Crown Castle Inc. (CCI) vs Realty Income Corporation (O)

O leads on 8 of 12 compared metrics, though CCI is the cheaper stock.

A side-by-side comparison of Crown Castle Inc. and Realty Income Corporation across valuation, profitability, dividends, and growth — built entirely from reported fundamentals, as of June 14, 2026. The ● marks the stronger figure on each row (cheaper multiple, higher margin/return).

Total return — CCI vs O

growth of $100 · last 28y
CCI +608.9%O +409.1%CCI compounded faster
05001k2kStart $10020032008201320182023$709$509
CCI O

CCI vs O: by the numbers

  • O is the larger company ($58.49B vs $40.22B market cap).
  • CCI trades at the lower earnings multiple (38.08 vs 51.41 P/E).
  • CCI converts more revenue to profit (25.13% vs 18.94% net margin).
  • O grew revenue faster over the past five years (28.65% vs -6.52% CAGR).
  • O pays the higher dividend yield (5.16% vs 3.46%).

Which is better, CCI or O?

Metric tally: CCI 4 · O 8

It depends on what you're optimizing for:

ValueCCI(lower P/E)
GrowthO(faster 5Y revenue CAGR)
IncomeO(higher dividend yield)
QualityO(higher ROIC)

Valuation

MetricCCIO
P/E ratio38.0851.41
Forward P/E31.9934.95
P/S ratio9.569.59
P/B ratio1.45
PEG ratio2.49
EV / EBITDA23.9320.50

Profitability

MetricCCIO
Gross margin65.71%68.62%
Operating margin48.01%29.27%
Net margin25.13%18.94%
ROE-27.16%2.86%
ROIC6.81%24.52%

Dividends

MetricCCIO
Dividend yield3.46%5.16%
Payout ratio312.50%276.67%

Growth (annualized)

MetricCCIO
Revenue CAGR (5Y)-6.52%28.65%
EPS CAGR (5Y)-15.45%0.35%
Total return CAGR (5Y)-9.85%3.50%

Frequently asked

Which is better, CCI or O?
It depends on your goal. value: CCI (lower P/E); growth: O (faster 5Y revenue CAGR); income: O (higher dividend yield); quality: O (higher ROIC). Across all compared metrics, O leads 8 to 4.
Is CCI or O cheaper?
On trailing earnings, CCI is cheaper: CCI trades at a 38.08 P/E and O at 51.41.
Which has grown faster, CCI or O?
Over the past five years, O grew revenue faster — CCI at a -6.52% CAGR versus O at 28.65%.
Does CCI or O pay a bigger dividend?
CCI yields 3.46% and O yields 5.16% based on trailing dividends and the latest price.
Is CCI or O more profitable?
CCI runs the higher net margin — CCI at 25.13% versus O at 18.94%.
Which has been the better investment, CCI or O?
Over the past 10-year, O delivered the higher annualized total return — CCI at 4.03% versus O at 4.90%. Past performance doesn't predict future results.

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 14, 2026.