11 Best Warehouse and Self-Storage Stocks to Buy

Published August 19, 2022 at 9:04 am EDT Updated September 7, 2026 at 11:35 am EDT

In this piece, we will take a look at the eleven best warehouse and self-storage stocks to buy.

The stock market consists of a diverse set of sectors that are able to cater to all types of risk appetites that an investor might have. High growth areas such as technology offer high returns but come with a high risk as well, while others, such as real estate investment trusts (REITs) are relatively stable and involatile.

Another example of the latter sector are warehouse and self-storage stocks, which consist of logistics firms, storage companies, and REITs. This market is among the more stable ones out there, and its performance is linked to the overall economy and consumer spending power. Consequently, market research reports outline modest compounded annual growth rates (CAGRs) for these companies.

For instance, a report by Technavio lists that over the next five years, the warehousing industry will grow at a CAGR of 6%, as it is fueled by the demand from several industries such as healthcare, pharmaceutical, and manufacturing. The advent of technology has also impacted warehousing, with the smart warehousing sector — that uses a variety of technologies such as IoT, RFID, and data analytics — slated to have a CAGR of 11.2% from 2022 to 2028, for an estimated value of $29 billion at the end of the forecast period.

Another report, this time from Mordor Intelligence, estimated the value of the self-storage market at $48 billion in 2020, and it outlines that from 2020 to 2026 it will grow at 5.46% for a final value of $65 billion. It also shares that increased urbanization and an improved economic outlook will drive this growth. Finally, Market Growth Reports has a similarly moderate CAGR estimate for the market, as it believes that the self-storage industry will have a 3.77% CAGR from 2022 to 2028, with the driving factors behind this growth being business storage and the largest share of the pie going to personal storage. Asia Pacific is expected to be the fastest growing region for the market as developed regions such as North America have already matured.

So naturally, the self-storage and warehousing industry merits a deeper look as we have done in this piece. Some of the popular firms in our list for today are WillScot Mobile Mini Holdings Corp. (NASDAQ:WSC), Prologis, Inc. (NYSE:PLD), and Public Storage (NYSE:PSA).

11 Best Warehouse and Self Storage Stocks to Buy

Our Methodology

We took a broad look at the self-storage and warehousing industry to siphon out some of the top firms that can be expected to perform strongly in the future based on factors such as their business models, financial metrics, and market performance. The companies were then ranked according to hedge fund sentiment gathered through Insider Monkey’s survey of 895 hedge funds for the second quarter of this year.

Best Warehouse and Self-Storage Stocks to Buy

11. Global Self Storage, Inc. (NASDAQ:SELF)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 2

Global Self Storage, Inc. (NASDAQ:SELF) is an American REIT that is headquartered in New York. It develops, acquires, and manages self-storage properties for both residential and commercial customers and has properties in several states including New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio.

While The Vanguard Real Estate ETF has dropped by 12% this year, shares of Global Self Storage, Inc. have grown by 7.5%, indicating its strength in the market. Additionally, it is one of the few corporate players in the large self-storage market that consists primarily of mom and pop companies, which lends it cost and economies of scale advantages. Global Self Storage, Inc.’s funds from operations (FFO) and total cash from operations (TCFO) have also grown by 14% and 17% over the past three years and its share price has also outperformed the REIT average for the same time period. It also pays a 7 cent dividend for a 4.79% yield.

Insider Monkey’s Q2 2022 survey of 895 hedge funds revealed that two had invested in the company.

Global Self Storage, Inc.’s largest investor is Jim Simons’s Renaissance Technologies which owns 146,300 shares that are worth $824,000.

Alongside Prologis, Inc., WillScot Mobile Mini Holdings Corp., and Public Storage, Global Self Storage, Inc. is a top self-storage and warehouse stock.

10. Americold Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:COLD)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 13

Americold Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:COLD) has the distinct honor of being the world’s largest REIT that is involved in the acquisition and operation of cold storage warehouses. It operates 185 temperature controlled warehouses in several countries including America, Canada, and New Zealand. The firm is based in Atlanta, Georgia, United States.

