CCI vs CCOI

For growth investors, Cogent Communications Holdings, Inc.

(CCOI) is the stronger pick with -5. 8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -35. 1% for Crown Castle Inc. (CCI). Crown Castle Inc. (CCI) offers the better valuation at 88. 5x trailing P/E (43. 5x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Crown Castle Inc. (CCI) a "Buy" — based on 46 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.

Over the past 5 years, Crown Castle Inc.

(CCI) delivered a total return of -34. 4%, compared to -57. 7% for Cogent Communications Holdings, Inc. (CCOI). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CCI returned +58. 9% versus CCOI's +13. 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), Crown Castle Inc.

(CCI) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 26β versus Cogent Communications Holdings, Inc. 's 1. 67β — meaning CCOI is approximately 535% more volatile than CCI relative to the S&P 500.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Cogent Communications Holdings, Inc.

(CCOI) is pulling ahead at -5. 8% versus -35. 1% for Crown Castle Inc. (CCI). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Crown Castle Inc. grew EPS 111. 4% year-over-year, compared to 11. 6% for Cogent Communications Holdings, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, CCOI leads at 17. 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.

Crown Castle Inc.

(CCI) is the more profitable company, earning 10. 4% net margin versus -18. 7% for Cogent Communications Holdings, Inc. — meaning it keeps 10. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CCI leads at 48. 7% versus -10. 6% for CCOI. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CCI leads at 66. 1%, 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.

Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for CCOI: 65.

7% to $27. 50.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Cogent Communications Holdings, Inc. (CCOI) offers the highest yield at 18. 9%, versus 5. 3% for Crown Castle Inc. (CCI).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Crown Castle Inc.

(CCI) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 26), 5. 3% yield). Cogent Communications Holdings, Inc. (CCOI) carries a higher beta of 1. 67 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (CCI: +58. 9%, CCOI: +13. 0%), 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (CCI (Real Estate) and CCOI (Communication Services)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

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.