SELF vs CUBE

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

3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 1. 4% for Global Self Storage, Inc. (SELF). CubeSmart (CUBE) offers the better valuation at 27. 6x trailing P/E (28. 4x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate CubeSmart (CUBE) a "Hold" — based on 29 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 Global Self Storage, Inc. at 30. 6x.

Over the past 5 years, Global Self Storage, Inc.

(SELF) delivered a total return of +39. 4%, compared to +18. 6% for CubeSmart (CUBE). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CUBE returned +75. 0% versus SELF's +70. 0%. 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), Global Self Storage, Inc.

(SELF) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 20β versus CubeSmart's 0. 53β — meaning CUBE is approximately 170% more volatile than SELF relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Global Self Storage, Inc. (SELF) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 34% versus 127% for CubeSmart — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

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

3% versus 1. 4% for Global Self Storage, Inc. (SELF). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Global Self Storage, Inc. grew EPS -5. 3% year-over-year, compared to -15. 1% for CubeSmart. Over a 3-year CAGR, CUBE leads at 3. 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.

CubeSmart (CUBE) is the more profitable company, earning 29.

7% net margin versus 16. 0% for Global Self Storage, Inc. — meaning it keeps 29. 7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CUBE leads at 40. 0% versus 20. 5% for SELF. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — SELF leads at 36. 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.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Global Self Storage, Inc. (SELF) offers the highest yield at 5. 3%, versus 5. 2% for CubeSmart (CUBE).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Global Self Storage, Inc.

(SELF) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 20), 5. 3% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (SELF: +70. 0%, CUBE: +75. 0%), 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.