EXR vs CUBE vs PSA vs NSA

For growth investors, CubeSmart (CUBE) is the stronger pick with 5.

3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -2. 3% for National Storage Affiliates Trust (NSA). CubeSmart (CUBE) offers the better valuation at 26. 8x trailing P/E (27. 7x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Extra Space Storage Inc. (EXR) a "Hold" — based on 28 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, CubeSmart (CUBE) is the cheapest at 26.

8x versus National Storage Affiliates Trust at 59. 9x. On forward P/E, CubeSmart is actually cheaper at 27. 7x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: CubeSmart wins at 2. 42x versus National Storage Affiliates Trust's 13. 91x.

Over the past 5 years, Public Storage (PSA) delivered a total return of +32.

9%, compared to +16. 4% for National Storage Affiliates Trust (NSA). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: NSA returned +178. 4% versus PSA's +55. 6%. 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), Public Storage (PSA) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

51β versus National Storage Affiliates Trust's 0. 81β — meaning NSA is approximately 58% more volatile than PSA relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Extra Space Storage Inc. (EXR) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 105% versus 2% for National Storage Affiliates Trust — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), CubeSmart (CUBE) is pulling ahead at 5.

3% versus -2. 3% for National Storage Affiliates Trust (NSA). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Extra Space Storage Inc. grew EPS 13. 9% year-over-year, compared to -40. 7% for National Storage Affiliates Trust. Over a 3-year CAGR, EXR leads at 19. 8% 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.

Public Storage (PSA) is the more profitable company, earning 37.

0% net margin versus 9. 8% for National Storage Affiliates Trust — meaning it keeps 37. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: PSA leads at 46. 7% versus 37. 0% for NSA. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — NSA leads at 46. 0%, 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, CubeSmart (CUBE) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 2. 42x versus National Storage Affiliates Trust's 13. 91x. Both stocks trade at elevated growth-adjusted valuations, so expected growth needs to materialise. On forward earnings alone, CubeSmart (CUBE) trades at 27. 7x forward P/E versus 79. 6x for National Storage Affiliates Trust — 52. 0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for EXR: 6. 7% to $149. 13.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

National Storage Affiliates Trust (NSA) offers the highest yield at 5. 4%, versus 4. 4% for Public Storage (PSA).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Extra Space Storage Inc.

(EXR) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 52), 4. 6% yield, +106. 5% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (EXR: +106. 5%, NSA: +178. 4%), 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.

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.