NSA

Real Estate

National Storage Affiliates Trust · REIT - Industrial · $3B

UQS Score — Balanced Preset
34.4
Below Average

National Storage Affiliates Trust scores 34.4/100 using the Balanced preset.

UQS vs Real Estate Sector
NSA
34.4
Sector avg
38.4
Quality
Good
Moat
Weak
Growth
Weak
Risk
Weak
Valuation
Neutral

What is National Storage Affiliates Trust?

National Storage Affiliates Trust is a Maryland-based real estate investment trust specializing in self-storage properties across major U.S. metropolitan areas. It ranks among the largest self-storage owners and operators in the country, serving both public and private market comparisons.

NSA generates revenue by owning, operating, and acquiring self-storage facilities within the top 100 metropolitan statistical areas in the United States. The trust earns rental income from individual and business tenants who lease storage units on a month-to-month basis. Operating as a REIT, NSA is required to distribute the majority of its taxable income to shareholders, making dividend income a central part of its investor proposition. Its portfolio spans dozens of states and Puerto Rico.

NSA was founded in 2015 and is headquartered in Greenwood Village, Colorado.

  • Self-storage unit rentals for individuals and businesses
  • Climate-controlled and standard storage facilities
  • Property acquisition and portfolio expansion across U.S. metros
  • Affiliated operator partnership model for regional growth

Is NSA a Good Stock to Buy?

UQS Score rates NSA as Below Average overall, reflecting meaningful headwinds across several fundamental dimensions.

The Quality pillar stands out as the relative bright spot within NSA's profile, suggesting the trust maintains a reasonable operational foundation compared to its weaker areas. Valuation is rated Neutral, meaning the stock is not obviously expensive or cheap relative to its fundamentals — a modest anchor for investors weighing entry points.

The Moat, Growth, and Risk pillars all carry Weak ratings, pointing to limited competitive differentiation, constrained expansion prospects, and elevated financial or operational risk within the self-storage segment.

Pro members can view the complete pillar breakdown and underlying financial metrics to assess whether NSA fits their portfolio criteria. Sign up free →

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

Does NSA pay dividends?

Yes — National Storage Affiliates Trust pays a dividend.

NSA pays a regular dividend, consistent with its REIT structure, which mandates distributing most taxable income to shareholders. Self-storage REITs have historically used dividends as a primary return mechanism. Income-focused investors often screen for REITs like NSA, though the sustainability of any dividend depends on ongoing cash flow generation and occupancy trends across the portfolio.

When does NSA report earnings?

National Storage Affiliates Trust reports earnings on a quarterly cadence, typical for U.S.-listed REITs.

NSA's quarterly results tend to reflect occupancy rates, rental rate trends, and acquisition activity across its self-storage portfolio. As a REIT, funds from operations is a key metric investors watch alongside net income. Results can vary with seasonal storage demand and broader real estate market conditions.

For the most recent quarter's results and guidance, visit National Storage Affiliates Trust's investor relations page directly.

NSA Price History

+22.9% over 5Y

Monthly close, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment.

Return Calculator

What if I invested in National Storage Affiliates Trust?

$
Today it would be worth
$12,929
That's a +29.3% total return, or +5.3% annualized.

Based on National Storage Affiliates Trust'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.

NSA Long-term Outlook

NSA's Growth and Risk pillars both carry Weak ratings, suggesting the near-term fundamental trajectory faces meaningful challenges. Expansion through acquisitions remains a core lever for self-storage REITs, but a Weak Moat rating indicates limited pricing power or structural advantages to defend market share. The Neutral Valuation label suggests the market has already priced in a degree of these constraints, leaving little obvious margin of safety or premium.

Growth drivers

  • Continued acquisition of self-storage properties in underserved U.S. metros
  • Affiliated operator model enabling capital-light portfolio growth
  • Steady demand for personal and business storage in urban markets

Key risks

  • Weak competitive moat in a fragmented, commoditized storage market
  • Interest rate sensitivity affecting REIT financing costs and valuations
  • Limited organic growth if occupancy rates plateau or rental rates soften

NSA vs Peers

NSA operates in a real estate sector alongside several other property-focused REITs and trusts with distinct strategies.

COLDNSA scores higher
Americold Realty Trust, Inc.

Americold focuses on temperature-controlled warehouse logistics rather than consumer self-storage, serving food and beverage supply chains.

LXPNSA scores lower
LXP Industrial Trust

LXP concentrates on single-tenant industrial and logistics properties, targeting e-commerce and distribution tenants rather than individual storage customers.

DIR-UN.TONSA scores lower
Dream Industrial Real Estate Investment Trust

Dream Industrial is a Canadian REIT focused on light industrial and distribution assets, offering geographic and asset-class diversification relative to U.S. self-storage.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does National Storage Affiliates Trust do?

National Storage Affiliates Trust owns, operates, and acquires self-storage properties across the top 100 U.S. metropolitan areas. It leases storage units to individuals and businesses on flexible terms. The trust operates as a REIT, distributing most of its income to shareholders as dividends.

Does NSA pay dividends?

Yes, NSA pays a regular dividend. As a real estate investment trust, it is required by law to distribute the majority of its taxable income to shareholders. Income-focused investors often consider REITs like NSA for their dividend characteristics, though payout levels depend on ongoing operational performance.

