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AMT vs SBAC
Which Stock Would AI Choose? American Tower Corporation (AMT) vs. SBA Communications Corporation (SBAC) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- Both AMT and SBAC reported strong Q1 2026 earnings, beating estimates on AFFO (adjusted funds from operations, a key REIT profitability metric) and revenue, driven by leasing demand.
- SBAC shows stronger YTD performance at approximately 13% versus AMT's 2-3%, reflecting recent momentum from dividend hikes and raised guidance.
- AMT offers a higher dividend yield around 3.9% compared to SBAC's 2.3%, appealing to income-focused investors in the cell tower REIT (real estate investment trust) sector.
- AMT boasts a larger market cap of $83 billion versus SBAC's $23 billion, providing greater scale and global diversification.
- Analysts have raised price targets for both post-earnings, with SBAC averaging $235 (upside from $217) and AMT $216 (from $178), signaling positive sector sentiment.
- Recent market activity highlights leasing growth and AI/data center tailwinds, though interest rate sensitivity remains a shared risk factor.
Introduction
American Tower Corporation (AMT) and SBA Communications Corporation (SBAC) are premier cell tower REITs, owning and operating infrastructure critical for wireless networks, 5G expansion, and data connectivity. This stock comparison evaluates their recent performance, financial metrics, and market positioning amid rising demand for digital infrastructure. Traders eyeing short-term momentum and investors seeking stable REIT dividends with growth potential will find value in understanding their relative strengths, especially as telecom leasing trends and AI-driven data needs shape the sector's outlook.
AMT Overview and Recent Performance
American Tower Corporation (AMT) is a leading global REIT owning over 150,000 communications sites across the U.S., Asia, Latin America, Europe, and Africa, plus data centers. In recent market activity, AMT shares traded around $178, with a 52-week range of $165-$234. The stock has gained modestly YTD at about 2.5%, outperforming in recent weeks following Q1 2026 earnings that beat estimates: revenue of $2.74 billion and AFFO above consensus, fueled by international revenue growth and data center expansion like CoreSite's 100Gbps AI push. Analysts raised price targets, citing robust leasing and raised full-year outlook despite some margin pressure from churn and costs. Sentiment has improved on global diversification and scale, though shares lag broader indices over the past year due to rate sensitivity.
SBAC Overview and Recent Performance
SBA Communications Corporation (SBAC) owns and operates around 46,000 sites focused on the Americas and Africa, emphasizing U.S. towers with some international exposure. Shares recently hovered near $217, within a 52-week range of $162-$244. SBAC has delivered stronger YTD returns of about 13%, bolstered by Q1 2026 results exceeding expectations: $703 million in revenue and FFO per share of $3.01, driven by site leasing growth. The company lifted full-year guidance, announced a 13% dividend increase to $1.25 quarterly, and drew buyout speculation, prompting analyst upgrades. Performance reflects solid tower margins and organic growth, though longer-term returns trail amid prior telecom spending caution.
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Head-to-Head Comparison
Both AMT and SBAC operate similar business models leasing tower space to carriers, benefiting from 5G densification and edge computing, but AMT’s vast global portfolio offers broader diversification versus SBAC’s U.S.-heavy focus with Brazil risk. Growth drivers include leasing escalators and AI infrastructure, yet SBAC edges recent momentum with 13% YTD gains and M&A buzz, while AMT provides steadier scale (beta 0.90 vs. 1.02). Risk factors overlap in interest rate exposure and carrier consolidation (e.g., DISH churn), but AMT’s higher P/E (29 vs. 23) reflects premium valuation; SBAC counters with faster dividend growth. Sector tailwinds favor both, though sentiment leans toward SBAC for upside potential amid consolidation trades.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Tickeron’s AI currently favors SBAC for its superior recent trend consistency, YTD outperformance, raised guidance, and dividend momentum, positioning it better for near-term catalysts like potential M&A in a consolidating sector. While AMT excels in stability and global scale, SBAC’s relative strength suggests higher probability of continued upside in volatile conditions.
Disclaimer
The information on this webpage is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as investment advice, a recommendation to purchase or sell any security, or an offer or solicitation related to investments. It does not consider your personal financial situation, goals, or risk profile, and all investing carries inherent risks, including the possibility of losing your entire investment. For more details, please review our full disclaimer. Disclaimers and Limitations
To compare these two companies we present long-term analysis, their fundamental ratings and make comparative short-term technical analysis which are presented below. The conclusion is AMT is a Hold and SBAC is a StrongBuy.
Long-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a long-term outlook for a ticker by using Fundamental Analysis (FA) ratings. The rating of 1 to 100, where 1 is best and 100 is worst, is divided into thirds. The first third (a green rating of 1-33) indicates that the ticker is undervalued; the second third (a grey number between 34 and 66) means that the ticker is valued fairly; and the last third (red number of 67 to 100) reflects that the ticker is undervalued. We use an FA Score to show how many ratings show the ticker to be undervalued (green) or overvalued (red).
