CCI

Real Estate

Crown Castle Inc. · REIT - Specialty · $40B

UQS Score — Balanced Preset
53.0
Good

Crown Castle Inc. scores 53.0/100 using the Balanced preset.

UQS vs Real Estate Sector
CCI
53.0
Sector avg
38.4
Quality
Good
Moat
Neutral
Growth
Weak
Risk
Weak
Valuation
Good

What is Crown Castle Inc.?

Crown Castle is one of the largest U.S. communications infrastructure companies, owning and leasing cell towers and fiber networks across every major American market.

Crown Castle generates revenue by leasing space on its cell towers and fiber infrastructure to wireless carriers and other communications providers. Tenants pay recurring fees to access this shared network, creating a largely subscription-like income stream tied to ongoing demand for mobile data and connectivity.

Founded in 1998 and headquartered in Houston, Texas.

  • Cell tower leasing
  • Small cell networks
  • Fiber solutions for enterprise and carrier customers

Is CCI a Good Stock to Buy?

UQS Score rates CCI as Below Average overall.

Valuation stands out as the brightest spot in Crown Castle's profile, rated Good — suggesting the market may already be pricing in the company's challenges. Quality and Moat both register as Neutral, reflecting a stable but undifferentiated infrastructure position.

Growth and Risk are both rated Weak, pointing to limited near-term expansion potential and meaningful balance-sheet or operational pressures.

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Past performance does not guarantee future results. UQS Score is based on fundamental data and is not a buy/sell recommendation.

Does CCI pay dividends?

Yes — Crown Castle Inc. pays a dividend.

Crown Castle pays a regular dividend, a common feature among REITs that are required to distribute most taxable income to shareholders. The dividend has historically been a key draw for income-focused investors, though the company's Weak Growth and Risk ratings are worth weighing alongside any yield consideration.

When does CCI report earnings?

Crown Castle reports earnings on a quarterly cadence, consistent with U.S.-listed REIT standards.

The company's recent results reflect the broader pressures facing tower REITs, including carrier spending caution and elevated debt levels. Growth metrics have trended below sector peers, consistent with CCI's Weak Growth pillar rating.

For the most recent quarter's results, visit Crown Castle's investor relations page at crowncastle.com.

CCI Price History

-43.3% over 5Y

Monthly close, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment.

Return Calculator

What if I invested in Crown Castle Inc.?

$
Today it would be worth
$5,874
That's a -41.3% total return, or -10.1% annualized.

Based on Crown Castle Inc.'s historical closing prices, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is for informational purposes only and is not financial advice.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Crown Castle do?

Crown Castle owns and operates more than 40,000 cell towers and roughly 80,000 route miles of fiber across the U.S. It leases this infrastructure to wireless carriers and other communications providers, earning recurring fees for network access.

Does CCI pay dividends?

Yes, Crown Castle pays a regular dividend. As a REIT, it is required to distribute the majority of its taxable income to shareholders. Income-focused investors often hold CCI for this reason, though the company's current Risk profile warrants attention.

When does CCI report earnings?

Crown Castle reports on a quarterly basis. For exact dates and the most recent results, check the investor relations section at crowncastle.com.

Is CCI a good stock to buy?

CCI carries a Below Average UQS Score, with Weak ratings in Growth and Risk offsetting a Good Valuation. Whether it fits your portfolio depends on your income needs and risk tolerance. The full pillar analysis is available to Pro members.

Is CCI overvalued?

UQS rates CCI's Valuation as Good, suggesting the current price may reflect the company's challenges rather than optimism. This is one of the stronger elements in an otherwise Below Average overall profile.

What is CCI's market cap bracket?

Crown Castle is a large-cap company, placing it among the more substantial publicly traded REITs in the U.S. communications infrastructure space.

Is CCI a long-term quality investment?

From a long-term quality standpoint, CCI's Neutral Moat and Weak Growth ratings suggest limited competitive strengthening over time. The infrastructure assets provide stability, but the overall Below Average UQS Score reflects real structural concerns for long-horizon investors.

What sector does CCI belong to?

Crown Castle is classified in the Real Estate sector, specifically as a REIT focused on communications infrastructure. It sits alongside other tower and specialty REITs rather than traditional property-focused real estate companies.