While the nature of its business leaves it prone to headwinds from supply chain constraints and economic uncertainties, over the long term Americold Realty Trust, Inc. is one of the strongest players in its industry. Its market is on the path to recovery, as the United States Department of Agriculture reported in July 2022 that stocks of cheese, butter, poultry, red meat, fruits, and vegetables were all up year over year as suppliers gained confidence in the post pandemic era. Americold Realty Trust, Inc. also has an 18% share of the total cold storage market, providing it with key bargaining power advantages.

Baird increased Americold Realty Trust, Inc.’s share price target to $33 from $27 in July 2022, citing that its previous estimates were too conservative but that complete recovery will take some time. Insider Monkey profiled 895 hedge funds for their June quarter of 2022 portfolios to discover that 13 had bought the company’s shares.

Out of these, Scott W. Clark’s Darlington Partners Capital is Americold Realty Trust, Inc.’s largest investor. It owns 4 million shares that are worth $124 million.

Heartland Advisors mentioned the company in its Q2 2022 investor letter. Here is what the fund said:

“Atlanta-based, Americold Realty Trust (NYSE:COLD), for instance, is the second largest owner and operator of cold-storage warehouses in the world and represents a critical piece in the food-production supply chain. Cold storage is a niche asset class within Real Estate. Unlike most real estate owners who only collect a rent check, Americold manages operations for tenants, which creates a meaningful barrier to entry. While the company’s shares came under selling pressure in the second half of last year and early in 2022 — due to sharp declines in occupancy rates and inflationary pressures – April data published by the USDA suggested that cold-storage inventories could be improving after a sustained period of contraction.

Americold, as of quarter end, was trading at a 6.2% cap rate on NTM net operating income (NOI) and over 7% on normalized NOI. We believe a 5% cap rate represents a fair multiple for REITs with meaningful barriers to entry, which implies the potential for a total return north of 25%.”

9. CubeSmart (NYSE:CUBE)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 18

CubeSmart (NYSE:CUBE) is a REIT headquartered in Malvern, Pennsylvania, United States. The company is one of the three largest owners and operators of self-storage properties in America and it provides storage space to residential and commercial customers.

CubeSmart has one of the strongest balance sheets in the self-storage industry, with most of its debt being fixed rate and having an average maturity of more than six years. The company has grown its enterprise value 16x over the last 18 years, and 74% of its properties are in metropolitan areas, which then makes them attractive as last mile delivery options. CubeSmart’s occupancy rate was 95% as of last year, indicating that its properties are not going to waste. Finally, it also pays a 43 cent dividend for a 3.39% yield.

Raymond James increased CubeSmart’s share price target to $58 from $52 in August 2022, sharing that its valuation and size are key strong points. Insider Monkey’s 895 hedge fund survey for this year’s second quarter outlined that 18 had held a stake in the company.

CubeSmart’s largest investor is Ric Dillon’s Diamond Hill Capital which owns 2.8 million shares that are worth $122 million.

8. AMERCO (NASDAQ:UHAL)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 20

AMERCO (NASDAQ:UHAL) is a DIY moving and storage operator for household and commercial customers in the United States and Canada. The company rents trucks, trailers, storage units, and other items to household movers and it also provides an online platform to connect customers with moving companies. The firm is headquartered in Reno, Nevada, United States.

AMERCO is the fourth largest self-storage owner in the U.S., with more than 50 million square feet of properties under its belt. It also has hundreds of thousands of trucks, trailers, and towing cars in its portfolio. Its self-storage revenues have compounded by 17% over the past nine years, and its revenue per truck has blossomed by 18% in CAGR over the past two years, keeping track of inflation and growing from $17,520 to $21,872. Additionally, AMERCO is also estimated to be undervalued by at least 48% when growth over the upcoming 3-5 years is considered.

Insider Monkey’s Q2 2022 survey of 895 hedge funds revealed that 20 had bought AMERCO’s shares.

Donald Yacktman’s Yacktman Asset Management is AMERCO’s largest investor through a $350 million stake that comes via 733,498 shares.

Third Avenue Management mentioned the company in its Q1 2022 investor letter. Here is what the fund said:

“Held in the Fund since 2018, AMERCO is widely recognized as the leader in self-moving in North America through its U-Haul subsidiary where it has an unrivaled network with approximately 176,000 trucks, 126,000 trailers, and 46,000 towing devices available across more than 23,000 locations. What is not as widely recognized, in Fund Management’s opinion, is that the company’s forward thinking management team has also spent the last decade assembling one of the largest self-storage portfolios in North America-not only solidifying the “moat” around its core business but also creating substantial value in the process.

