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2 / 10Stock Comparison
AD vs UNIT
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
REIT - Specialty
AD vs UNIT — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Telecommunications Services | REIT - Specialty |
| Market Cap | $4.25B | $2.73B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $1.91B | $2.23B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $290M | $1.27B |
| Gross Margin | 57.5% | 47.1% |
| Operating Margin | 4.2% | 21.2% |
| Forward P/E | 57.7x | 2.4x |
| Total Debt | $1.71B | $10.02B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $113M | $134M |
AD vs UNIT — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Array Digital Infra… (AD) | 100 | 157.9 | +57.9% |
| Uniti Group Inc. (UNIT) | 100 | 82.7 | -17.3% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: AD vs UNIT
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
AD is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and long-term compounding.
- Dividend streak 1 yrs, beta 0.42, yield 46.0%
- 93.5% 10Y total return vs UNIT's -29.9%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.42, Low D/E 66.4%, current ratio 0.72x
UNIT carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for growth exposure.
- Rev growth 91.5%, EPS growth 6.6%, 3Y rev CAGR 25.6%
- 91.5% FFO/revenue growth vs AD's -95.7%
- Lower P/E (2.4x vs 57.7x)
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 91.5% FFO/revenue growth vs AD's -95.7% | |
| Value | Lower P/E (2.4x vs 57.7x) | |
| Quality / Margins | 56.8% margin vs AD's 15.2% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 0.42 vs UNIT's 1.79, lower leverage | |
| Dividends | 46.0% yield; 1-year raise streak; the other pay no meaningful dividend | |
| Momentum (1Y) | +41.7% vs UNIT's +38.4% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | 14.5% ROA vs AD's 3.8%, ROIC 5.2% vs -0.6% |
AD vs UNIT — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Segment breakdown not available.
AD vs UNIT — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
Evenly matched — AD and UNIT each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
UNIT and AD operate at a comparable scale, with $2.2B and $1.9B in trailing revenue. UNIT is the more profitable business, keeping 56.8% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to AD's 15.2%. On growth, UNIT holds the edge at +2.1% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $1.9B | $2.2B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $430M | $1.1B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $290M | $1.3B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $2.6B | -$460M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +57.5% | +47.1% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +4.2% | +21.2% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +15.2% | +56.8% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +137.8% | -20.6% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -93.8% | +2.1% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +6.8% | -10.5% |
Valuation Metrics
UNIT leads this category, winning 2 of 3 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 2.4x trailing earnings, UNIT trades at a 84% valuation discount to AD's 14.8x P/E.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $4.2B | $2.7B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $5.8B | $12.6B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 14.84x | 2.36x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 57.66x | — |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 3.02x | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | — | 11.07x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 26.06x | 1.22x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.68x | 8.06x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 1.61x | — |
Profitability & Efficiency
UNIT leads this category, winning 6 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
UNIT delivers a 3.4% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $3 in annual profit, vs $8 for AD. AD carries lower financial leverage with a 0.66x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to UNIT's 26.35x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), UNIT scores 5/9 vs AD's 4/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +8.1% | +3.4% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +3.8% | +14.5% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -0.6% | +5.2% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -0.7% | +6.5% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 4 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.66x | 26.35x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $1.6B | $9.9B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $113M | $134M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $1.7B | $10.0B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | -1.74x | 0.79x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
AD leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in AD five years ago would be worth $22,909 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $8,019 for UNIT. Over the past 12 months, AD leads with a +41.7% total return vs UNIT's +38.4%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors AD at 68.6% vs UNIT's 26.1% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +10.5% | +68.4% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +41.7% | +38.4% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +379.6% | +100.7% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +129.1% | -19.8% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +93.5% | -29.9% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +68.6% | +26.1% |
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — AD and UNIT each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
AD is the less volatile stock with a 0.42 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than UNIT's 1.79 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. UNIT currently trades 94.5% from its 52-week high vs AD's 62.4% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.42x | 1.79x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $79.17 | $12.18 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $44.03 | $5.30 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +62.4% | +94.5% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 54.2 | 60.8 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 195K | 2.4M |
Analyst Outlook
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates AD as "Buy" and UNIT as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 8.2% upside for AD (target: $54) vs -4.3% for UNIT (target: $11). AD is the only dividend payer here at 46.04% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $53.50 | $11.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 5 | 13 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +46.0% | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 1 | 1 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $22.76 | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.5% | 0.0% |
UNIT leads in 2 of 6 categories (Valuation Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). AD leads in 1 (Total Returns). 2 tied.
AD vs UNIT: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is AD or UNIT a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Uniti Group Inc.
(UNIT) is the stronger pick with 91. 5% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -95. 7% for Array Digital Infrastructure, Inc. (AD). Uniti Group Inc. (UNIT) offers the better valuation at 2. 4x trailing P/E, making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Array Digital Infrastructure, Inc. (AD) a "Buy" — based on 5 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.
02Which has the better valuation — AD or UNIT?
On trailing P/E, Uniti Group Inc.
(UNIT) is the cheapest at 2. 4x versus Array Digital Infrastructure, Inc. at 14. 8x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — AD or UNIT?
Over the past 5 years, Array Digital Infrastructure, Inc.
(AD) delivered a total return of +129. 1%, compared to -19. 8% for Uniti Group Inc. (UNIT). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: AD returned +93. 5% versus UNIT's -29. 9%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — AD or UNIT?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Array Digital Infrastructure, Inc.
(AD) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 42β versus Uniti Group Inc. 's 1. 79β — meaning UNIT is approximately 325% more volatile than AD relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Array Digital Infrastructure, Inc. (AD) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 66% versus 26% for Uniti Group Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — AD or UNIT?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Uniti Group Inc.
(UNIT) is pulling ahead at 91. 5% versus -95. 7% for Array Digital Infrastructure, Inc. (AD). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Array Digital Infrastructure, Inc. grew EPS 823. 9% year-over-year, compared to 660. 9% for Uniti Group Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, UNIT leads at 25. 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.
06Which has better profit margins — AD or UNIT?
Array Digital Infrastructure, Inc.
(AD) is the more profitable company, earning 178. 5% net margin versus 58. 4% for Uniti Group Inc. — meaning it keeps 178. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: UNIT leads at 21. 2% versus -30. 2% for AD. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — UNIT leads at 36. 9%, 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.
07Is AD or UNIT more undervalued right now?
Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for AD: 8.
2% to $53. 50.
08Which pays a better dividend — AD or UNIT?
In this comparison, AD (46.
0% yield) pays a dividend. UNIT does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
09Is AD or UNIT better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Array Digital Infrastructure, Inc.
(AD) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 42), 46. 0% yield). Uniti Group Inc. (UNIT) carries a higher beta of 1. 79 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (AD: +93. 5%, UNIT: -29. 9%), 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.
10What are the main differences between AD and UNIT?
These companies operate in different sectors (AD (Communication Services) and UNIT (Real Estate)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.
In terms of investment character: AD is a small-cap deep-value stock; UNIT is a small-cap high-growth stock. AD pays a dividend while UNIT does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. 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.
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- Sector: Communication Services
- Market Cap > $100B
- Net Margin > 9%
- Dividend Yield > 18.4%
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