The company maintains a vulnerable capital structure with a persistent negative equity position of $4.8B and a substantial total debt burden of $15.4B as of 2026Q1.
| Metric | TTM | Dec'25 | Dec'24 | Dec'23 | Dec'22 | Dec'21 | Dec'20 | Dec'19 | Dec'18 | Dec'17 | Dec'16 | Dec'15 | Dec'14 | Dec'13 | Dec'12 | Dec'11 | Dec'10 | Dec'09 | Dec'08 | Dec'07 | Dec'06 | Dec'05 | Dec'04 | Dec'03 | Dec'02 | Dec'01 | Dec'00 | Dec'99 | Dec'98 |
|---|
| Total Assets | 11.72B | 11.58B | 11.42B | 10.18B | 10.59B | 9.8B | 9.16B | 9.76B | 7.21B | 7.32B | 7.36B | 7.4B | 7.84B | 6.78B | 6.6B | 3.61B | 3.4B | 3.31B | 3.21B | 2.38B | 2.05B | 952.54M | 917.24M | 982.98M | 1.3B | 1.43B | 948.82M | 429.8M | 214.5M |
| Asset Growth % | 34.01% | 1.38% | 12.17% | -3.84% | 7.99% | 7.03% | -6.17% | 35.3% | -1.45% | -0.55% | -0.57% | -5.58% | 15.6% | 2.84% | 82.89% | 6.07% | 2.61% | 3.18% | 34.69% | 16.52% | 114.83% | 3.85% | -6.69% | -24.67% | -8.68% | 50.61% | 120.76% | 100.37% | - |
| Real Estate & Other Assets | 4.66B | 254.61M | 582.34M | 720.46M | 665.5M | 475.84M | 366.69M | 414.48M | 703.7M | 648.52M | 579.49M | 493.11M | 518.18M | 421.09M | 368.67M | 204.34M | 219.12M | 144.28M | 125.71M | 110.14M | 87.87M | 60.52M | 53.88M | 55.43M | 43.3M | 51.98M | 17.38M | 22.9M | 11M |
| PP&E (Net) | 3.42B | 3.87B | 6.39B | 6.43B | 6.6B | 5.81B | 5.05B | 5.37B | 2.79B | 2.81B | 2.79B | 2.78B | 2.76B | 2.58B | 2.67B | 1.58B | 1.53B | 1.5B | 1.5B | 1.19B | 1.11B | 728.33M | 745.83M | 856.21M | 1.14B | 1.2B | 765.81M | 338.9M | 150.9M |
| Investment Securities | 0 | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 0 | 0 | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total Current Assets | 767.49M | 1.1B | 1.98B | 484.27M | 482.73M | 614.45M | 472.99M | 334.27M | 373.85M | 259.53M | 324.57M | 293.96M | 326.89M | 343.65M | 368.56M | 129.36M | 146.73M | 236.84M | 154.31M | 213.21M | 127.61M | 132.19M | 116.17M | 68.93M | 113.6M | 92.29M | 82.24M | 33.6M | 45.8M |
| Cash & Equivalents | 269.06M | 432.37M | 189.84M | 208.55M | 143.71M | 367.28M | 308.56M | 108.31M | 143.44M | 68.78M | 146.11M | 118.04M | 39.44M | 122.11M | 233.1M | 47.32M | 64.25M | 161.32M | 78.86M | 70.27M | 46.15M | 45.93M | 69.63M | 8.34M | 61.14M | 13.9M | 14.98M | 3.1M | 26.7M |
| Receivables | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K |
| Other Current Assets | 58.77M | 0 | 1.23B | 54.73M | 55.41M | 81.17M | 44.27M | 57.97M | 47.14M | 49.19M | 55.02M | 25.35M | 52.52M | 47.3M | 27.71M | 22.27M | 47.23M | 40.68M | 49.26M | 59.05M | 34.4M | 19.51M | 2.03M | 12.1M | 202.41M | 11.33M | 5.97M | 7.9M | 6.6M |
| Intangible Assets | 2.88B | 2.88B | 2.39B | 2.46B | 2.78B | 2.8B | 3.16B | 3.63B | 3.33B | 3.6B | 3.66B | 3.74B | 4.19B | 3.39B | 3.13B | 1.64B | 1.5B | 1.44B | 1.43B | 869M | 724.87M | 31.49M | 1.36M | 2.41M | 4.32M | 117.09M | 83.39M | 34.4M | 6.9M |
| Total Liabilities | 16.47B | 16.35B | 16.47B | 15.31B | 15.83B | 15.07B | 13.97B | 13.41B | 10.59B | 9.92B | 9.36B | 9.11B | 8.5B | 6.43B | 5.93B | 3.61B | 3.07B | 2.71B | 2.72B | 2.05B | 1.66B | 871.11M | 1.01B | 939.11M | 1.12B | 978.37M | 410.66M | 381.2M | 207M |