7. Ryder System, Inc. (NYSE:R)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 24

Ryder System, Inc. (NYSE:R) is a logistics and transportation company headquartered in Miami, Florida, United States. The firm leases a variety of vehicles and provides them for rent as well. It also provides warehousing and transportation coordination services.

Ryder System, Inc. is operating in the key market of supply chain outsourcing, which is piquing interest among companies due to the low costs and management hassles over managing transportation and logistics internally. This market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 8.6% by the end of 2030 – providing Ryder System, Inc. with a strong market. The nature of its business model also allows it to benefit from inflation, as was apparent in the company’s latest earnings which saw brokerage services revenues grow by 146%. Finally, the fact that its management rejected a buyout offer of $86 per share (the current share price is $82 per share) indicates that Ryder System, Inc. is undervalued. The firm pays a 62 cent dividend for a 3% yield.

24 of the 895 hedge funds part of Insider Monkey’s survey for 2022’s June quarter had held a stake in Ryder System, Inc..

Ryder System, Inc.’s largest investor is Parag Vora’s HG Vora Capital Management which owns 5 million shares that are worth $358 million.

6. Life Storage, Inc. (NYSE:LSI)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 24

Life Storage, Inc. (NYSE:LSI) is an REIT that acquires and manages self-storage properties. The firm has hundreds of storage properties in America and Canada. It is headquartered in Buffalo, New York, United States.

53 of Life Storage, Inc.’s markets, including eight out of the top ten, are seeing a population growth rate of 10%, indicating that the future is bright for the firm. Its FFO, TCFO, and market capitalization have grown by 15%, 15%, and 32%, respectively, over the past three years, and its share price has outperformed the VNQ REIT index by 7% over the past three years. Finally, Life Storage, Inc. pays a $1.08 dividend for a 3% yield.

Raymond James increased Life Storage, Inc.’s share price target to $145 from $125 in August 2022 citing confidence in its growth and technology. 24 out of the 895 hedge funds polled by Insider Monkey for their Q2 2022 holdings had invested in the company.

Life Storage, Inc. joins WillScot Mobile Mini Holdings Corp., Prologis, Inc., and Public Storage in our list of some of the hottest warehouse and self-storage stocks to buy.

5. Extra Space Storage Inc. (NYSE:EXR)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 27

Extra Space Storage Inc. (NYSE:EXR) is the second largest owner of self-storage spaces and the largest self-storage manager in the United States. It has more than 2,000 stores and more than a million units all over CONUS and in Puerto Rico. The firm is a member of the S&P 500 index and is headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah.

A remarkable factor about Extra Space Storage Inc. is the fact that it has grown its Funds From Operations (FFO) by an eye popping 600% since 2011 – the highest in the industry. Its first quarter of 2022 results demonstrated a 35% FFO growth and a 95% occupancy rate, indicating that the firm continues to generate strong cash from all of its properties. At the same time, it grew its rent by 24%, with only meager discounts – indicating a strong pricing power. The firm has returned 20.9% annually through dividends since 2004, and it pays a $1.5 dividend for a 2.8% yield.

Truist raised Extra Space Storage Inc.’s share price target to $225 from $200 in August 2022, highlighting that recent Q2 earnings were impressive. Insider Monkey studied 895 hedge fund portfolios for this year’s second quarter to discover that 27 had invested in the firm.

Extra Space Storage Inc.’s largest investor is Stuart J. Zimmer’s Zimmer Partners which owns 987,500 shares that are worth $167 million.

4. National Storage Affiliates Trust (NYSE:NSA)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 28

National Storage Affiliates Trust (NYSE:NSA) is an REIT that focuses its attention on acquiring and developing self-storage properties in the top 100 metropolitan areas in the United States. The firm has properties in 35 states and in Puerto Rico.

National Storage Affiliates Trust has a strong business model that allows it to partner with local firms in different cities which then allows it to leverage their expertise to deliver unique competitive advantages. This has allowed the company to have an average same store revenue growth of 6.6%, same store NOI of 8.5%, and average core FFO per share growth of 16.4% over the past five years – beating all of its major peers in the industry. The firm also pays a 55 cent dividend for a 3.8% yield.