AMT’s FA Score shows that 0 FA rating(s) are green whileSBAC’s FA Score has 0 green FA rating(s).
- AMT’s FA Score: 0 green, 5 red.
- SBAC’s FA Score: 0 green, 5 red.
Short-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a short-term outlook for a ticker by using Technical Analysis (TA) indicators. We use Odds of Success as the percentage of outcomes which confirm successful trade signals in the past.
If the Odds of Success (the likelihood of the continuation of a trend) for each indicator are greater than 50%, then the generated signal is confirmed. A green percentage from 90% to 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bullish trend. A red percentage from 90% - 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bearish trend. All grey percentages are below 50% and are considered not to confirm the trend signal.
AMT’s TA Score shows that 6 TA indicator(s) are bullish while SBAC’s TA Score has 5 bullish TA indicator(s).
- AMT’s TA Score: 6 bullish, 4 bearish.
- SBAC’s TA Score: 5 bullish, 5 bearish.
Price Growth
AMT (@Specialty Telecommunications) experienced а +5.63% price change this week, while SBAC (@Specialty Telecommunications) price change was +5.46% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Specialty Telecommunications industry was +3.10%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was +5.65%, and the average quarterly price growth was +15.73%.
Reported Earning Dates
AMT is expected to report earnings on Jul 23, 2026.
SBAC is expected to report earnings on Aug 03, 2026.
Industries' Descriptions
@Specialty Telecommunications (+3.10% weekly)Companies belonging to the specialty telecommunications sector provide voice and data transmission via a single method, such as fixed lines, digital subscriber lines (DSL), wireless technology, the internet or competitive local exchange carriers. Telefonica, Liberty Broadband Corp., and Zayo Group Holdings, Inc. are some of the big specialty telecom companies in the U.S.
| AMT | SBAC | AMT / SBAC | |
| Capitalization | 89.7B | 22B | 408% |
| EBITDA | 6.89B | 2.02B | 341% |
| Gain YTD | 10.738 | 8.556 | 126% |
| P/E Ratio | 31.05 | 21.82 | 142% |
| Revenue | 10.8B | 2.85B | 378% |
| Total Cash | 1.61B | 381M | 422% |
| Total Debt | 45.1B | 15.4B | 293% |
AMT | SBAC | ||
|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 40 | 8 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 39 Fair valued | 75 Overvalued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 100 | 100 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 100 | 100 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 49 | 57 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 62 | 79 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | 75 | 50 |
Tickeron ratings are formulated such that a rating of 1 designates the most successful stocks in a given industry, while a rating of 100 points to the least successful stocks for that industry.
AMT's Valuation (39) in the Real Estate Investment Trusts industry is somewhat better than the same rating for SBAC (75). This means that AMT’s stock grew somewhat faster than SBAC’s over the last 12 months.
AMT's Profit vs Risk Rating (100) in the Real Estate Investment Trusts industry is in the same range as SBAC (100). This means that AMT’s stock grew similarly to SBAC’s over the last 12 months.
AMT's SMR Rating (100) in the Real Estate Investment Trusts industry is in the same range as SBAC (100). This means that AMT’s stock grew similarly to SBAC’s over the last 12 months.
AMT's Price Growth Rating (49) in the Real Estate Investment Trusts industry is in the same range as SBAC (57). This means that AMT’s stock grew similarly to SBAC’s over the last 12 months.
AMT's P/E Growth Rating (62) in the Real Estate Investment Trusts industry is in the same range as SBAC (79). This means that AMT’s stock grew similarly to SBAC’s over the last 12 months.
| AMT | SBAC | |
|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 68% | 2 days ago 86% |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 59% | 2 days ago 59% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 61% | 2 days ago 60% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 65% | 2 days ago 61% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 57% | 2 days ago 59% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 57% | 2 days ago 64% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 6 days ago 58% | 6 days ago 58% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 8 days ago 64% | 15 days ago 62% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 62% | 2 days ago 63% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 53% | 2 days ago 65% |
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AMT and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, AMT has been closely correlated with CCI. These tickers have moved in lockstep 79% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is a high statistical probability that if AMT jumps, then CCI could also see price increases.
SBAC and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, SBAC has been closely correlated with CCI. These tickers have moved in lockstep 69% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is a high statistical probability that if SBAC jumps, then CCI could also see price increases.
| Ticker / NAME | Correlation To SBAC | 1D Price Change % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SBAC | 100% | +1.23% | ||
| CCI - SBAC | 69% Closely correlated | +0.88% | ||
| AMT - SBAC | 66% Loosely correlated | +0.88% | ||
| ADC - SBAC | 63% Loosely correlated | +1.31% | ||
| FCPT - SBAC | 61% Loosely correlated | +0.72% | ||
| O - SBAC | 61% Loosely correlated | +1.40% | ||
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