IRM vs. SBAC: Iron Mountain vs. SBA Communications Stock Comparison
How do Iron Mountain (IRM) and SBA Communications (SBAC) 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
Iron Mountain (IRM) and SBA Communications (SBAC) both belong to the Specialized REITs industry, though IRM is classified under Other Specialized REITs while SBAC falls under Telecom Tower REITs.
Both Iron Mountain (IRM) and SBA Communications (SBAC) are REITs — read their payout ratios and P/E alongside FFO (funds from operations) rather than at face value.
| Profile Item | IRM | SBAC |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Iron Mountain Inc. | SBA Communications Corporation |
| 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 | Other Specialized REITs | Telecom Tower REITs |
| Market Capitalization | 31.73 billion USD | 19.78 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | Nasdaq |
| Listing Date | February 1, 1996 | June 16, 1999 |
| Security Type | REIT | REIT |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | IRM | SBAC |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 12.13% | -0.77% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 28.29% | -2.37% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 23.46% | -9.88% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | IRM | SBAC |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 35.33% | 36.62% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.19 | 0.96 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -39.03% | -55.90% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 1.52M | 1.01M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | IRM | SBAC |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.22 | -0.14 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 0.31 | -0.24 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Neither Iron Mountain (IRM) nor SBA Communications (SBAC) reports a ROE value for this period, so a direct comparison isn’t possible.
IRM
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) industry group
--
- Max
- 22.74%
- Q3
- 10.54%
- Median
- 6.38%
- Q1
- 1.69%
- Min
- -10.86%
- IRM
- --
SBAC
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) industry group
--
- Max
- 22.74%
- Q3
- 10.54%
- Median
- 6.38%
- Q1
- 1.69%
- Min
- -10.86%
- SBAC
- --
Net Margin (TTM)
Neither Iron Mountain (IRM) in Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) nor SBA Communications (SBAC) 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 Iron Mountain (IRM) in Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) and SBA Communications (SBAC) 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 | IRM | SBAC |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | -- | -- |
| ROA (TTM) | 4.72% | 8.17% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Iron Mountain (IRM) at 12.23% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while SBA Communications (SBAC) at 5.06% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for IRM.
EPS Growth
EPS growth isn't a meaningful figure for either Iron Mountain (IRM) in Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) or SBA Communications (SBAC) in Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) under our convention.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | IRM | SBAC |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 12.23% | 5.06% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 10.58% | 2.25% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -- | -- |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -- | -- |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Both Iron Mountain (IRM) at 0.56 and SBA Communications (SBAC) at 0.19 run current ratio in the tighter-liquidity quartile of industry peers, leaving thinner cushions against current liabilities than typical competitors.
IRM
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) industry group
0.56
- Max
- 4.19
- Q3
- 2.11
- Median
- 1.31
- Q1
- 0.62
- IRM
- 0.56
- Min
- 0.06
SBAC
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) industry group
0.19
- Max
- 4.19
- Q3
- 2.11
- Median
- 1.31
- Q1
- 0.62
- SBAC
- 0.19
- Min
- 0.06
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Neither Iron Mountain (IRM) nor SBA Communications (SBAC) reports a debt-to-equity ratio value for this period, so a direct comparison isn’t possible.
IRM
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) industry group
--
- Max
- 2.72
- Q3
- 1.59
- Median
- 0.99
- Q1
- 0.72
- Min
- 0.20
- IRM
- --
SBAC
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) industry group
--
- Max
- 2.72
- Q3
- 1.59
- Median
- 0.99
- Q1
- 0.72
- Min
- 0.20
- SBAC
- --
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | IRM | SBAC |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 0.56 | 0.19 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 7.69 | 8.14 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Iron Mountain (IRM) at 3.28% pays a yield in its industry’s typical range, while SBA Communications (SBAC) at 2.52% falls in the bottom quartile of its peers.
IRM
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) industry group
3.28%
- Max
- 8.62%
- Q3
- 5.95%
- Median
- 4.34%
- IRM
- 3.28%
- Q1
- 3.26%
- Min
- 0.00%
SBAC
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) industry group
2.52%
- Max
- 8.62%
- Q3
- 5.95%
- Median
- 4.34%
- Q1
- 3.26%
- SBAC
- 2.52%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
An earnings-based payout ratio fits neither Iron Mountain (IRM) in Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) nor SBA Communications (SBAC) 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 | IRM | SBAC |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 3.28% | 2.52% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | -- | -- |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
P/E ratio is not a meaningful valuation yardstick for either Iron Mountain (IRM) in Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) or SBA Communications (SBAC) 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)
On P/S ratio, both Iron Mountain (IRM) at 4.07 and SBA Communications (SBAC) at 6.94 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.
IRM
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) industry group
4.07
- Max
- 14.47
- Q3
- 8.02
- Median
- 5.98
- IRM
- 4.07
- Q1
- 3.27
- Min
- 0.43
SBAC
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) industry group
6.94
- Max
- 14.47
- Q3
- 8.02
- SBAC
- 6.94
- Median
- 5.98
- Q1
- 3.27
- Min
- 0.43
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Both Iron Mountain (IRM) at -22.85 and SBA Communications (SBAC) at -4.09 report negative P/B ratio values, meaning both companies have negative book equity — neither multiple is meaningful for valuation.
IRM
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) industry group
-22.85
- Max
- 4.06
- Q3
- 2.53
- Median
- 1.64
- Q1
- 1.06
- Min
- 0.21
- IRM
- -22.85
SBAC
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) industry group
-4.09
- Max
- 4.06
- Q3
- 2.53
- Median
- 1.64
- Q1
- 1.06
- Min
- 0.21
- SBAC
- -4.09
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | IRM | SBAC |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | -- | -- |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 4.07 | 6.94 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | -22.85 | -4.09 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | -- |