IIPR vs COLD vs STAG vs NSA

For growth investors, STAG Industrial, Inc.

(STAG) is the stronger pick with 10. 1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -13. 8% for Innovative Industrial Properties, Inc. (IIPR). Innovative Industrial Properties, Inc. (IIPR) offers the better valuation at 14. 7x trailing P/E (13. 4x 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.

On trailing P/E, Innovative Industrial Properties, Inc.

(IIPR) is the cheapest at 14. 7x versus National Storage Affiliates Trust at 61. 9x. On forward P/E, Innovative Industrial Properties, Inc. is actually cheaper at 13. 4x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Innovative Industrial Properties, Inc. wins at 3. 58x versus STAG Industrial, Inc. 's 18. 64x.

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: IIPR returned +442. 0% 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 Innovative Industrial Properties, Inc. 's 0. 92β — meaning IIPR is approximately 68% more volatile than STAG relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Innovative Industrial Properties, Inc. (IIPR) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 21% versus 2% for National Storage Affiliates Trust — 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 -13. 8% for Innovative Industrial Properties, Inc. (IIPR). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: STAG Industrial, Inc. grew EPS 40. 4% year-over-year, compared to -40. 7% for National Storage Affiliates Trust. 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.

Innovative Industrial Properties, Inc.

(IIPR) is the more profitable company, earning 43. 0% net margin versus -4. 4% for Americold Realty Trust, Inc. — meaning it keeps 43. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: IIPR leads at 46. 7% versus 0. 3% for COLD. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — IIPR leads at 88. 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, Innovative Industrial Properties, Inc. (IIPR) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 3. 58x versus STAG Industrial, Inc. 's 18. 64x. Both stocks trade at elevated growth-adjusted valuations, so expected growth needs to materialise. On forward earnings alone, Innovative Industrial Properties, Inc. (IIPR) trades at 13. 4x forward P/E versus 82. 4x for National Storage Affiliates Trust — 69. 0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for STAG: 18. 0% to $45. 50.

In this comparison, IIPR (13.

2% yield), NSA (5. 3% yield), STAG (3. 9% yield) pay 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: IIPR is a small-cap deep-value stock; COLD is a small-cap quality compounder stock; STAG is a small-cap income-oriented stock; NSA is a small-cap income-oriented stock. IIPR, STAG, NSA pay 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.