Crown Castle Inc. (CCI) vs SBA Communications Corporation (SBAC)
SBAC leads on 10 of 12 compared metrics.
A side-by-side comparison of Crown Castle Inc. and SBA Communications 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).
CCI
Crown Castle Inc.
$92.16Real Estate
SBAC
SBA Communications Corporation
$204.79Real Estate
Total return — CCI vs SBAC
growth of $100 · last 27yCCI +375.5%SBAC +2206.2%SBAC compounded faster
CCI SBAC
CCI vs SBAC: by the numbers
- •CCI is the larger company ($40.22B vs $21.72B market cap).
- •SBAC trades at the lower earnings multiple (21.53 vs 38.08 P/E).
- •SBAC converts more revenue to profit (35.66% vs 25.13% net margin).
- •SBAC grew revenue faster over the past five years (6.18% vs -6.52% CAGR).
- •CCI pays the higher dividend yield (3.46% vs 2.30%).
Which is better, CCI or SBAC?
Metric tally: CCI 2 · SBAC 10It depends on what you're optimizing for:
ValueSBAC(lower P/E)
GrowthSBAC(faster 5Y revenue CAGR)
IncomeCCI(higher dividend yield)
QualitySBAC(higher ROIC)
Metrics side by side
Valuation
| Metric | CCI | SBAC |
|---|---|---|
| P/E ratio | 38.08 | 21.53● |
| Forward P/E | 31.99 | 24.39● |
| P/S ratio | 9.56 | 7.61● |
| PEG ratio | — | 0.48 |
| EV / EBITDA | 23.93 | 17.49● |
Profitability
| Metric | CCI | SBAC |
|---|---|---|
| Gross margin | 65.71%● | 63.62% |
| Operating margin | 48.01% | 47.63% |
| Net margin | 25.13% | 35.66%● |
| ROE | -27.16% | -21.71%● |
| ROIC | 6.81% | 10.05%● |
Dividends
| Metric | CCI | SBAC |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend yield | 3.46%● | 2.30% |
| Payout ratio | 312.50% | 48.02% |
Growth (annualized)
| Metric | CCI | SBAC |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue CAGR (5Y) | -6.52% | 6.18%● |
| EPS CAGR (5Y) | -15.45% | 113.83%● |
| Total return CAGR (5Y) | -9.85% | -6.93%● |
Frequently asked
- Which is better, CCI or SBAC?
- It depends on your goal. value: SBAC (lower P/E); growth: SBAC (faster 5Y revenue CAGR); income: CCI (higher dividend yield); quality: SBAC (higher ROIC). Across all compared metrics, SBAC leads 10 to 2.
- Is CCI or SBAC cheaper?
- On trailing earnings, SBAC is cheaper: CCI trades at a 38.08 P/E and SBAC at 21.53.
- Which has grown faster, CCI or SBAC?
- Over the past five years, SBAC grew revenue faster — CCI at a -6.52% CAGR versus SBAC at 6.18%.
- Does CCI or SBAC pay a bigger dividend?
- CCI yields 3.46% and SBAC yields 2.30% based on trailing dividends and the latest price.
- Is CCI or SBAC more profitable?
- SBAC runs the higher net margin — CCI at 25.13% versus SBAC at 35.66%.
- Which has been the better investment, CCI or SBAC?
- Over the past 10-year, SBAC delivered the higher annualized total return — CCI at 4.03% versus SBAC at 8.32%. Past performance doesn't predict future results.
Go deeper
Dig into the metrics
Crown Castle P/E ratioSBA Communications P/E ratioCrown Castle dividend yieldSBA Communications dividend yieldCrown Castle ROESBA Communications ROECrown Castle operating marginSBA Communications operating marginCrown Castle revenue growthSBA Communications revenue growthCrown Castle free cash flowSBA Communications free cash flow
Crown Castle & SBA Communications 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 June 14, 2026.