both of these stocks less expensive. Image source: Getty Images.

Source: Fool.com