SBAC vs. WELL: SBA Communications vs. Welltower Stock Comparison
How do SBA Communications (SBAC) and Welltower (WELL) 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
SBA Communications (SBAC) and Welltower (WELL) both fall under the Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) industry group, but SBAC is classified in Specialized REITs while WELL is classified in Health Care REITs.
Both SBA Communications (SBAC) and Welltower (WELL) are REITs — read their payout ratios and P/E alongside FFO (funds from operations) rather than at face value.
| Profile Item | SBAC | WELL |
|---|---|---|
| Name | SBA Communications Corporation | Welltower 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 | Health Care REITs |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Telecom Tower REITs | Health Care REITs |
| Market Capitalization | 19.78 billion USD | 179.74 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | NYSE |
| Listing Date | June 16, 1999 | March 19, 1980 |
| Security Type | REIT | REIT |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | SBAC | WELL |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | -0.77% | 31.94% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | -2.37% | 45.79% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | -9.88% | 26.70% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | SBAC | WELL |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 36.62% | 23.54% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.96 | 0.78 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -55.90% | -40.78% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 1.01M | 2.75M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | SBAC | WELL |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | -0.14 | 1.17 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | -0.24 | 1.69 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Capital efficiency shows on one side only: Welltower (WELL) earns 3.92% on shareholders’ equity, ranked against its industry; SBA Communications (SBAC) has no ROE this period.
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
- --
WELL
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) industry group
3.92%
- Max
- 22.74%
- Q3
- 10.54%
- Median
- 6.38%
- WELL
- 3.92%
- Q1
- 1.69%
- Min
- -10.86%
Net Margin (TTM)
Neither SBA Communications (SBAC) in Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) nor Welltower (WELL) 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 SBA Communications (SBAC) in Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) and Welltower (WELL) 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 | SBAC | WELL |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | -- | 3.92% |
| ROA (TTM) | 8.17% | 0.93% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Welltower (WELL) at 35.82% clears its industry range for revenue growth, far stronger top-line momentum than SBA Communications (SBAC) at 5.06%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.
EPS Growth
EPS growth isn't a meaningful figure for either SBA Communications (SBAC) in Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) or Welltower (WELL) in Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) under our convention.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | SBAC | WELL |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 5.06% | 35.82% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 2.25% | 22.69% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -- | -- |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -- | -- |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Welltower (WELL) at 1.66 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while SBA Communications (SBAC) at 0.19 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for SBAC.
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
WELL
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) industry group
1.66
- Max
- 4.19
- Q3
- 2.11
- WELL
- 1.66
- Median
- 1.31
- Q1
- 0.62
- Min
- 0.06
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Only one side’s leverage can be read here: Welltower (WELL) carries debt-to-equity ratio of 0.42 against its industry range, while SBA Communications (SBAC) reports no figure this period.
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
- --
WELL
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) industry group
0.42
- Max
- 2.72
- Q3
- 1.59
- Median
- 0.99
- Q1
- 0.72
- WELL
- 0.42
- Min
- 0.20
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | SBAC | WELL |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 0.19 | 1.66 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | -- | 0.42 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 8.14 | 5.12 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both SBA Communications (SBAC) at 2.52% and Welltower (WELL) at 1.30% offer bottom-quartile dividend income relative to share price versus industry peers.
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%
WELL
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) industry group
1.30%
- Max
- 8.62%
- Q3
- 5.95%
- Median
- 4.34%
- Q1
- 3.26%
- WELL
- 1.30%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
An earnings-based payout ratio fits neither SBA Communications (SBAC) in Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) nor Welltower (WELL) 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 | SBAC | WELL |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 2.52% | 1.30% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | -- | -- |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
P/E ratio is not a meaningful valuation yardstick for either SBA Communications (SBAC) in Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) or Welltower (WELL) 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)
SBA Communications (SBAC) at 6.94 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Welltower (WELL) at 13.03 sits in the pricier quartile — WELL costs more per dollar of sales.
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
WELL
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) industry group
13.03
- Max
- 14.47
- WELL
- 13.03
- Q3
- 8.02
- Median
- 5.98
- Q1
- 3.27
- Min
- 0.43
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
SBA Communications (SBAC) reports a negative P/B ratio of -4.09, meaning negative book equity — the multiple itself is not meaningful for valuation. Meanwhile Welltower (WELL) reports 3.69, ranking against industry peers normally.
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
WELL
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) industry group
3.69
- Max
- 4.06
- WELL
- 3.69
- Q3
- 2.53
- Median
- 1.64
- Q1
- 1.06
- Min
- 0.21
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | SBAC | WELL |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | -- | -- |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 6.94 | 13.03 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | -4.09 | 3.69 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | -- |