REIT - Specialty
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4 / 10Stock Comparison
IRM vs WELL vs VTR vs EXR
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
REIT - Healthcare Facilities
REIT - Healthcare Facilities
REIT - Industrial
IRM vs WELL vs VTR vs EXR — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Industry | REIT - Specialty | REIT - Healthcare Facilities | REIT - Healthcare Facilities | REIT - Industrial |
| Market Cap | $39.18B | $150.14B | $41.26B | $29.52B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $7.25B | $11.63B | $6.13B | $3.38B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $272M | $1.43B | $260M | $974M |
| Gross Margin | 55.0% | 39.1% | -4.3% | 28.4% |
| Operating Margin | 18.0% | 4.4% | 13.4% | 44.1% |
| Forward P/E | 58.4x | 78.9x | 118.3x | 30.1x |
| Total Debt | $19.05B | $21.38B | $13.22B | $14.97B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $159M | $5.03B | $741M | $139M |
IRM vs WELL vs VTR vs EXR — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iron Mountain Incor… (IRM) | 100 | 511.3 | +411.3% |
| Welltower Inc. (WELL) | 100 | 422.9 | +322.9% |
| Ventas, Inc. (VTR) | 100 | 248.3 | +148.3% |
| Extra Space Storage… (EXR) | 100 | 144.5 | +44.5% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: IRM vs WELL vs VTR vs EXR
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
IRM is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and long-term compounding.
- Dividend streak 4 yrs, beta 1.10, yield 2.3%
- 321.4% 10Y total return vs WELL's 230.2%
WELL is the #2 pick in this set and the best alternative if growth exposure and sleep-well-at-night is your priority.
- Rev growth 35.8%, EPS growth -11.5%, 3Y rev CAGR 22.7%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.13, Low D/E 49.5%, current ratio 5.34x
- 35.8% FFO/revenue growth vs EXR's 1.2%
- +43.9% vs EXR's -2.1%
VTR is the clearest fit if your priority is stability.
- Beta 0.01 vs IRM's 1.10
EXR carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for defensive.
- Beta 0.52, yield 4.6%, current ratio 1.28x
- Lower P/E (30.1x vs 118.3x)
- 28.8% margin vs IRM's 3.8%
- 4.6% yield, vs IRM's 2.3%
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 35.8% FFO/revenue growth vs EXR's 1.2% | |
| Value | Lower P/E (30.1x vs 118.3x) | |
| Quality / Margins | 28.8% margin vs IRM's 3.8% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 0.01 vs IRM's 1.10 | |
| Dividends | 4.6% yield, vs IRM's 2.3% | |
| Momentum (1Y) | +43.9% vs EXR's -2.1% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | 3.3% ROA vs VTR's 1.0%, ROIC 3.9% vs 2.5% |
IRM vs WELL vs VTR vs EXR — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
IRM vs WELL vs VTR vs EXR — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 4 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Who Leads Where
EXR leads in 3 of 6 categories
IRM leads 0 • WELL leads 0 • VTR leads 0 • 3 tied
Explore the data ↓Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
EXR leads this category, winning 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
WELL is the larger business by revenue, generating $11.6B annually — 3.4x EXR's $3.4B. EXR is the more profitable business, keeping 28.8% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to IRM's 3.8%. On growth, WELL holds the edge at +40.3% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $7.2B | $11.6B | $6.1B | $3.4B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $2.3B | $2.8B | $2.3B | $2.2B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $272M | $1.4B | $260M | $974M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$625M | $2.5B | $1.4B | $1.8B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +55.0% | +39.1% | -4.3% | +28.4% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +18.0% | +4.4% | +13.4% | +44.1% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +3.8% | +12.3% | +4.2% | +28.8% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -8.6% | +21.9% | +22.4% | +54.6% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +21.6% | +40.3% | +22.0% | +9.3% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +7.9% | +22.5% | 0.0% | +4.8% |
Valuation Metrics
EXR leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 30.5x trailing earnings, EXR trades at a 89% valuation discount to IRM's 268.8x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, EXR's 20.1x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than WELL's 66.8x.
