DLR vs CCI vs EQIX vs AMT vs IRM

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

2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -35. 1% for Crown Castle Inc. (CCI). American Tower Corporation (AMT) offers the better valuation at 33. 3x trailing P/E (27. 4x 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, American Tower Corporation (AMT) is the cheapest at 33.

3x versus Iron Mountain Incorporated at 258. 7x. On forward P/E, American Tower Corporation is actually cheaper at 27. 4x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Equinix, Inc. wins at 2. 34x versus American Tower Corporation's 3. 76x.

Over the past 5 years, Iron Mountain Incorporated (IRM) delivered a total return of +240.

1%, compared to -34. 8% for Crown Castle Inc. (CCI). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: IRM returned +298. 8% versus CCI's +57. 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), American Tower Corporation (AMT) is the lower-risk stock at -0.

04β versus Iron Mountain Incorporated's 1. 10β — meaning IRM is approximately -3041% more volatile than AMT relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Digital Realty Trust, Inc. (DLR) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 97% versus 4% for American Tower Corporation — 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 -35. 1% for Crown Castle Inc. (CCI). 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.

American Tower Corporation (AMT) is the more profitable company, earning 23.

8% net margin versus 2. 1% for Iron Mountain Incorporated — meaning it keeps 23. 8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CCI leads at 48. 7% versus 10. 8% for DLR. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — AMT leads at 73. 7%, 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. 34x versus American Tower Corporation's 3. 76x. Both stocks trade at elevated growth-adjusted valuations, so expected growth needs to materialise. On forward earnings alone, American Tower Corporation (AMT) trades at 27. 4x forward P/E versus 96. 3x for Digital Realty Trust, Inc. — 68. 9x 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 1. 8% for Equinix, Inc. (EQIX).

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%, IRM: +298. 8%), 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: DLR is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; CCI is a mid-cap income-oriented stock; EQIX is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; AMT is a mid-cap income-oriented stock; IRM 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.