NSA vs PSA vs EXR vs CUBE vs SST

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

3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -22. 6% for System1, Inc. (SST). CubeSmart (CUBE) offers the better valuation at 27. 6x trailing P/E (28. 4x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate System1, Inc. (SST) a "Buy" — based on 4 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 27.

6x versus National Storage Affiliates Trust at 61. 9x. On forward P/E, CubeSmart is actually cheaper at 28. 4x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: CubeSmart wins at 2. 49x versus National Storage Affiliates Trust's 14. 40x.

Over the past 5 years, Public Storage (PSA) delivered a total return of +36.

3%, compared to -95. 5% for System1, Inc. (SST). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: NSA returned +182. 3% versus SST's -95. 2%. 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 System1, Inc. 's 1. 37β — meaning SST is approximately 168% more volatile than PSA relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, System1, Inc. (SST) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 55% 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 -22. 6% for System1, Inc. (SST). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Extra Space Storage Inc. grew EPS 13. 9% year-over-year, compared to -677. 6% for System1, Inc.. 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 -24. 6% for System1, Inc. — 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 -23. 3% for SST. 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. 49x versus National Storage Affiliates Trust's 14. 40x. Both stocks trade at elevated growth-adjusted valuations, so expected growth needs to materialise. On forward earnings alone, CubeSmart (CUBE) trades at 28. 4x forward P/E versus 82. 4x for National Storage Affiliates Trust — 54. 0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for SST: 225. 1% to $14. 50.

In this comparison, NSA (5.

3% yield), CUBE (5. 2% yield), EXR (4. 5% yield), PSA (4. 2% yield) pay a dividend. SST does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

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. 5% yield, +107. 1% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (EXR: +107. 1%, SST: -95. 2%), 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (NSA (Real Estate) and PSA (Real Estate) and EXR (Real Estate) and CUBE (Real Estate) and SST (Industrials)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: NSA is a small-cap income-oriented stock; PSA is a mid-cap income-oriented stock; EXR is a mid-cap income-oriented stock; CUBE is a small-cap income-oriented stock; SST is a small-cap quality compounder stock. NSA, PSA, EXR, CUBE pay a dividend while SST 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.