Crown Castle Inc. (CCI) vs SBA Communications Corporation (SBAC)
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 August 1, 2026. Differences are shown without an overall score or investment verdict.
CCI
Crown Castle Inc.
$76.30Real EstateAt close: Jul 31, 2026, 4:00 PM ET
SBAC
SBA Communications Corporation
$180.98Real EstateDelayed quote: Jul 31, 2026, 4:00 PM EDT
Total return — CCI vs SBAC
growth of $100 · dividends reinvested · last 27yCCI +551.1%SBAC +2135.8%SBAC compounded faster
CCI SBAC
CCI vs SBAC: by the numbers
- •CCI is the larger company ($33.34B vs $19.20B market cap).
- •SBAC trades at the lower trailing earnings multiple (19.03 vs 31.02 P/E), one valuation lens rather than an overall verdict.
- •SBAC converts more revenue to profit (35.66% vs 25.83% net margin).
- •SBAC grew revenue faster over the past five years (6.18% vs -7.20% CAGR).
- •CCI pays the higher dividend yield (5.57% vs 2.61%).
Metrics side by side
Valuation
| Metric | CCI | SBAC |
|---|---|---|
| P/E ratio | 31.02 | 19.03 |
| Forward P/E | 38.60 | 24.36 |
| P/S ratio | 7.96 | 6.73 |
| PEG ratio | N/A | 0.48 |
| EV / EBITDA | 20.80 | 19.60 |
Profitability
| Metric | CCI | SBAC |
|---|---|---|
| Gross margin | 63.19% | 41.61% |
| Operating margin | 47.74% | 47.63% |
| Net margin | 25.83% | 35.66% |
| ROE | -27.16% | -21.71% |
| ROIC | 10.33% | 11.03% |
Dividends
| Metric | CCI | SBAC |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend yield | 5.57% | 2.61% |
| Payout ratio | 416.67% | 48.02% |
Growth (annualized)
| Metric | CCI | SBAC |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue CAGR (5Y) | -7.20% | 6.18% |
| EPS CAGR (5Y) | -15.45% | 113.83% |
| Total return CAGR (5Y) | -12.87% | -10.49% |
Frequently asked
- Which has the lower trailing P/E, CCI or SBAC?
- SBAC has the lower trailing P/E: CCI trades at 31.02 and SBAC at 19.03. P/E is one valuation measure and does not by itself establish which business is cheaper.
- Which has grown faster, CCI or SBAC?
- Over the past five years, SBAC grew revenue faster — CCI at a -7.20% CAGR versus SBAC at 6.18%.
- Does CCI or SBAC pay a bigger dividend?
- CCI yields 5.57% and SBAC yields 2.61% based on trailing dividends and the latest price.
- Is CCI or SBAC more profitable?
- SBAC runs the higher net margin — CCI at 25.83% versus SBAC at 35.66%.
- How have CCI and SBAC total returns compared?
- Over the past 10 years, CCI delivered 1.80% and SBAC delivered 5.61% annualized total return. 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 August 1, 2026.