Crown Castle Inc. (CCI) vs Iron Mountain Incorporated (IRM)
A side-by-side comparison of Crown Castle Inc. and Iron Mountain Incorporated across valuation, profitability, dividends, and growth — built entirely from reported fundamentals, as of September 13, 2026. Differences are shown without an overall score or investment verdict.
Total return — CCI vs IRM
growth of $100 · dividends reinvested · last 10yCCI vs IRM: by the numbers
- •IRM is the larger company ($33.14B vs $29.65B market cap).
- •CCI converts more revenue to profit (25.83% vs 5.54% net margin).
- •IRM grew revenue faster over the past five years (11.97% vs -7.20% CAGR).
- •CCI pays the higher dividend yield (5.62% vs 2.93%).
Metrics side by side
Valuation
| Metric | CCI | IRM |
|---|---|---|
| P/E ratio | 27.58 | 79.56 |
| Forward P/E | 35.17 | 44.66 |
| P/S ratio | 7.12 | 4.38 |
| EV / EBITDA | 19.50 | 21.31 |
| FCF yield | 8.12% | N/A |
For REITs like Crown Castle Inc., GAAP P/E is distorted: heavy non-cash property depreciation depresses reported earnings and overstates the multiple. Real-estate companies are valued on funds from operations (FFO / AFFO) and price-to-FFO — see the Funds From Operations section. The P/E is shown for reference only.
For REITs like Iron Mountain Incorporated, GAAP P/E is distorted: heavy non-cash property depreciation depresses reported earnings and overstates the multiple. Real-estate companies are valued on funds from operations (FFO / AFFO) and price-to-FFO — see the Funds From Operations section. The P/E is shown for reference only.
Profitability
| Metric | CCI | IRM |
|---|---|---|
| Gross margin | 63.19% | 25.69% |
| Operating margin | 47.74% | 18.76% |
| Net margin | 25.83% | 5.54% |
| ROIC | 9.63% | 6.34% |
Dividends
| Metric | CCI | IRM |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend yield | 5.62% | 2.93% |
| Payout ratio | 172.76% | 241.21% |
Crown Castle Inc.'s payout ratio is measured against GAAP earnings, which non-cash depreciation depresses for REITs — the dividend is conventionally assessed against funds from operations (FFO / AFFO) instead, so the GAAP figure overstates the payout burden.
Iron Mountain Incorporated's payout ratio is measured against GAAP earnings, which non-cash depreciation depresses for REITs — the dividend is conventionally assessed against funds from operations (FFO / AFFO) instead, so the GAAP figure overstates the payout burden.
Growth (annualized)
| Metric | CCI | IRM |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue CAGR (5Y) | -7.20% | 11.97% |
| EPS CAGR (5Y) | -15.45% | -16.26% |
| FCF CAGR (5Y) | 7.90% | -43.23% |
| Total return CAGR (5Y) | -12.59% | 24.35% |
Frequently asked
- Which has grown faster, CCI or IRM?
- Over the past five years, IRM grew revenue faster — CCI at a -7.20% CAGR versus IRM at 11.97%.
- Does CCI or IRM pay a bigger dividend?
- CCI yields 5.62% and IRM yields 2.93% based on trailing dividends and the latest price.
- Is CCI or IRM more profitable?
- CCI runs the higher net margin — CCI at 25.83% versus IRM at 5.54%.
- How have CCI and IRM total returns compared?
- Over the past 10 years, CCI delivered 2.11% and IRM delivered 18.31% annualized total return. Past performance doesn't predict future results.
Go deeper
Dig into the metrics
Crown Castle & Iron Mountain 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 September 13, 2026.