When does NSA report earnings?

NSA reports earnings quarterly, in line with standard U.S. REIT reporting schedules. Key metrics to watch include funds from operations, occupancy rates, and same-store revenue trends. For exact dates, check National Storage Affiliates Trust's investor relations page.

Is NSA a good stock to buy?

UQS Score rates NSA as Below Average overall. While the Quality pillar shows relative strength and Valuation is Neutral, the Moat, Growth, and Risk pillars all carry Weak ratings. Whether NSA fits a portfolio depends on an investor's income needs, risk tolerance, and view on the self-storage sector. See the full pillar breakdown on UQS Score.

Is NSA overvalued?

UQS Score rates NSA's Valuation pillar as Neutral, suggesting the stock is neither clearly expensive nor deeply discounted relative to its fundamentals. For REIT valuation, metrics like price-to-FFO and dividend yield context matter — Pro members can access the detailed valuation metrics behind this rating.

How does NSA compare to its competitors?

NSA focuses specifically on self-storage, distinguishing it from industrial REIT peers like LXP Industrial Trust and Americold Realty Trust, which serve logistics and cold-storage markets. NSA's affiliated operator model is a structural differentiator, though its Weak Moat rating suggests limited competitive insulation within the broader real estate sector.

What is NSA's market cap bracket?

NSA is classified as a mid-cap stock. This places it in a range that typically attracts both institutional and retail investor interest, though mid-cap REITs can carry more volatility than their large-cap counterparts and may have less access to low-cost capital.

Who founded National Storage Affiliates Trust?

National Storage Affiliates Trust was organized in 2015 as a Maryland real estate investment trust. Founding context and leadership history are publicly available through the company's SEC filings and investor relations materials.

Is NSA a long-term quality investment?

As a long-term quality indicator, NSA's Below Average UQS Score reflects concerns across Moat, Growth, and Risk pillars that could weigh on compounding potential over time. The Quality pillar offers some reassurance, but investors focused on long-term durability should weigh the full picture available in the Pro analysis.

What is the main competitive advantage of National Storage Affiliates Trust?

NSA's affiliated operator model allows it to partner with regional self-storage operators, enabling portfolio growth without fully acquiring every property outright. This structure provides some capital efficiency. However, UQS Score rates NSA's Moat as Weak, indicating this advantage may not provide durable pricing power in a fragmented market.

What sector does NSA belong to?

NSA operates in the Real Estate sector, specifically within the self-storage REIT sub-segment. Self-storage REITs are considered a defensive real estate category, as demand for storage tends to be relatively resilient across economic cycles, though they are not immune to interest rate and occupancy pressures.

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Pro Analysis

NSA — Score History

25303540Apr 2Apr 12Apr 22May 2May 12May 22May 24v5
Score changes· 12 most recent
DateUQSQualityMoatGrowthRiskValueChange
May 7, 202633.167.325.05.41.458.10.0
May 3, 202633.167.325.05.41.458.40.0
Apr 26, 202633.167.325.05.41.458.10.0
Apr 19, 202633.167.325.05.41.458.5-0.1
Apr 18, 202633.267.325.05.41.458.8+0.9
Apr 13, 202632.367.325.05.41.452.8-0.9
Apr 12, 202633.267.325.010.11.452.9-0.2
Apr 10, 202633.467.325.010.11.453.8+0.6
Apr 8, 202632.867.325.07.21.453.8-0.2
Apr 5, 202633.067.325.07.22.553.8-1.0

NSA — Pillar Breakdown

Quality

69.2/100 (25%)

National Storage Affiliates Trust shows solid profitability with healthy returns on capital and reasonable margins.

Return on EquityModerate

Profitability relative to shareholders' equity.

Operating ProfitabilityStrong

Ability to convert revenue into operating profit.

Net ProfitabilityModerate

Bottom-line profit as a share of revenue.

Cash GenerationStrong

Free cash flow relative to market value.

Growth

8.9/100 (20%)

National Storage Affiliates Trust faces growth headwinds with declining or stagnant revenue trends.

Recent Revenue TrendWeak

Revenue trajectory over the last twelve months.

3Y Revenue CAGRWeak

Compound annual revenue growth rate over 3 years.

EPS GrowthWeak

Year-over-year earnings per share growth.

Forward Revenue OutlookWeak

Analyst consensus for future revenue growth.

Forward EPS GrowthWeak

Analyst consensus for future earnings growth.

Risk

1.5/100 (15%)

National Storage Affiliates Trust presents elevated risk with concerns around leverage or financial stability.

Debt/EquityWeak

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

59.0/100 (15%)

National Storage Affiliates Trust 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.

EV/EBITDA vs SectorStrong

Enterprise value multiple relative to sector median.

Moat

25/100 (25%)

National Storage Affiliates Trust operates in a highly competitive environment with limited sustainable advantages. 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 NSA.

Score Composition

Quality
69.2×25%17.3
Growth
8.9×20%1.8
Risk
1.5×15%0.2
Valuation
59.0×15%8.8
Moat
25.0×25%6.3
Total
34.4Below Average

Financial Data

More Stock Analysis

How is the NSA UQS Score Calculated?

The UQS (Unified Quality Score) for National Storage Affiliates Trust 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 National Storage Affiliates Trust'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 National Storage Affiliates Trust 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.