American Tower (REIT) (AMT) vs Crown Castle (CCI)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
American Tower (REIT) (AMT) has outperformed Crown Castle (CCI) over the past year, losing 10.2% versus a loss of 28.6%. Over five years, AMT leads with a -38.3% price change compared with -59.2% for CCI. American Tower (REIT) is the larger company by market cap ($77.69 billion vs $30.10 billion), about 2.6 times the size.
On valuation, Crown Castle trades at a lower forward P/E (23.8x vs 23.8x for American Tower (REIT)). Crown Castle offers the higher dividend yield (6.17% vs 4.19%). American Tower (REIT) converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 24.7% versus 10.4%.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | AMT | CCI |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $166.73 | $68.89 |
| Market cap | $77.69B | $30.10B |
| 1-day change | +0.33% | -0.17% |
| YTD return | -5.04% | -22.48% |
| 1-year return | -10.16% | -28.55% |
| 5-year return | -38.30% | -59.20% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 22.93 | 28.00 |
| Forward P/E | 23.78 | 23.76 |
| EPS (TTM) | $7.27 | $2.46 |
| Dividend yield | 4.19% | 6.17% |
| Annual dividend | $6.98 | $4.25 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $10.64B | $4.26B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +5.11% | -4.39% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $2.63B | $444.00M |
| Gross margin | — | 97.35% |
| Operating margin | 45.52% | 48.66% |
| Net margin | 24.69% | 10.41% |
| 52-week high | $196.08 | $100.50 |
| 52-week low | $160.06 | $65.32 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -14.97% | -31.45% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +29.39% | +37.10% |
| Average volume | 2.60M | 3.56M |
| Shares outstanding | 465.96M | 437.00M |
| Employees | 4,866 | 1,500 |
| Sector | Real Estate | Real Estate |
| Industry | Real Estate Investment Trusts | Real Estate Investment Trusts |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- American Tower (REIT) is about 2.6 times larger than Crown Castle by market value ($77.69B vs $30.10B).
- AMT has outperformed CCI by 18.4 percentage points over the past year.
- Crown Castle offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (6.17% vs 4.19%).
- American Tower (REIT) is more profitable, keeping 24.7 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus 10.4 cents for Crown Castle.
- American Tower (REIT) grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+5.11% vs -4.39%).
About American Tower (REIT)
AMT stock →American Tower Corporation one of the largest global REITs, is a leading independent owner, operator and developer of multitenant communications real estate with a portfolio of over 148,000 communications sites and a highly interconnected footprint of U.S. data center facilities.
Real Estate · Real Estate Investment Trusts · 4,866 employees
About Crown Castle
CCI stock →Crown Castle owns, operates and leases approximately 40,000 cell towers across the U.S. This nationwide portfolio serves as the foundation of wireless connectivity that provides cities and communities access to essential data, technology and wireless service bringing information, ideas, innovations and the connectivity of modern life to help people and businesses thrive.
Real Estate · Real Estate Investment Trusts · 1,500 employees
AMT vs CCI FAQ
Which is bigger, American Tower (REIT) or Crown Castle?
American Tower (REIT) (AMT) is larger, with a market capitalization of $77.69B compared with $30.10B for Crown Castle (CCI).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, AMT or CCI?
AMT returned -10.16% over the past 12 months, compared with -28.55% for CCI (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, AMT or CCI?
AMT has the lower trailing P/E at 22.9, versus 28.0 for CCI. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, American Tower (REIT) or Crown Castle?
Crown Castle has the higher yield at 6.17%, compared with 4.19% for American Tower (REIT).
Are American Tower (REIT) and Crown Castle in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Real Estate Investment Trusts industry within the Real Estate sector.