Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Global Self Storage, Inc. (SELF) vs Welltower Inc. (WELL) Stock
Analyze side-by-side fundamentals, valuation, growth, and profitability to decide which stock is the better buy.
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Quick Verdict
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | WELL | 38.0% revenue growth vs SELF's 2.8% |
| Value | SELF | Lower P/E (26.8x vs 73.3x) |
| Quality / Margins | SELF | 14.1% net margin vs WELL's 8.6% |
| Stability / Safety | SELF | Beta 0.06 vs WELL's 0.29 |
| Dividends | SELF | 5.7% yield; 3-year raise streak; WELL pays no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | WELL | +36.8% vs SELF's +3.1% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | SELF | 2.8% ROA vs WELL's 1.4%, ROIC 3.8% vs 0.9% |
Who Each Stock Is For
Income & stability
Growth exposure
Long-term compounding (10Y)
Sleep-well-at-night portfolio
Defensive / Recession hedge
Business Model
What each company does and how it makes money
Global Self Storage is a real estate investment trust that owns and operates self-storage facilities across multiple U.S. states. It generates revenue primarily through rental income from storage units—with a mix of residential and commercial customers—and property management fees from its owned and third-party facilities. The company's moat lies in its strategic locations in secondary markets with limited competition and its operational expertise in maximizing occupancy rates and rental yields.
Welltower is a healthcare-focused real estate investment trust that owns and invests in seniors housing communities, post-acute care facilities, and outpatient medical properties. It generates revenue primarily through rental income from its healthcare real estate portfolio — with seniors housing contributing roughly 60% of net operating income, outpatient medical properties about 25%, and post-acute care facilities the remainder. The company's competitive advantage lies in its scale and strategic partnerships with leading healthcare operators, creating a diversified portfolio concentrated in high-growth markets across the U.S., Canada, and the U.K.
Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Financial Metrics Comparison
Side-by-side fundamentals across 2 stocks. BestLagging
Financial Scorecard
SELF leads in 4 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Valuation Metrics). WELL leads in 1 (Total Returns). 1 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
WELL is the larger business by revenue, generating $10.8B annually — 851.2x SELF's $13M. SELF is the more profitable business, keeping 14.1% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to WELL's 8.6%. On growth, WELL holds the edge at +46.3% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | SELFGlobal Self Stora… | WELLWelltower Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $13M | $10.8B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $5M | $2.6B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $2M | $934M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $5M | $2.1B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +62.2% | +20.9% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +24.2% | +4.9% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +14.1% | +8.6% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +36.1% | +19.4% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +0.8% | +46.3% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -60.0% | -26.3% |
Valuation Metrics
At 26.8x trailing earnings, SELF trades at a 82% valuation discount to WELL's 149.0x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, SELF's 14.8x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than WELL's 54.4x.
| Metric | SELFGlobal Self Stora… | WELLWelltower Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $58M | $144.3B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $67M | $142.0B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 26.84x | 149.01x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | — | 73.28x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 14.79x | 54.40x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 4.61x | 13.31x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.20x | 3.26x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 13.60x | 50.06x |
Profitability & Efficiency
SELF delivers a 3.8% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $4 in annual profit, vs $2 for WELL. WELL carries lower financial leverage with a 0.07x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to SELF's 0.34x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), SELF scores 6/9 vs WELL's 5/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | SELFGlobal Self Stora… | WELLWelltower Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +3.8% | +2.2% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +2.8% | +1.4% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +3.8% | +0.9% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +4.5% | +0.9% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.34x | 0.07x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $9M | -$2.2B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $7M | $5.0B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $16M | $2.8B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 3.29x | 0.81x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in WELL five years ago would be worth $32,119 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $14,520 for SELF. Over the past 12 months, WELL leads with a +36.8% total return vs SELF's +3.1%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors WELL at 42.6% vs SELF's 1.9% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | SELFGlobal Self Stora… | WELLWelltower Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | 0.0% | +11.2% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +3.1% | +36.8% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +5.7% | +190.2% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +45.2% | +221.2% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +100.6% | +270.5% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +1.9% | +42.6% |
