Is AVB or SBAC cheaper?

On trailing earnings, SBAC is cheaper: AVB trades at a 23.26 P/E and SBAC at 21.53.

Which has grown faster, AVB or SBAC?

Over the past five years, AVB grew revenue faster — AVB at a 6.36% CAGR versus SBAC at 6.18%.

Does AVB or SBAC pay a bigger dividend?

AVB yields 3.76% and SBAC yields 2.30% based on trailing dividends and the latest price.

Is AVB or SBAC more profitable?

AVB runs the higher net margin — AVB at 37.27% versus SBAC at 35.66%.

Which has been the better investment, AVB or SBAC?

Over the past 10-year, SBAC delivered the higher annualized total return — AVB at 4.41% versus SBAC at 8.32%. Past performance doesn't predict future results.

AvalonBay Communities, Inc. (AVB) vs SBA Communications Corporation (SBAC)

AVB and SBAC are evenly matched — 8 metrics each of 16.

A side-by-side comparison of AvalonBay Communities, Inc. and SBA Communications Corporation across valuation, profitability, dividends, and growth — built entirely from reported fundamentals, as of June 13, 2026. The ● marks the stronger figure on each row (cheaper multiple, higher margin/return).

AVB

AvalonBay Communities, Inc.

$26.53B

$187.03Real Estate

SBAC

SBA Communications Corporation

$21.72B

$204.79Real Estate

Total return — AVB vs SBAC

growth of $100 · last 27y

AVB +424.0%SBAC +2206.2%SBAC compounded faster

AVB SBAC

AVB vs SBAC: by the numbers

•AVB is the larger company ($26.53B vs $21.72B market cap).
•SBAC trades at the lower earnings multiple (21.53 vs 23.26 P/E).
•AVB converts more revenue to profit (37.27% vs 35.66% net margin).
•AVB grew revenue faster over the past five years (6.36% vs 6.18% CAGR).
•AVB pays the higher dividend yield (3.76% vs 2.30%).

Which is better, AVB or SBAC?

Metric tally: AVB 8 · SBAC 8

It depends on what you're optimizing for:

ValueSBAC(lower P/E)

GrowthAVB(faster 5Y revenue CAGR)

IncomeAVB(higher dividend yield)

QualitySBAC(higher ROIC)

Valuation

Metric	AVB	SBAC
P/E ratio	23.26	21.53●
Forward P/E	34.15	24.39●
P/S ratio	8.60	7.61●
P/B ratio	2.25	—
PEG ratio	4.98	0.48●
EV / EBITDA	17.86	17.49●
FCF yield	5.71%●	4.69%

Profitability

Metric	AVB	SBAC
Gross margin	67.92%●	63.62%
Operating margin	29.15%	47.63%●
Net margin	37.27%●	35.66%
ROE	9.75%●	-21.71%
ROIC	4.28%	10.05%●

Dividends

Metric	AVB	SBAC
Dividend yield	3.76%●	2.30%
Payout ratio	95.00%	48.02%

Growth (annualized)

Metric	AVB	SBAC
Revenue CAGR (5Y)	6.36%●	6.18%
EPS CAGR (5Y)	4.67%	113.83%●
FCF CAGR (5Y)	6.75%●	-0.03%
Total return CAGR (5Y)	0.64%●	-6.93%

Frequently asked

Which is better, AVB or SBAC?: It depends on your goal. value: SBAC (lower P/E); growth: AVB (faster 5Y revenue CAGR); income: AVB (higher dividend yield); quality: SBAC (higher ROIC). Across all compared metrics, they are evenly matched.
Is AVB or SBAC cheaper?: On trailing earnings, SBAC is cheaper: AVB trades at a 23.26 P/E and SBAC at 21.53.
Which has grown faster, AVB or SBAC?: Over the past five years, AVB grew revenue faster — AVB at a 6.36% CAGR versus SBAC at 6.18%.
Does AVB or SBAC pay a bigger dividend?: AVB yields 3.76% and SBAC yields 2.30% based on trailing dividends and the latest price.
Is AVB or SBAC more profitable?: AVB runs the higher net margin — AVB at 37.27% versus SBAC at 35.66%.
Which has been the better investment, AVB or SBAC?: Over the past 10-year, SBAC delivered the higher annualized total return — AVB at 4.41% versus SBAC at 8.32%. Past performance doesn't predict future results.

Go deeper

Full AVB analysis Full SBAC analysis Interactive comparison tool

Dig into the metrics

AvalonBay Communities P/E ratio SBA Communications P/E ratio AvalonBay Communities dividend yield SBA Communications dividend yield AvalonBay Communities ROE SBA Communications ROE AvalonBay Communities operating margin SBA Communications operating margin AvalonBay Communities revenue growth SBA Communications revenue growth AvalonBay Communities free cash flow SBA Communications free cash flow

AvalonBay Communities & SBA Communications appear in these rankings

Highest Dividend Yield Stocks Highest Operating Margin Stocks Highest FCF Yield Stocks

Figures are sourced from reported fundamentals and the latest end-of-day price. This comparison is informational only and is not investment advice. Past performance does not predict future results. See our methodology. Compiled by TGMCharts Research · data verified June 13, 2026.