| Total Debt | 15.42B | 15.32B | 15.76B | 14.46B | 15.17B | 14.52B | 13.43B | 12.86B | 9.94B | 9.31B | 8.78B | 8.45B | 7.86B | 5.88B | 5.36B | 3.35B | 2.83B | 2.49B | 2.39B | 1.91B | 1.55B | 784.39M | 927.71M | 870.76M | 1.02B | 845.45M | 284.27M | 318.3M | 182.6M |
| Net Debt | 15.15B | 14.89B | 15.57B | 14.25B | 15.03B | 14.16B | 13.12B | 12.75B | 9.8B | 9.24B | 8.63B | 8.33B | 7.82B | 5.75B | 5.12B | 3.31B | 2.76B | 2.33B | 2.31B | 1.83B | 1.51B | 738.46M | 858.08M | 862.42M | 963.14M | 831.55M | 269.29M | 315.2M | 155.9M |
| Long-Term Debt | 10.28B | 10.96B | 12.4B | 11.68B | 12.84B | 12.28B | 11.07B | 9.81B | 9B | 9.29B | 8.15B | 8.52B | 7.83B | 5.39B | 4.88B | 3.35B | 2.83B | 2.46B | 2.39B | 1.91B | 1.55B | 784.39M | 924.46M | 859.22M | 964.2M | 845.09M | 281.67M | 318.2M | 165.6M |
| Short-Term Borrowings | 2.68B | 2.24B | 1.19B | 643.14M | 24M | 24M | 24M | 522.09M | 941.73M | 20M | 627.16M | 20M | 32.5M | 481.89M | 475.35M | 5M | 0 | 28.65M | 6M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3.25M | 11.54M | 60.08M | 365K | 2.61M | 100K | 17M |
| Capital Lease Obligations | 9.19B | 2.12B | 2.16B | 2.14B | 2.3B | 2.22B | 2.33B | 2.53B | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -19.83M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total Current Liabilities | 3.35B | 2.24B | 1.8B | 1.36B | 696.76M | 616.33M | 614.8M | 1.05B | 1.21B | 278.9M | 873.45M | 273.37M | 331.05M | 747.67M | 863.69M | 126.88M | 130.58M | 158.72M | 90.59M | 76.17M | 58.35M | 52.14M | 51M | 76.05M | 262.59M | 113.7M | 109.71M | 54.6M | 37.7M |
| Accounts Payable | 63.55M | 73.03M | 59.55M | 42.2M | 51.43M | 34.07M | 109.97M | 31.85M | 34.31M | 33.33M | 28.32M | 27.11M | 42.85M | 24.3M | 27.69M | 12.76M | 11.85M | 9.22M | 8.96M | 11.36M | 10.8M | 18.67M | 15.2M | 11.35M | 16.81M | 78.11M | 76.94M | 40.7M | 14.4M |
| Deferred Revenue | 103.65M | 117.31M | 127.31M | 235.67M | 179.74M | 190.03M | 113.12M | 113.51M | 108.05M | 97.97M | 101.1M | 97.08M | 120.05M | 94.66M | 76.67M | 49.78M | 61.14M | 54.01M | 45.31M | 37.56M | 24.66M | 11.84M | 10.81M | 11.14M | 11.14M | 11.22M | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other Liabilities | 613.49M | 589.54M | 367.94M | 404.16M | 248.07M | 191.47M | 186.25M | 270.87M | 387.43M | 349.73M | 334.99M | 313.68M | 342.58M | 283.83M | 206.77M | 129.28M | 112.01M | 94.57M | 80.5M | 65.76M | 47.02M | 34.57M | 30.46M | 3.84M | -16.29M | 3.15M | 835.28K | 400K | 300K |
| Total Equity | -4.75B | -4.78B | -5.06B | -5.14B | -5.24B | -5.27B | -4.81B | -3.65B | 6.39B | 6.61B | 6.6B | -1.71B | -660.8M | 356.97M | 664.7M | 751K | 330.13M | 599.95M | 491.76M | 337.39M | 385.92M | 81.43M | -88.67M | 43.88M | 185.47M | 450.64M | 538.16M | 48.6M | 7.5M |
| Equity Growth % | 21.6% | 5.55% | 1.56% | 2.07% | 0.41% | -9.5% | -31.72% | -157.17% | -3.39% | 0.2% | 486.63% | -158.19% | -285.12% | -46.3% | 88408.92% | -99.77% | -44.97% | 22% | 45.75% | -12.58% | 373.92% | 191.84% | -302.09% | -76.34% | -58.84% | -16.26% | 1007.33% | 548% | - |
| Shareholders Equity | -4.75B | -4.85B | -5.11B | -5.17B | -5.28B | -5.28B | -4.82B | -3.67B | -3.38B | -2.6B | -2B | -1.71B | -660.8M | 356.97M | 652.99M | -11.31M | 317.11M | 599.03M | 491.76M | 337.39M | 385.92M | 81.43M | -88.67M | 43.88M | 185.47M | 450.64M | 538.16M | 48.6M | 7.5M |
