SmartStop Self Storage REIT, Inc. (SMA) AI Stock Analysis
SMA AI stock analysis summary
AI ResearchSmartStop Self Storage REIT, Inc. (SMA) is a self-managed real estate investment trust focused on the self-storage industry. The company generated $283.4M in trailing twelve months revenue with an 11.4% year-over-year quarterly revenue expansion as of June 30, 2026. However, it trades at a premium trailing price-to-earnings multiple of 64.5x and maintains net debt of $1.08B.
- Market cap
- $1.96B
- Revenue (TTM)
- $283.4M
- P/E
- 64.5x
- 1Y return
- -1.9% S&P 500 16.8%
- Avg. target
- $36.60 7.2% vs last close
Bull case
- Revenue grew 18.6% in FY2025 to $281.1M, supported by a 5-year revenue compound annual growth rate of 17.8%.
- SmartStop provides an annual forward dividend yield of 4.68% through monthly payouts with a 45.0% payout ratio.
- Analysts project full-year FY2026 EPS to increase 298.7% to $0.64 on $321.8M in revenue.
Bear case
- SmartStop trades at a trailing price-to-earnings multiple of 64.5x, significantly above the US-listed Real Estate peer median of 21.6x.
- Liquidity remains tight with a current ratio of 0.42 and cash reserves of just $38.2M against $1.12B in total debt.
- Trailing one-year share performance fell 1.9%, underperforming the S&P 500 return of 16.8%.
What SmartStop Self Storage REIT does
SmartStop Self Storage REIT, Inc. is a self-managed REIT with a fully integrated operations team of more than 1,000 self-storage professionals focused on growing the SmartStop Self Storage brand. SmartStop, through its indirect subsidiary SmartStop REIT Advisors, LLC, also sponsors other self-storage programs, and through its Managed Platform offers third-party management services in the U.S. and Canada. As of September 29, 2026, SmartStop has an owned or managed portfolio of approximately 475 operating properties in 36 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and Canada, comprising more than 285,000 units and approximately 36.8 million rentable square feet.
Growth and profitability
SmartStop delivered a five-year revenue compound annual growth rate of 17.8% from FY2020 to FY2025. Annual revenue expanded from $168.8M in FY2021 to $206.3M in FY2022, $233.0M in FY2023, and $237.0M in FY2024, reaching $281.1M in FY2025. Operating margins fluctuated from 9.8% in FY2021 to 31.9% in FY2022, settling at 21.0% in FY2025 alongside a gross margin of 9.3%. Net income totaled -$1.5M in FY2025 with an EPS of $0.16. Over the trailing twelve months ending June 30, 2026, revenue stood at $283.4M with a profit margin of 10.2% and quarterly revenue growth of 11.4%.
Balance sheet and cash flow
As of June 30, 2026, SmartStop held $38.2M in cash and short-term investments against total debt of $1.12B, resulting in net debt of $1.08B. Shareholders' equity was $1.16B on total assets of $2.44B, reflecting a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.97 and a current ratio of 0.42. Free cash flow reached $85.0M in FY2025, while capital expenditures totaled $317.8M. Cash deployment in FY2025 also included $200.3M directed toward share buybacks and $81.8M paid in dividends.
Valuation and performance
At a share price of $34.16, SmartStop has a market capitalization of $1.96B and an enterprise value of $2.84B. The stock trades at a trailing price-to-earnings multiple of 64.5x, well above the 21.6x median of its US-listed Real Estate peers. Its price-to-sales ratio of 6.9x and EV-to-EBITDA ratio of 17.3x also exceed peer medians of 3.7x and 14.7x, respectively. Over the trailing one-year period, SMA returned -1.9%, lagging behind the 16.8% return generated by the S&P 500 (SPY).
SMA dividend
SmartStop pays a monthly dividend with a forward annual dividend rate of $1.60 per share, delivering a dividend yield of 4.68%. The payout ratio stands at 45.0%, and the company has paid dividends for 2 consecutive years. The last ex-dividend date occurred on October 30, 2026.
What analysts expect
Wall Street coverage includes 5 Strong Buy, 2 Buy, 4 Hold, and 1 Sell ratings. The mean price target is $36.60, representing a 7.2% premium over the last close of $34.16. For the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026, analysts estimate EPS of $0.64 and revenue of $321.8M. The company beat EPS estimates in 1 of the last 4 quarters, and its next earnings date is November 4, 2026.
Key risks and what to watch
- The balance sheet carries $1.08B in net debt with a current ratio of 0.42, which could limit liquidity.
- Short interest stands elevated at 12.4% of float, indicating significant bearish positioning.
- The company has beaten earnings estimates in only 1 of the last 4 quarters, creating risk around the upcoming November 4, 2026 report.
AI-generated research summary. Written with AI from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 and checked so every figure matches that data. For information only, not investment advice. Disclaimer
About this SMA AI stock analysis
This page is an AI-written research summary of SmartStop Self Storage REIT, Inc. (SMA). The text was generated on October 30, 2026 from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 (company profile, annual results, latest balance sheet, valuation, price performance and analyst estimates). An automatic check rejects any draft that contains a figure not found in that data. It is not investment advice; verify figures on the linked tabs before making decisions.
Related: SMA income statement, SMA balance sheet, SMA key metrics, SMA analyst forecast, SMA chart. See the SMA stock overview for the latest quote and news.
SMA AI stock analysis FAQ
What dividend does SmartStop Self Storage REIT pay?
SmartStop pays an annualized forward dividend of $1.60 per share distributed monthly, which translates to a 4.68% dividend yield and a 45.0% payout ratio.
How large is SmartStop's real estate portfolio?
As of September 29, 2026, SmartStop has an owned or managed portfolio of approximately 475 properties in 36 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and Canada, comprising over 285,000 units and roughly 36.8 million rentable square feet.
What is the consensus analyst target for SMA stock?
The mean analyst price target is $36.60, which is 7.2% above the last closing price of $34.16.
When does SmartStop report earnings?
SmartStop Self Storage REIT is scheduled to report its next earnings on November 4, 2026.