CUBE vs. EQIX: CubeSmart vs. Equinix Stock Comparison
How do CubeSmart (CUBE) and Equinix (EQIX) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.
Company Profile
CubeSmart (CUBE) and Equinix (EQIX) both belong to the Specialized REITs industry, though CUBE is classified under Self-Storage REITs while EQIX falls under Data Center REITs.
Both CubeSmart (CUBE) and Equinix (EQIX) are REITs — read their payout ratios and P/E alongside FFO (funds from operations) rather than at face value.
| Profile Item | CUBE | EQIX |
|---|---|---|
| Name | CubeSmart | Equinix, Inc. |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Real Estate | Real Estate |
| GICS Industry Group | Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) | Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) |
| GICS Industry | Specialized REITs | Specialized REITs |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Self-Storage REITs | Data Center REITs |
| Market Capitalization | 10.10 billion USD | 100.25 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | Nasdaq |
| Listing Date | October 22, 2004 | August 11, 2000 |
| Security Type | REIT | REIT |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | CUBE | EQIX |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 28.16% | 31.95% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 12.98% | 14.47% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 1.18% | 8.09% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | CUBE | EQIX |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 22.12% | 27.07% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.95 | 0.96 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -36.93% | -39.44% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 2.33M | 559.93K |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | CUBE | EQIX |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 1.08 | 1.02 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 1.71 | 1.65 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both CubeSmart (CUBE) at 12.78% and Equinix (EQIX) at 11.45% sit in the top peer quartile for ROE, suggesting each generates more profit from shareholders’ equity than typical industry peers.
CUBE
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) industry group
12.78%
- Max
- 22.74%
- CUBE
- 12.78%
- Q3
- 10.54%
- Median
- 6.38%
- Q1
- 1.69%
- Min
- -10.86%
EQIX
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) industry group
11.45%
- Max
- 22.74%
- EQIX
- 11.45%
- Q3
- 10.54%
- Median
- 6.38%
- Q1
- 1.69%
- Min
- -10.86%
Net Margin (TTM)
Neither CubeSmart (CUBE) in Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) nor Equinix (EQIX) in Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) is well served by net margin: heavy depreciation makes net income a poor profitability proxy in their businesses, where FFO-based measures are the standard read.
Operating Margin (TTM)
Neither side reports a meaningful operating margin: for CubeSmart (CUBE) in Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) and Equinix (EQIX) in Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), funding costs are part of the core business, so net margin and ROE are the cleaner profitability reads.
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | CUBE | EQIX |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 12.78% | 11.45% |
| ROA (TTM) | 4.42% | 3.77% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both CubeSmart (CUBE) at 5.33% and Equinix (EQIX) at 5.36% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
EPS Growth
EPS growth isn't a meaningful figure for either CubeSmart (CUBE) in Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) or Equinix (EQIX) in Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) under our convention.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | CUBE | EQIX |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 5.33% | 5.36% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 3.61% | 8.27% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -- | -- |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -- | -- |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Equinix (EQIX) at 1.04 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while CubeSmart (CUBE) at 0.17 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for CUBE.
CUBE
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) industry group
0.17
- Max
- 4.19
- Q3
- 2.11
- Median
- 1.31
- Q1
- 0.62
- CUBE
- 0.17
- Min
- 0.06
EQIX
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) industry group
1.04
- Max
- 4.19
- Q3
- 2.11
- Median
- 1.31
- EQIX
- 1.04
- Q1
- 0.62
- Min
- 0.06
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
CubeSmart (CUBE) at 1.42 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while Equinix (EQIX) at 1.81 uses more debt funding than most peers.
CUBE
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) industry group
1.42
- Max
- 2.72
- Q3
- 1.59
- CUBE
- 1.42
- Median
- 0.99
- Q1
- 0.72
- Min
- 0.20
EQIX
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) industry group
1.81
- Max
- 2.72
- EQIX
- 1.81
- Q3
- 1.59
- Median
- 0.99
- Q1
- 0.72
- Min
- 0.20
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | CUBE | EQIX |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 0.17 | 1.04 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 1.42 | 1.81 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 5.06 | 5.13 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
CubeSmart (CUBE) at 4.67% pays a yield in its industry’s typical range, while Equinix (EQIX) at 2.02% falls in the bottom quartile of its peers.
CUBE
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) industry group
4.67%
- Max
- 8.62%
- Q3
- 5.95%
- CUBE
- 4.67%
- Median
- 4.34%
- Q1
- 3.26%
- Min
- 0.00%
EQIX
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) industry group
2.02%
- Max
- 8.62%
- Q3
- 5.95%
- Median
- 4.34%
- Q1
- 3.26%
- EQIX
- 2.02%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
An earnings-based payout ratio fits neither CubeSmart (CUBE) in Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) nor Equinix (EQIX) in Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs): their distributions are mandated and conventionally measured against FFO, so the accounting-earnings ratio overstates both.
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | CUBE | EQIX |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 4.67% | 2.02% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | -- | -- |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
P/E ratio is not a meaningful valuation yardstick for either CubeSmart (CUBE) in Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) or Equinix (EQIX) in Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs): depreciation suppresses reported earnings in their businesses, and price-to-FFO is the conventional yardstick instead.
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Both CubeSmart (CUBE) at 8.80 and Equinix (EQIX) at 9.88 command a richer price per dollar of sales than most peers, sitting in the upper P/S ratio quartile of their industries.
CUBE
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) industry group
8.80
- Max
- 14.47
- CUBE
- 8.80
- Q3
- 8.02
- Median
- 5.98
- Q1
- 3.27
- Min
- 0.43
EQIX
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) industry group
9.88
- Max
- 14.47
- EQIX
- 9.88
- Q3
- 8.02
- Median
- 5.98
- Q1
- 3.27
- Min
- 0.43
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Both look rich against book: CubeSmart (CUBE) at 4.06 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and Equinix (EQIX) at 6.90 prices even higher, above its industry range.
CUBE
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) industry group
4.06
- CUBE
- 4.06
- Max
- 4.06
- Q3
- 2.53
- Median
- 1.64
- Q1
- 1.06
- Min
- 0.21
EQIX
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) industry group
6.90
- EQIX
- 6.90
- Max
- 4.06
- Q3
- 2.53
- Median
- 1.64
- Q1
- 1.06
- Min
- 0.21
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | CUBE | EQIX |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | -- | -- |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 8.80 | 9.88 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 4.06 | 6.90 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | -- |