| Minority Interest | 0 | 78.26M | 54.13M | 35.05M | 31.73M | 17.25M | 15.19M | 16.05M | 9.76B | 9.21B | 8.59B | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11.71M | 12.06M | 13.02M | 915K | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Common Stock | 1.06M | 1.06M | 1.08M | 1.08M | 1.08M | 1.09M | 1.1M | 1.12M | 1.12M | 1.16M | 1.21M | 1.26M | 1.29M | 1.28M | 1.27M | 1.1M | 1.15M | 1.17M | 1.18M | 1.08M | 1.06M | 856K | 649K | 550K | 512K | 487K | 464.45K | 300K | 0 |
| Additional Paid-in Capital | 3.08B | 3.06B | 2.98B | 2.89B | 2.8B | 2.68B | 2.59B | 2.46B | 2.27B | 2.17B | 2.01B | 1.96B | 2.06B | 2.91B | 3.11B | 2.27B | 2.24B | 2.23B | 2.09B | 1.57B | 1.45B | 990.18M | 740.04M | 679.96M | 667.44M | 664.98M | 627.37M | 109M | 700K |
| Retained Earnings | -7.2B | -7.25B | -7.33B | -7.45B | -7.48B | -7.2B | -6.6B | -5.56B | -5.14B | -4.39B | -3.64B | -3.17B | -2.54B | -2.52B | -2.46B | -2.28B | -1.93B | -1.63B | -1.4B | -1.23B | -1.07B | -924.07M | -829.36M | -636.63M | -487.99M | -214.82M | -89.67M | -60.8M | -26.9M |
| Preferred Stock | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 460K | 184K | 45K | 486K | 0 | 209K | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 280K | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 33.6M |
| Return on Assets (ROA) | 8.98% | 9.17% | 6.94% | 4.83% | 4.53% | 2.51% | 0.25% | 1.73% | 0.65% | 1.41% | 1.03% | -2.3% | -0.33% | -0.84% | -3.59% | -3.61% | -5.8% | -4.32% | -1.67% | -3.52% | -8.9% | -10.13% | -15.5% | -15.05% | -19.98% | -10.53% | -4.19% | -10.71% | -9.28% |
| Return on Equity (ROE) | -21.14% | - | - | - | - | - | - | 10.75% | 0.73% | 1.57% | 3.12% | - | - | -10.94% | -55.1% | -76.44% | -41.86% | -25.81% | -11.28% | -21.53% | -57.11% | -116.31% | - | -150.14% | -85.89% | -25.31% | -9.86% | -122.99% | -265.33% |
| Debt / Assets | 131.53% | 132.35% | 138% | 142.1% | 143.33% | 148.16% | 146.61% | 131.77% | 137.77% | 127.19% | 119.22% | 114.17% | 100.25% | 86.63% | 81.21% | 93.01% | 83.16% | 75.12% | 74.49% | 79.9% | 75.99% | 82.35% | 101.14% | 88.58% | 78.49% | 59.16% | 29.96% | 74.06% | 85.13% |
| Debt / Equity | -3.24x | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1.56x | 1.41x | 1.33x | - | - | 16.46x | 8.06x | 4466.69x | 8.56x | 4.15x | 4.86x | 5.65x | 4.03x | 9.63x | - | 19.85x | 5.52x | 1.88x | 0.53x | 6.55x | 24.35x |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 8.66x | 8.06x | 9.13x | 8.69x | 9.20x | 9.55x | 9.68x | 9.96x | 8.05x | 8.39x | 8.41x | 8.57x | 8.12x | 7.54x | 9.12x | 7.88x | 7.83x | 7.43x | 9.00x | 8.85x | 8.95x | 6.15x | 8.86x | 16.63x | 29.38x | 25.59x | 47.19x | 33.89x | - |
| Book Value per Share | -44.78 | -44.41 | -46.78 | -47.16 | -47.95 | -47.37 | -42.38 | -31.83 | 54.81 | 54.62 | 52.71 | -13.35 | -5.13 | 2.79 | 5.53 | 0.01 | 2.86 | 5.12 | 4.48 | 3.22 | 3.93 | 1.10 | -1.52 | 0.84 | 3.67 | 9.52 | 13.08 | 2.82 | 0.88 |
Negative equity and leverage
As reported in recent financial statements, SBAC maintains a persistent negative equity position, which reached -$4.8B in 2026Q1, suggesting that the company's aggressive capital allocation strategy has consistently outpaced the book value growth of its underlying macro tower asset base over the last ten quarters.