Insider Monkey profiled 895 hedge funds for this year’s June quarter and found out that 28 had bought National Storage Affiliates Trust’s shares.

Out of these, National Storage Affiliates Trust’s largest investor is Israel Englander’s Millennium Management which owns 1.2 million shares that are worth $60 million.

3. Public Storage (NYSE:PSA)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 33

Public Storage is a self-storage REIT headquartered in Glendale, California, United States. The firm has tens of millions of square feet of rentable property across the United States and other countries.

Public Storage is one of the strongest players in its industry, as it has invested $7.4 billion in acquisitions since 2019. These have yielded 3.5% and 5.2% in 2020 and 2021, respectively. The firm also has an industry leading same store NOI margin of 78.8%, and its 21x share price to FFO ratio indicates strong market confidence. Public Storage pays a $2 dividend for a 2.2% yield.

Raymond James increased Public Storage’s share price target to $380 from $365 in August 2022, highlighting that the firm’s strong balance sheet makes it a great inflation play. 33 of the 895 hedge fund portfolios studied by Insider Monkey for this year’s second quarter had invested in the company.

Public Storage’s largest investor is Cliff Asness’s AQR Capital Management which owns 632,696 shares that are worth $196 million.

LRT Capital Management mentioned the company in its Q2 2022 investor letter. Here is what the firm said:

“Public Storage is the largest self-storage REITs. The company acquires and develops self-storage facilities and currently owns or manages over 2,7000 properties and is extremely well diversified across the United States. The company was founded in 1972 and IPO-ed in 1980. We have long admired the company’s ability to grow and maintain high occupancy. We purchased our position after a recent pullback in the company’s share price. We also hold a small position in Extra Space Storage Inc., for the same reasons.

The business is largely recession proof with predictable revenues that grow every year due to rent increases, operating efficiencies and new sites. Typical reasons for using a self-storage facility include deaths, divorces, downsizing as well as birth and marriages – things that happen all the time, regardless of the economy. The company can continue to grow through consolidation as the self-storage market is still dominated by mom-n-pop operators. By acquiring underperforming assets and improving operations the company creates incremental shareholder value.

2. Prologis, Inc. (NYSE:PLD)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 49

Prologis, Inc. is a logistics REIT headquartered in San Francisco, California, United States. The firm has access to close to a billion square feet of property in 19 countries.

Not only is Prologis, Inc. the largest industrial real estate company in the world, but its consensus net asset value (NAV) of $145 per share suggests that it is undervalued. It counts Amazon, Home Depot, and FedEx as its tenants, with Amazon making up 5.7% of its annualized net lease value. Additionally, in a unique point, Prologis, Inc. is also the third largest private solar provider in America, through its efforts to install solar panels on its warehouses. The firm has a 10% 5-year FFO CAGR and 11% 5-year dividend CAGR, higher than the industry average. It pays a 79 cent dividend for a 2.3% yield.

49 of the 894 hedge funds surveyed by Insider Monkey for their June quarter of 2022 holdings had held a stake in Prologis, Inc..

Prologis, Inc.’s largest investor is Jeffrey Furber’s AEW Capital Management which owns 2.5 million shares that are worth $294 million.

1. WillScot Mobile Mini Holdings Corp. (NASDAQ:WSC)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 61

WillScot Mobile Mini Holdings Corp. is an American work space and portable storage solutions provider that is headquartered in Pheonix, Arizona. The company leases its storage spaces to a variety of segments such as industrials, education, and government users.

WillScot Mobile Mini Holdings Corp. has a staggering $1 billion operating income target for the next five years, with a 12x EV/EBITDA target. This induces a potential upside over the current share price of $42.57. The firm is also working towards developing ancillary services such as lighting and shelves (VAPS), with this segment expected to contribute at least $220 million to its revenues in the medium term and as much as $373 million.

Deutsche Bank raised WillScot Mobile Mini Holdings Corp.’s share price target to $50 from $49 in August 2022, sharing that the firm had a strong Q2 with impressive EBITDA growth. Insider Monkey’s Q2 2022 hedge fund study of 895 funds revealed that 61 had bought the company’s shares.