UHAL vs CUBE vs PSA vs EXR vs NSA

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

3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -2. 3% for National Storage Affiliates Trust (NSA). CubeSmart (CUBE) offers the better valuation at 27. 7x trailing P/E (28. 6x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate U-Haul Holding Company (UHAL) a "Buy" — based on 2 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.

7x versus National Storage Affiliates Trust at 62. 4x. On forward P/E, CubeSmart is actually cheaper at 28. 6x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: CubeSmart wins at 2. 50x versus National Storage Affiliates Trust's 14. 50x.

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

1%, compared to -16. 1% for U-Haul Holding Company (UHAL). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: NSA returned +183. 7% versus UHAL's +49. 4%. 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), CubeSmart (CUBE) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

52β versus U-Haul Holding Company's 1. 01β — meaning UHAL is approximately 92% more volatile than CUBE relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, U-Haul Holding Company (UHAL) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 97% 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 -2. 3% for National Storage Affiliates Trust (NSA). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Extra Space Storage Inc. grew EPS 13. 9% year-over-year, compared to -44. 5% for U-Haul Holding Company. 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 5. 7% for U-Haul Holding Company — 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 12. 3% for UHAL. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — UHAL leads at 85. 9%, 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. 50x versus National Storage Affiliates Trust's 14. 50x. Both stocks trade at elevated growth-adjusted valuations, so expected growth needs to materialise. On forward earnings alone, CubeSmart (CUBE) trades at 28. 6x forward P/E versus 138. 7x for U-Haul Holding Company — 110. 1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for UHAL: 51. 5% to $80. 00.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

National Storage Affiliates Trust (NSA) offers the highest yield at 5. 2%, versus 0. 3% for U-Haul Holding Company (UHAL).

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. 54), 4. 5% yield, +104. 4% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (EXR: +104. 4%, UHAL: +49. 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.

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

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