The structural reliance on debt to fund share repurchases and acquisitions has eroded the book value of equity, leaving the balance sheet with a negative net worth. This trajectory warrants close monitoring, as it limits the company's ability to absorb potential asset impairments or further volatility in property-level performance.
Based on the provided quarterly data, total debt has remained elevated at $15.4B as of 2026Q1, indicating that the company's reliance on external financing to support its tower portfolio remains a primary driver of its capital structure despite the ongoing pressures of carrier consolidation.
The high debt load relative to the company's asset base suggests that interest rate sensitivity remains a significant risk factor for future AFFO growth. Investors should monitor whether the current debt maturity profile allows for refinancing without substantial increases in interest expense, which could further compress already volatile cash flows.
According to the company's balance sheet filings, net property, plant, and equipment (PPE) fluctuated significantly from $7.1B in 2025Q3 to $3.4B in 2026Q1, reflecting either aggressive depreciation schedules or potential asset write-downs that complicate the valuation of the core macro tower portfolio.
The sharp decline in net PPE suggests that the book value of the tower assets is not keeping pace with the capital intensity required to maintain them. This trend may indicate that the portfolio is aging faster than anticipated or that the company is facing higher-than-expected maintenance requirements to keep sites competitive.
As indicated by the quarterly balance sheet data, cash reserves have remained relatively thin, fluctuating between $202.6M and $702.2M over the last ten quarters, which may limit the company's ability to fund development pipelines or respond to unexpected operational disruptions without additional debt issuance.
The inconsistency in cash balances suggests a lack of a permanent liquidity buffer, forcing the company to rely on revolving credit facilities or capital markets to meet its obligations. This reliance on external funding sources appears to be a structural vulnerability given the current interest rate environment and the company's existing debt load.
Quick answers to the most common questions about buying SBAC stock.
As of 2025, SBA Communications Corporation (SBAC) had total assets of $11.58B including $1.10B in current assets.
SBA Communications Corporation (SBAC) carries total debt of $15.32B. Comparing total debt to cash helps evaluate the company's debt burden and net leverage.
SBA Communications Corporation (SBAC) has total shareholders' equity (book value) of $-4853.5M ($-44.41 book value per share). Book value represents the net worth of the company belonging to common stock holders.
SBA Communications Corporation (SBAC) reported a current ratio of 0.49x. A current ratio above 1.0x indicates that the company has more current assets than current liabilities, suggesting sufficient short-term liquidity.