Is CubeSmart (CUBE) The Best Self Storage and Apartment Stock to Invest In?

We recently compiled a list of the 12 Best Self Storage and Apartment Stocks to Invest In. In this article, we are going to take a look at where CubeSmart (NYSE:CUBE) stands against the other self-storage and apartment stocks.

In the US, the apartment and self-storage markets are adapting to changing economic conditions and consumer needs. Both markets play a crucial role in the economy and are expected to maintain growth trajectories driven by the demand for housing and storage solutions.

The demand for safe storage solutions is supported by lifestyle changes such as the increasing prevalence of remote work and downsizing among retirees. Additionally, the rise of e-commerce is further supporting this trend. As businesses downsize their space and individuals declutter their homes, there is a rising demand for self-storage solutions.

READ ALSO: 10 Unrivaled Stocks of the Next 5 Years and 10 Best Stocks to Buy and Hold For 2025.

According to Nuveen Real Estate, the US apartment market saw record supply growth in 2024. This made it challenging for apartment operators to grow rents and keep occupancy levels above the sector’s long-term average. Despite these challenges, the demand for apartments remains robust due to a housing shortage and a growing preference for renting, particularly among younger generations who prefer flexibility over owning a home.

The apartment market saw an increase in resident retention in 2024 compared to the previous year. Middle-income households are expected to continue driving the ongoing demand for rental properties in the foreseeable future.

Methodology

To compile our list of the 12 best self-storage and apartment stocks to invest in, we looked for the largest apartment and self-storage companies. We reviewed our own rankings, financial media reports, and various online resources including ETFs to compile a list of the best self-storage and apartment stocks. Next, we focused on the top 12 stocks most favored by institutional investors. Data for the hedge fund sentiment surrounding each stock was taken from Insider Monkey’s Q3 2024 database of 900 elite hedge funds. The 12 best self-storage and apartment stocks to invest in were then ranked in ascending order based on the number of hedge funds holding stakes in them as of Q3 2024.

Why do we care about what hedge funds do? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points (see more details here).

Is CubeSmart (CUBE) The Best Self Storage and Apartment Stock to Invest In?

A row of self-storage units in a self-storage complex, showing the affordability and security offered by the company.

CubeSmart (NYSE:CUBE)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 26

CubeSmart (NYSE:CUBE) is a self-administered and self-managed real estate investment trust (REIT) that owns, develops, acquires, and manages self-storage facilities in the United States. As one of the top self-storage companies in the country, it owns or manages more than 1,500 self-storage properties and serves both residential and commercial customers. CubeSmart (NYSE:CUBE) ranks among the best self-storage stocks to invest in.

The company is strategically focused on disciplined capital allocation while pursuing growth opportunities in the self-storage industry. By the end of the third quarter of 2024, CubeSmart (NYSE:CUBE) had successfully added 131 stores to its third-party management platform. This marked the 8th consecutive year of adding 130 or more stores. In addition to this, CubeSmart (NYSE:CUBE) is developing self-storage properties in high-barrier-to-entry areas. The company has 2 joint ventures under construction in New York, which are expected to open by Q3 2025.

Overall, CUBE ranks 9th on our list of the best self-storage and apartment stocks to invest in. While we acknowledge the potential of CUBE as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter time frame. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than CUBE but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.

READ NEXT: 20 Best AI Stocks To Buy Now and Complete List of 59 AI Companies Under $2 Billion in Market Cap.

Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.