DBRG vs CCI vs AMT vs SBAC

For growth investors, American Tower Corporation (AMT) is the stronger pick with 5.

1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -35. 1% for Crown Castle Inc. (CCI). SBA Communications Corporation (SBAC) offers the better valuation at 22. 3x trailing P/E (29. 4x 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.

On trailing P/E, SBA Communications Corporation (SBAC) is the cheapest at 22.

3x versus Crown Castle Inc. at 89. 3x. On forward P/E, American Tower Corporation is actually cheaper at 27. 4x — 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: SBA Communications Corporation wins at 0. 25x versus American Tower Corporation's 3. 76x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, American Tower Corporation (AMT) delivered a total return of -14.

7%, compared to -43. 6% for DigitalBridge Group, Inc. (DBRG). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: SBAC returned +138. 9% versus DBRG's -42. 1%. 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), American Tower Corporation (AMT) is the lower-risk stock at -0.

04β versus DigitalBridge Group, Inc. 's 1. 27β — meaning DBRG is approximately -3494% more volatile than AMT relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, DigitalBridge Group, Inc. (DBRG) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 14% versus 4% for American Tower Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), American Tower Corporation (AMT) is pulling ahead at 5.

1% versus -35. 1% for Crown Castle Inc. (CCI). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: DigitalBridge Group, Inc. grew EPS 565. 7% year-over-year, compared to 11. 8% for American Tower Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, AMT leads at 3. 3% 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.

SBA Communications Corporation (SBAC) is the more profitable company, earning 37.

4% net margin versus 10. 4% for Crown Castle Inc. — meaning it keeps 37. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: DBRG leads at 68. 7% versus 45. 8% for AMT. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — DBRG leads at 87. 5%, 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, SBA Communications Corporation (SBAC) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 25x versus American Tower Corporation's 3. 76x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, American Tower Corporation (AMT) trades at 27. 4x forward P/E versus 44. 7x for DigitalBridge Group, Inc. — 17. 3x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for AMT: 20. 4% to $216. 33.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Crown Castle Inc. (CCI) offers the highest yield at 5. 2%, versus 2. 0% for SBA Communications Corporation (SBAC).

For long-horizon retirement investors, American Tower Corporation (AMT) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β -0.

04), 3. 7% yield, +113. 8% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (AMT: +113. 8%, DBRG: -42. 1%), 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: DBRG is a small-cap quality compounder stock; CCI is a mid-cap income-oriented stock; AMT is a mid-cap income-oriented stock; SBAC is a mid-cap quality compounder stock. 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.