EQR vs. SBAC: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison

Updated on August 22, 2025

Here’s a clear look at EQR and SBAC, comparing key factors like historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation.

Company Profile

Both EQR and SBAC are Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs). These entities are required to distribute the majority of their taxable income to shareholders, often resulting in higher dividend yields.

Symbol	EQR	SBAC
Company Name	Equity Residential	SBA Communications Corporation
Country	United States	United States
GICS Sector	Real Estate	Real Estate
GICS Industry	Residential REITs	Specialized REITs
Market Capitalization	25.38 billion USD	24.02 billion USD
Exchange	NYSE	NasdaqGS
Listing Date	August 12, 1993	June 16, 1999
Security Type	REIT	REIT

Historical Performance

This chart compares the performance of EQR and SBAC by tracking the growth of an initial $10,000 investment in each. Use the tabs to select the desired time period. Data is adjusted for dividends and splits.

EQR vs. SBAC: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past one year.

Historical Performance at a Glance

Symbol	EQR	SBAC
5-Day Price Return	1.53%	3.13%
13-Week Price Return	-9.63%	-5.01%
26-Week Price Return	-9.84%	7.49%
52-Week Price Return	-9.93%	2.47%
Month-to-Date Return	2.03%	-0.45%
Year-to-Date Return	-10.14%	9.77%
10-Day Avg. Volume	2.08M	0.77M
3-Month Avg. Volume	2.06M	0.82M
3-Month Volatility	20.58%	20.78%
Beta	0.92	0.83

Profitability

Return on Equity (TTM)

EQR

9.21%

Residential REITs Industry

Max: 12.21%
Q3: 9.45%
Median: 7.42%
Q1: 2.50%
Min: 0.37%

EQR’s Return on Equity of 9.21% is on par with the norm for the Residential REITs industry, indicating its profitability relative to shareholder equity is typical for the sector.

SBAC

-1.71%

Specialized REITs Industry

Max: 37.66%
Q3: 20.19%
Median: 8.96%
Q1: 6.32%
Min: -1.71%

SBAC has a negative Return on Equity of -1.71%. This indicates the company is generating a loss for its shareholders, which can be a result of unprofitability or negative shareholder equity and is often a sign of financial distress.

EQR vs. SBAC: A comparison of their Return on Equity (TTM) against their respective Residential REITs and Specialized REITs industry benchmarks.

Net Profit Margin (TTM)

EQR

33.22%

Residential REITs Industry

Max: 67.49%
Q3: 38.86%
Median: 25.74%
Q1: 7.62%
Min: 0.15%

In the Residential REITs industry, Net Profit Margin is often not the primary profitability metric.

SBAC

32.25%

Specialized REITs Industry

Max: 67.81%
Q3: 40.70%
Median: 25.91%
Q1: 11.01%
Min: 1.95%

In the Specialized REITs industry, Net Profit Margin is often not the primary profitability metric.

EQR vs. SBAC: A comparison of their Net Profit Margin (TTM) against their respective Residential REITs and Specialized REITs industry benchmarks.

Operating Profit Margin (TTM)

EQR

45.56%

Residential REITs Industry

Max: 54.06%
Q3: 45.82%
Median: 29.89%
Q1: 19.34%
Min: 5.28%

In the Residential REITs industry, Operating Profit Margin is often not the primary measure of operational efficiency.

SBAC

52.34%

Specialized REITs Industry

Max: 107.13%
Q3: 55.10%
Median: 41.03%
Q1: 17.97%
Min: 5.94%

In the Specialized REITs industry, Operating Profit Margin is often not the primary measure of operational efficiency.

EQR vs. SBAC: A comparison of their Operating Profit Margin (TTM) against their respective Residential REITs and Specialized REITs industry benchmarks.

Profitability at a Glance

Symbol	EQR	SBAC
Return on Equity (TTM)	9.21%	-1.71%
Return on Assets (TTM)	4.85%	8.21%
Net Profit Margin (TTM)	33.22%	32.25%
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)	45.56%	52.34%
Gross Profit Margin (TTM)	63.05%	76.94%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

EQR

0.02

Residential REITs Industry

Max: 1.28
Q3: 0.64
Median: 0.21
Q1: 0.12
Min: 0.00

EQR’s Current Ratio of 0.02 falls into the lower quartile for the Residential REITs industry. This indicates a tighter liquidity situation and a more constrained capacity to handle short-term debt than many of its competitors.

SBAC

0.37

Specialized REITs Industry

Max: 1.74
Q3: 1.13
Median: 0.59
Q1: 0.35
Min: 0.09

SBAC’s Current Ratio of 0.37 aligns with the median group of the Specialized REITs industry, indicating that its short-term liquidity is in line with its sector peers.

EQR vs. SBAC: A comparison of their Current Ratio (MRQ) against their respective Residential REITs and Specialized REITs industry benchmarks.

Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)

EQR

0.76

Residential REITs Industry

Max: 1.62
Q3: 1.10
Median: 0.83
Q1: 0.69
Min: 0.28

EQR’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 0.76 is typical for the Residential REITs industry, indicating its use of leverage is in line with the sector norm. This suggests a balanced approach to its capital structure.

SBAC

43.14

Specialized REITs Industry

Max: 4.54
Q3: 3.26
Median: 1.09
Q1: 0.58
Min: 0.16

With a Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 43.14, SBAC operates with exceptionally high leverage compared to the Specialized REITs industry norm. This suggests an aggressive reliance on debt financing, which can magnify returns but also significantly elevates financial risk.

