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 September 13, 2026. Differences are shown without an overall score or investment verdict.
Total return — CCI vs SBAC
growth of $100 · dividends reinvested · last 10yCCI vs SBAC: by the numbers
- •CCI is the larger company ($31.62B vs $19.24B market cap).
- •SBAC converts more revenue to profit (34.51% vs 25.83% net margin).
- •SBAC grew revenue faster over the past five years (5.63% vs -7.20% CAGR).
- •CCI pays the higher dividend yield (5.62% vs 2.54%).
Metrics side by side
Valuation
| Metric | CCI | SBAC |
|---|---|---|
| P/E ratio | 29.42 | 19.53 |
| Forward P/E | 37.52 | 23.56 |
| P/S ratio | 7.60 | 6.70 |
| EV / EBITDA | 20.24 | 18.35 |
| FCF yield | 7.61% | 5.46% |
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 SBA Communications Corporation, 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 | SBAC |
|---|---|---|
| Gross margin | 63.19% | 41.61% |
| Operating margin | 47.74% | 50.79% |
| Net margin | 25.83% | 34.51% |
| ROIC | 9.63% | 11.87% |
Dividends
| Metric | CCI | SBAC |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend yield | 5.62% | 2.54% |
| Payout ratio | 172.76% | 50.81% |
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.
SBA Communications Corporation'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 | SBAC |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue CAGR (5Y) | -7.20% | 5.63% |
| EPS CAGR (5Y) | -15.45% | 115.83% |
| FCF CAGR (5Y) | 7.90% | 1.35% |
| Total return CAGR (5Y) | -12.59% | -10.57% |
Frequently asked
- 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 5.63%.
- Does CCI or SBAC pay a bigger dividend?
- CCI yields 5.62% and SBAC yields 2.54% 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 34.51%.
- How have CCI and SBAC total returns compared?
- Over the past 10 years, CCI delivered 2.11% and SBAC delivered 6.38% annualized total return. Past performance doesn't predict future results.
Go deeper
Dig into the metrics
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 September 13, 2026.