Crown Castle Inc. (CCI) vs Digital Realty Trust, Inc. (DLR)
A side-by-side comparison of Crown Castle Inc. and Digital Realty Trust, Inc. across valuation, profitability, dividends, and growth — built entirely from reported fundamentals, as of July 29, 2026. Differences are shown without an overall score or investment verdict.
CCI
Crown Castle Inc.
$79.09Real EstateDelayed quote: Jul 29, 2026, 4:00 PM EDT
DLR
Digital Realty Trust, Inc.
$188.18Real EstateDelayed quote: Jul 29, 2026, 4:00 PM EDT
Total return — CCI vs DLR
growth of $100 · dividends reinvested · last 22yCCI +732.4%DLR +3691.0%DLR compounded faster
CCI DLR
CCI vs DLR: by the numbers
- •DLR is the larger company ($69.62B vs $34.56B market cap).
- •CCI trades at the lower trailing earnings multiple (30.79 vs 224.63 P/E), one valuation lens rather than an overall verdict.
- •CCI converts more revenue to profit (25.83% vs 6.72% net margin).
- •DLR grew revenue faster over the past five years (4.95% vs -7.20% CAGR).
- •CCI pays the higher dividend yield (5.61% vs 2.53%).
Metrics side by side
Valuation
| Metric | CCI | DLR |
|---|---|---|
| P/E ratio | 30.79 | 224.63 |
| Forward P/E | 37.92 | 76.22 |
| P/S ratio | 7.90 | 9.82 |
| P/B ratio | N/A | 2.70 |
| PEG ratio | N/A | 0.36 |
| EV / EBITDA | 20.63 | 27.63 |
Profitability
| Metric | CCI | DLR |
|---|---|---|
| Gross margin | 63.19% | 55.39% |
| Operating margin | 47.74% | 10.77% |
| Net margin | 25.83% | 6.72% |
| ROE | -27.16% | 5.71% |
| ROIC | 10.44% | N/A |
Dividends
| Metric | CCI | DLR |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend yield | 5.61% | 2.53% |
| Payout ratio | 416.67% | 130.83% |
Growth (annualized)
| Metric | CCI | DLR |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue CAGR (5Y) | -7.20% | 4.95% |
| EPS CAGR (5Y) | -15.45% | 29.87% |
| Total return CAGR (5Y) | -12.99% | 8.26% |
Frequently asked
- Which has the lower trailing P/E, CCI or DLR?
- CCI has the lower trailing P/E: CCI trades at 30.79 and DLR at 224.63. P/E is one valuation measure and does not by itself establish which business is cheaper.
- Which has grown faster, CCI or DLR?
- Over the past five years, DLR grew revenue faster — CCI at a -7.20% CAGR versus DLR at 4.95%.
- Does CCI or DLR pay a bigger dividend?
- CCI yields 5.61% and DLR yields 2.53% based on trailing dividends and the latest price.
- Is CCI or DLR more profitable?
- CCI runs the higher net margin — CCI at 25.83% versus DLR at 6.72%.
- How have CCI and DLR total returns compared?
- Over the past 10 years, CCI delivered 1.77% and DLR delivered 9.72% annualized total return. Past performance doesn't predict future results.
Go deeper
Dig into the metrics
Crown Castle P/E ratioDigital Realty Trust P/E ratioCrown Castle dividend yieldDigital Realty Trust dividend yieldCrown Castle ROEDigital Realty Trust ROECrown Castle operating marginDigital Realty Trust operating marginCrown Castle revenue growthDigital Realty Trust revenue growthCrown Castle free cash flowDigital Realty Trust free cash flow
Crown Castle & Digital Realty Trust appear in these rankings
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 July 29, 2026.