| Metric | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $39.2B | $150.1B | $41.3B | $29.5B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $58.1B | $166.5B | $53.7B | $44.4B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 268.78x | 154.17x | 160.70x | 30.46x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 58.45x | 78.89x | 118.34x | 30.07x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — | — | 7.00x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 23.90x | 66.76x | 24.36x | 20.12x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 5.68x | 14.08x | 7.07x | 8.74x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | — | 3.37x | 3.19x | 2.07x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | 52.72x | 31.34x | 16.14x |
Profitability & Efficiency
EXR leads this category, winning 3 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
EXR delivers a 6.7% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $7 in annual profit, vs $2 for VTR. WELL carries lower financial leverage with a 0.49x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to VTR's 1.05x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), WELL scores 7/9 vs IRM's 4/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | — | +3.5% | +2.1% | +6.7% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +1.3% | +2.3% | +1.0% | +3.3% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +6.2% | +0.5% | +2.5% | +3.9% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +8.2% | +0.6% | +3.2% | +5.4% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 4 | 7 | 6 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | — | 0.49x | 1.05x | 1.05x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $18.9B | $16.3B | $12.5B | $14.8B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $159M | $5.0B | $741M | $139M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $19.1B | $21.4B | $13.2B | $15.0B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 1.28x | 0.26x | 1.40x | 2.68x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
Evenly matched — IRM and WELL each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in IRM five years ago would be worth $37,537 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $11,680 for EXR. Over the past 12 months, WELL leads with a +43.9% total return vs EXR's -2.1%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors WELL at 41.3% vs EXR's 1.0% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +59.3% | +15.0% | +12.9% | +8.0% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +38.9% | +43.9% | +33.2% | -2.1% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +149.0% | +182.2% | +93.0% | +2.9% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +275.4% | +212.6% | +80.0% | +16.8% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +321.4% | +230.2% | +67.4% | +106.5% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +35.5% | +41.3% | +24.5% | +1.0% |
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — IRM and VTR each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
VTR is the less volatile stock with a 0.01 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than IRM's 1.10 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. IRM currently trades 99.9% from its 52-week high vs EXR's 90.1% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.10x | 0.13x | 0.01x | 0.52x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $131.80 | $219.59 | $88.50 | $155.19 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $77.77 | $142.65 | $61.76 | $125.71 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +99.9% | +97.6% | +98.1% | +90.1% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 75.1 | 62.6 | 62.0 | 48.0 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 1.5M | 2.6M | 3.3M | 1.1M |
Analyst Outlook
Evenly matched — IRM and EXR each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Analyst consensus: IRM as "Buy", WELL as "Buy", VTR as "Buy", EXR as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 6.7% upside for EXR (target: $149) vs 0.5% for IRM (target: $132). For income investors, EXR offers the higher dividend yield at 4.64% vs WELL's 1.29%.
| Metric | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy | Buy | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $132.33 | $226.50 | $90.80 | $149.13 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 20 | 34 | 32 | 28 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +2.3% | +1.3% | +2.1% | +4.6% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $3.09 | $2.76 | $1.86 | $6.49 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | +0.5% |
EXR leads in 3 of 6 categories — strongest in Income & Cash Flow and Valuation Metrics. 3 categories are tied.
IRM vs WELL vs VTR vs EXR: Key Questions Answered
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is IRM or WELL or VTR or EXR a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Welltower Inc.
(WELL) is the stronger pick with 35. 8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 1. 2% for Extra Space Storage Inc. (EXR). Extra Space Storage Inc. (EXR) offers the better valuation at 30. 5x trailing P/E (30. 1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Iron Mountain Incorporated (IRM) a "Buy" — based on 20 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.
02Which has the better valuation — IRM or WELL or VTR or EXR?
On trailing P/E, Extra Space Storage Inc.
(EXR) is the cheapest at 30. 5x versus Iron Mountain Incorporated at 268. 8x. On forward P/E, Extra Space Storage Inc. is actually cheaper at 30. 1x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — IRM or WELL or VTR or EXR?
Over the past 5 years, Iron Mountain Incorporated (IRM) delivered a total return of +275.
4%, compared to +16. 8% for Extra Space Storage Inc. (EXR). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: IRM returned +321. 4% versus VTR's +67. 4%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — IRM or WELL or VTR or EXR?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Ventas, Inc.
(VTR) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 01β versus Iron Mountain Incorporated's 1. 10β — meaning IRM is approximately 11509% more volatile than VTR relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Welltower Inc. (WELL) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 49% versus 105% for Ventas, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — IRM or WELL or VTR or EXR?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Welltower Inc.
(WELL) is pulling ahead at 35. 8% versus 1. 2% for Extra Space Storage Inc. (EXR). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Ventas, Inc. grew EPS 184. 2% year-over-year, compared to -19. 7% for Iron Mountain Incorporated. Over a 3-year CAGR, WELL leads at 22. 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.
06Which has better profit margins — IRM or WELL or VTR or EXR?
Extra Space Storage Inc.
(EXR) is the more profitable company, earning 28. 8% net margin versus 2. 1% for Iron Mountain Incorporated — meaning it keeps 28. 8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: EXR leads at 44. 1% versus 3. 3% for WELL. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — WELL leads at 39. 2%, 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.
07Is IRM or WELL or VTR or EXR more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Extra Space Storage Inc.
(EXR) trades at 30. 1x forward P/E versus 118. 3x for Ventas, Inc. — 88. 3x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for EXR: 6. 7% to $149. 13.
08Which pays a better dividend — IRM or WELL or VTR or EXR?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Extra Space Storage Inc. (EXR) offers the highest yield at 4. 6%, versus 1. 3% for Welltower Inc. (WELL).
09Is IRM or WELL or VTR or EXR better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Ventas, Inc.
(VTR) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 01), 2. 1% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (VTR: +67. 4%, IRM: +321. 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.
10What are the main differences between IRM and WELL and VTR and EXR?
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: IRM is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; WELL is a mid-cap high-growth stock; VTR is a mid-cap high-growth stock; EXR is a mid-cap income-oriented 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.
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