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Pro Analysis

CCI — Score History

4045505560Apr 2Apr 12Apr 22May 2May 12May 22May 24v5
Score changes· 30/34 most recent
DateUQSQualityMoatGrowthRiskValueChange
May 20, 202653.371.647.039.438.566.50.0
May 19, 202653.371.647.039.438.566.9-0.1
May 18, 202653.471.647.039.438.567.50.0
May 16, 202653.471.647.039.338.567.40.0
May 15, 202653.471.647.039.338.567.2+0.1
May 14, 202653.371.647.039.338.566.7+0.1
May 13, 202653.271.647.039.438.566.3-0.1
May 11, 202653.371.647.039.438.566.5+1.7
May 10, 202651.671.647.039.438.555.7-1.1
May 9, 202652.771.647.045.038.555.3+2.0

CCI — Pillar Breakdown

Quality

71.6/100 (25%)

Crown Castle Inc. shows solid profitability with healthy returns on capital and reasonable margins.

Return on EquityWeak

Profitability relative to shareholders' equity.

Operating ProfitabilityStrong

Ability to convert revenue into operating profit.

Net ProfitabilityStrong

Bottom-line profit as a share of revenue.

Cash GenerationStrong

Free cash flow relative to market value.

Growth

39.4/100 (20%)

Crown Castle Inc. shows steady but unspectacular growth, typical for mature companies.

Recent Revenue TrendWeak

Revenue trajectory over the last twelve months.

3Y Revenue CAGRWeak

Compound annual revenue growth rate over 3 years.

EPS GrowthStrong

Year-over-year earnings per share growth.

Forward Revenue OutlookWeak

Analyst consensus for future revenue growth.

Forward EPS GrowthStrong

Analyst consensus for future earnings growth.

Risk

38.5/100 (15%)

Crown Castle Inc. has some risk factors including moderate leverage or solvency concerns.

Debt/EquityStrong

Total debt relative to shareholder equity.

Current RatioWeak

Short-term liquidity — ability to pay near-term obligations.

Interest CoverageWeak

Earnings capacity relative to interest payments.

Valuation

64.5/100 (15%)

Crown Castle Inc. trades at a reasonable valuation with decent earnings yield and FCF multiples.

Earnings YieldWeak

Inverse of forward P/E — higher yield means cheaper stock.

Price to Free Cash FlowStrong

How many years of FCF the market cap represents.

PEG RatioStrong

P/E relative to earnings growth — lower is more attractive.

EV/EBITDA vs SectorWeak

Enterprise value multiple relative to sector median.

Moat

47/100 (25%)

Crown Castle Inc. possesses some competitive advantages but faces meaningful competition. The Moat pillar evaluates competitive advantages across five dimensions: Switching Costs, Network Effects, Cost Advantage, Intangible Assets, and Scale & Ecosystem. Sign in to customize moat ratings for CCI.

Score Composition

Quality
71.6×25%17.9
Growth
39.4×20%7.9
Risk
38.5×15%5.8
Valuation
64.5×15%9.7
Moat
47.0×25%11.8
Total
53.0Good

Financial Data

More Stock Analysis

How is the CCI UQS Score Calculated?

The UQS (Unified Quality Score) for Crown Castle Inc. is calculated using a proprietary 6-pillar framework with 29 financial metrics. Each pillar evaluates a different dimension on a 0–100 scale, then combines into a single weighted score. Scoring thresholds are calibrated per sector. Momentum is an optional Pro toggle — without it, you get the 5-pillar / 25-metric core shown below.

Quality (25%) measures profitability and capital efficiency — ROIC, ROE, margins, GP/Assets, and FCF Yield.

Moat (25%) assesses Crown Castle Inc.'s competitive advantages across switching costs, network effects, cost advantages, intangible assets, and ecosystem scale.

Growth (20%) tracks revenue trajectory and earnings momentum, combining historical results with analyst forward estimates.

Risk (15%) is inversely scored — lower leverage and strong balance sheet health result in higher scores.

Valuation (15%) measures whether Crown Castle Inc. is fairly priced using earnings yield, price-to-FCF, PEG ratio, and EV/EBITDA relative to sector peers.

Six investor-inspired presets are available, each with different pillar weights: Balanced, Buffett, Munger, Lynch, Cathie Wood, and Graham. The public score shown here uses the Balanced preset. Learn more in our FAQ.