EQR vs. SBAC: A comparison of their Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) against their respective Residential REITs and Specialized REITs industry benchmarks.

Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)

EQR

5.11

Residential REITs Industry

Max: 5.11
Q3: 4.01
Median: 2.53
Q1: 1.52
Min: 0.52

EQR’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 5.11 is in the upper quartile for the Residential REITs industry, signifying a strong and healthy capacity to meet its interest payments from operating profits.

SBAC

2.90

Specialized REITs Industry

Max: 5.24
Q3: 4.05
Median: 2.99
Q1: 2.10
Min: 1.28

SBAC’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 2.90 is positioned comfortably within the norm for the Specialized REITs industry, indicating a standard and healthy capacity to cover its interest payments.

EQR vs. SBAC: A comparison of their Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) against their respective Residential REITs and Specialized REITs industry benchmarks.

Financial Strength at a Glance

Symbol	EQR	SBAC
Current Ratio (MRQ)	0.02	0.37
Quick Ratio (MRQ)	0.02	0.35
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)	0.76	43.14
Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)	5.11	2.90

Growth

Revenue Growth

EQR vs. SBAC: A side-by-side comparison of their Revenue Growth for the MRQ (YoY), TTM (YoY), 3-Year CAGR, and 5-Year CAGR periods.

EPS Growth

EQR vs. SBAC: A side-by-side comparison of their EPS Growth for the MRQ (YoY), TTM (YoY), 3-Year CAGR, and 5-Year CAGR periods.

Dividend

Dividend Yield (TTM)

EQR

4.20%

Residential REITs Industry

Max: 4.21%
Q3: 3.83%
Median: 3.40%
Q1: 3.27%
Min: 2.80%

With a Dividend Yield of 4.20%, EQR offers a more attractive income stream than most of its peers in the Residential REITs industry, signaling a strong commitment to shareholder returns.

SBAC

1.91%

Specialized REITs Industry

Max: 7.06%
Q3: 5.09%
Median: 4.51%
Q1: 3.18%
Min: 1.78%

SBAC’s Dividend Yield of 1.91% is in the lower quartile for the Specialized REITs industry. This suggests the company’s strategy likely favors retaining earnings for growth over providing a high dividend income.

EQR vs. SBAC: A comparison of their Dividend Yield (TTM) against their respective Residential REITs and Specialized REITs industry benchmarks.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

EQR

102.14%

Residential REITs Industry

Max: 210.87%
Q3: 145.45%
Median: 102.94%
Q1: 84.58%
Min: 17.15%

EQR’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 102.14% is within the typical range for the Residential REITs industry, suggesting a balanced approach between shareholder payouts and company reinvestment.

SBAC

51.48%

Specialized REITs Industry

Max: 295.93%
Q3: 182.11%
Median: 119.31%
Q1: 65.42%
Min: 43.86%

SBAC’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 51.48% is in the lower quartile for the Specialized REITs industry. This suggests a conservative dividend policy, with a strategic focus on reinvesting profits for future growth.

EQR vs. SBAC: A comparison of their Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) against their respective Residential REITs and Specialized REITs industry benchmarks.

Dividend at a Glance

Symbol	EQR	SBAC
Dividend Yield (TTM)	4.20%	1.91%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	102.14%	51.48%

Valuation

Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)

EQR

24.33

Residential REITs Industry

Max: 177.01
Q3: 109.22
Median: 31.26
Q1: 25.84
Min: 8.46

The P/E Ratio is often not the primary metric for valuation in the Residential REITs industry.

SBAC

26.92

Specialized REITs Industry

Max: 85.59
Q3: 64.69
Median: 29.09
Q1: 18.22
Min: 8.79

The P/E Ratio is often not the primary metric for valuation in the Specialized REITs industry.

EQR vs. SBAC: A comparison of their Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) against their respective Residential REITs and Specialized REITs industry benchmarks.

Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)

EQR

8.08

Residential REITs Industry

Max: 12.50
Q3: 10.33
Median: 8.01
Q1: 6.55
Min: 5.06

EQR’s P/S Ratio of 8.08 aligns with the market consensus for the Residential REITs industry. This suggests its valuation, based on sales, is seen as standard and is on par with its competitors.

SBAC

8.68

Specialized REITs Industry

Max: 14.35
Q3: 9.60
Median: 8.74
Q1: 5.61
Min: 1.63

SBAC’s P/S Ratio of 8.68 aligns with the market consensus for the Specialized REITs industry. This suggests its valuation, based on sales, is seen as standard and is on par with its competitors.

EQR vs. SBAC: A comparison of their Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) against their respective Residential REITs and Specialized REITs industry benchmarks.

Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)

EQR

2.33

Residential REITs Industry

Max: 4.49
Q3: 2.83
Median: 2.20
Q1: 1.42
Min: 0.67

EQR’s P/B Ratio of 2.33 is within the conventional range for the Residential REITs industry. This shows a balanced market view, where the stock’s price is neither at a significant premium nor a discount to the book value of its peers.

SBAC

82.55

Specialized REITs Industry

Max: 11.33
Q3: 5.68
Median: 2.69
Q1: 1.81
Min: 0.71

At 82.55, SBAC’s P/B Ratio is at an extreme premium to the Specialized REITs industry. This signifies that the market’s valuation is heavily reliant on future potential rather than its current net asset value, which can be a high-risk proposition.

EQR vs. SBAC: A comparison of their Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) against their respective Residential REITs and Specialized REITs industry benchmarks.

Valuation at a Glance

Symbol	EQR	SBAC
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)	24.33	26.92
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)	8.08	8.68
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)	2.33	82.55
Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (TTM)	44.26	22.28