COLD vs STAG

For growth investors, STAG Industrial, Inc.

(STAG) is the stronger pick with 10. 1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -2. 4% for Americold Realty Trust, Inc. (COLD). STAG Industrial, Inc. (STAG) offers the better valuation at 26. 4x trailing P/E (38. 0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Americold Realty Trust, Inc. (COLD) a "Buy" — based on 19 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, STAG Industrial, Inc.

(STAG) delivered a total return of +27. 9%, compared to -54. 7% for Americold Realty Trust, Inc. (COLD). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: STAG returned +150. 4% versus COLD's +10. 9%. 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), STAG Industrial, Inc.

(STAG) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 55β versus Americold Realty Trust, Inc. 's 0. 81β — meaning COLD is approximately 49% more volatile than STAG relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, STAG Industrial, Inc. (STAG) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 90% versus 154% for Americold Realty Trust, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), STAG Industrial, Inc.

(STAG) is pulling ahead at 10. 1% versus -2. 4% for Americold Realty Trust, Inc. (COLD). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: STAG Industrial, Inc. grew EPS 40. 4% year-over-year, compared to -21. 2% for Americold Realty Trust, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, STAG leads at 8. 7% 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.

STAG Industrial, Inc.

(STAG) is the more profitable company, earning 32. 4% net margin versus -4. 4% for Americold Realty Trust, Inc. — meaning it keeps 32. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: STAG leads at 37. 7% versus 0. 3% for COLD. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — STAG leads at 61. 3%, 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 STAG: 18.

0% to $45. 50.

In this comparison, STAG (3.

9% yield) pays a dividend. COLD does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, STAG Industrial, Inc.

(STAG) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 55), 3. 9% yield, +150. 4% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (STAG: +150. 4%, COLD: +10. 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.

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.

In terms of investment character: COLD is a small-cap quality compounder stock; STAG is a small-cap income-oriented stock. STAG pays a dividend while COLD 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.