Risk & Volatility
SELF is the less volatile stock with a 0.06 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than WELL's 0.29 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. WELL currently trades 96.1% from its 52-week high vs SELF's 86.6% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | SELFGlobal Self Stora… | WELLWelltower Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.06x | 0.29x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $5.89 | $215.56 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $4.73 | $130.29 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +86.6% | +96.1% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 48.3 | 69.0 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 34K | 2.5M |
Analyst Outlook
SELF is the only dividend payer here at 5.73% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | SELFGlobal Self Stora… | WELLWelltower Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | — | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | — | $221.45 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | — | 34 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +5.7% | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 3 | 1 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.29 | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Mar 20 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Global Self Storage… (SELF) | 100 | 120.57 | +20.6% |
| Welltower Inc. (WELL) | 100 | 249.04 | +149.0% |
Welltower Inc. (WELL) returned +221% over 5 years vs Global Self Storage… (SELF)'s +45%. A $10,000 investment in WELL 5 years ago would be worth $32,119 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Global Self Storage… (SELF) | $5M | $13M | +151.8% |
| Welltower Inc. (WELL) | $4.3B | $10.8B | +154.9% |
Welltower Inc.'s revenue grew from $4.3B (2016) to $10.8B (2025) — a 11.0% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Global Self Storage… (SELF) | 7.7% | 16.9% | +119.6% |
| Welltower Inc. (WELL) | 25.4% | 8.6% | -65.9% |
Welltower Inc.'s net margin went from 25% (2016) to 9% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 9 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Global Self Storage… (SELF) | 48.3 | 28.1 | -41.8% |
| Welltower Inc. (WELL) | 50.6 | 133.5 | +163.8% |
Global Self Storage, Inc. has traded in a 17x–136x P/E range over 6 years; current trailing P/E is ~27x. Welltower Inc. has traded in a 27x–219x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~149x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Global Self Storage… (SELF) | 0.05 | 0.19 | +280.0% |
| Welltower Inc. (WELL) | 2.81 | 1.39 | -50.5% |
Welltower Inc.'s EPS grew from $2.81 (2016) to $1.39 (2025) — a -8% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Global Self Storage, Inc. generated $4M FCF in 2024 (+25% vs 2021). Welltower Inc. generated $3B FCF in 2025 (+129% vs 2021).
SELF vs WELL: Frequently Asked Questions
8 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is SELF or WELL a better buy right now?
Global Self Storage, Inc. (SELF) offers the better valuation at 26.8x trailing P/E, making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Welltower Inc. (WELL) a "Buy" — based on 34 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 — SELF or WELL?
On trailing P/E, Global Self Storage, Inc. (SELF) is the cheapest at 26.8x versus Welltower Inc. at 149.0x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — SELF or WELL?
Over the past 5 years, Welltower Inc. (WELL) delivered a total return of +221.2%, compared to +45.2% for Global Self Storage, Inc. (SELF). A $10,000 investment in WELL five years ago would be worth approximately $32K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: WELL returned +270.5% versus SELF's +100.6%. 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 — SELF or WELL?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Global Self Storage, Inc. (SELF) is the lower-risk stock at 0.06β versus Welltower Inc.'s 0.29β — meaning WELL is approximately 371% more volatile than SELF relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Welltower Inc. (WELL) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 7% versus 34% for Global Self Storage, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — SELF or WELL?
Global Self Storage, Inc. (SELF) is the more profitable company, earning 16.9% net margin versus 8.6% for Welltower Inc. — meaning it keeps 16.9% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: SELF leads at 23.1% versus 4.9% for WELL. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — SELF leads at 62.2%, 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.
06Which pays a better dividend — SELF or WELL?
In this comparison, SELF (5.7% yield) pays a dividend. WELL does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
07Is SELF or WELL better for a retirement portfolio?
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 0.06), 5.7% yield, +100.6% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (SELF: +100.6%, WELL: +270.5%), 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.
08What are the main differences between SELF and WELL?
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: SELF is a small-cap income-oriented stock; WELL is a mid-cap quality compounder stock. SELF pays a dividend while WELL 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.
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