DLR vs EQIX vs IRM

For growth investors, Iron Mountain Incorporated (IRM) is the stronger pick with 12.

2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 5. 9% for Equinix, Inc. (EQIX). Digital Realty Trust, Inc. (DLR) offers the better valuation at 55. 8x trailing P/E (98. 7x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Digital Realty Trust, Inc. (DLR) a "Buy" — based on 48 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

On trailing P/E, Digital Realty Trust, Inc.

(DLR) is the cheapest at 55. 8x versus Iron Mountain Incorporated at 269. 5x. On forward P/E, Iron Mountain Incorporated is actually cheaper at 58. 6x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Equinix, Inc. wins at 2. 39x versus Digital Realty Trust, Inc. 's 3. 40x.

Over the past 5 years, Iron Mountain Incorporated (IRM) delivered a total return of +249.

9%, compared to +49. 7% for Digital Realty Trust, Inc. (DLR). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: IRM returned +314. 2% versus DLR's +165. 0%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Equinix, Inc.

(EQIX) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 42β versus Iron Mountain Incorporated's 1. 10β — meaning IRM is approximately 160% more volatile than EQIX relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Digital Realty Trust, Inc. (DLR) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 97% versus 160% for Equinix, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Iron Mountain Incorporated (IRM) is pulling ahead at 12.

2% versus 5. 9% for Equinix, Inc. (EQIX). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Digital Realty Trust, Inc. grew EPS 122. 4% year-over-year, compared to -19. 7% for Iron Mountain Incorporated. Over a 3-year CAGR, IRM leads at 10. 6% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

Digital Realty Trust, Inc.

(DLR) is the more profitable company, earning 21. 4% net margin versus 2. 1% for Iron Mountain Incorporated — meaning it keeps 21. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: IRM leads at 20. 4% versus 10. 8% for DLR. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — DLR leads at 55. 4%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.

By this metric, Equinix, Inc. (EQIX) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 2. 39x versus Digital Realty Trust, Inc. 's 3. 40x. Both stocks trade at elevated growth-adjusted valuations, so expected growth needs to materialise. On forward earnings alone, Iron Mountain Incorporated (IRM) trades at 58. 6x forward P/E versus 98. 7x for Digital Realty Trust, Inc. — 40. 1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for DLR: 4. 7% to $209. 00.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Digital Realty Trust, Inc. (DLR) offers the highest yield at 2. 5%, versus 1. 7% for Equinix, Inc. (EQIX).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Equinix, Inc.

(EQIX) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 42), 1. 7% yield, +259. 0% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (EQIX: +259. 0%, IRM: +314. 2%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

Both stocks operate in the Real Estate sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.