Citi Says SBA Communications Take-Private Process is Dead
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 6 days ago
0mins
Citi says SBA Communications (SBAC) traded down yesterday after a news report stated the company's take-private process is "dead." The report reduces the probability of a privatization scenario for at least the near-term, the analyst tells investors in a research note. Citi views the news as a "potential clearing event" to removing the takeover option value from the tower stocks. It keeps Buy ratings on the three tower names with SBA remaining the firm's top pick.
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Analyst Views on SBAC
Wall Street analysts forecast SBAC stock price to rise
12 Analyst Rating
7 Buy
5 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 186.870
Low
205.00
Averages
226.92
High
275.00
Current: 186.870
Low
205.00
Averages
226.92
High
275.00
About SBAC
SBA Communications Corporation is an independent owner and operator of wireless communications infrastructure including towers, buildings, rooftops, distributed antenna systems (DAS) and small cells. Its primary focus is the leasing of antenna space on its multi-tenant towers to a variety of wireless service providers under long-term lease contracts in the United States, South America, Central America, Canada, and Africa. Its segments include Domestic Site Leasing, International Site Leasing and Site Development. The Domestic Site Leasing segment leases to T-Mobile, AT&T Wireless, and Verizon Wireless. It owns over 17,464 sites in the United States and its territories. The International Site Leasing segment owns and operates over 22,285 towers in 13 international markets throughout South America, Central America, Canada, and Africa. Site development services include network pre-design; site audits; tower and related site construction; support in leasing of the location, and others.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
SBA Communications Take-Private Process Ends, Shares Drop 4%
- Take-Private Process Ends: A report from Green Street indicates that the take-private process for SBA Communications has stalled, with KKR and Brookfield unable to finalize a deal over the past month, resulting in a 4% drop in the company's stock price, reflecting market concerns about its future prospects.
- Valuation Issues Impact Deal: KKR's decision to halt negotiations last month due to worries about SBA's elevated valuation and the equity commitment required has directly affected investor confidence in the company's outlook.
- Acquisition Interest Peaked: Following Bloomberg's report on April 2 that SBA was exploring options, including a potential sale, shares surged 19%, indicating strong interest from large infrastructure funds, but the recent developments have quickly reversed this optimistic sentiment.
- Market Reaction Significant: The failure of the privatization talks has led to a reassessment of SBA Communications' growth potential by investors, potentially resulting in greater challenges for the company in terms of financing and expansion.
See More
Investment Comparison: SBA vs. Crown Castle
- Revenue and Profit Comparison: SBA Communications reported nearly $2.8 billion in revenue for FY 2025, with a growth rate of approximately 5.1% and a net income of around $1.1 billion, resulting in a net margin of 37.4%, showcasing its strong profitability; in contrast, Crown Castle's revenue was nearly $4.3 billion, reflecting a 35.1% decline year-over-year, with a net income of about $444 million and a net margin of only 10.4%, indicating market pressures.
- Customer Concentration Risk: SBA's primary customers include T-Mobile, AT&T, and Verizon, with T-Mobile accounting for over 31% of total revenue, presenting a significant risk due to high customer concentration; similarly, Crown Castle relies on the big three carriers for approximately 90% of its site rental revenue, which poses a comparable risk to its financial stability.
- Debt and Liquidity Position: As of December 2025, SBA's debt-to-equity ratio was -3.2, with a current ratio of about 0.5, indicating risks from liabilities exceeding shareholder equity; in comparison, Crown Castle's debt-to-equity ratio was -18.1, with a current ratio of approximately 0.3, suggesting limited financial flexibility.
- Market Performance and Investment Outlook: Over the past five years, SBA's stock has declined by over 36%, while Crown Castle has seen a drop of about 55%, both facing challenges in investor confidence; however, SBA's lower forward P/E ratio and potential acquisition opportunities may attract more investor interest in the future.
See More
5G Network Expansion Drives Real Estate Growth
- SBA Financial Performance: In FY 2025, SBA Communications reported nearly $2.8 billion in revenue, reflecting a growth rate of approximately 5.1%, with net income around $1.1 billion and a net margin of 37.4%, showcasing its strong profitability in leasing wireless infrastructure.
- Crown Castle Market Challenges: Crown Castle's revenue for FY 2025 was nearly $4.3 billion, representing a significant decline of about 35.1% year-over-year, with net income of approximately $444 million and a net margin of only 10.4%, highlighting customer concentration risks and competitive pressures in the U.S. market.
- Risk Analysis: SBA Communications faces risks from a small customer base, particularly with the recent default of EchoStar expected to lead to a revenue loss of about $56 million in 2026, while Crown Castle carries approximately $24.2 billion in debt, limiting its flexibility for new projects.
- Industry Outlook Comparison: Despite being the smallest in market cap and tower count, SBA Communications exhibits superior financials compared to Crown Castle, and the market's interest in potential acquisitions could rejuvenate investor confidence, especially against the backdrop of growing demand for 5G infrastructure.
See More
SBA Communications CFO to Speak at JP Morgan Conference
- Conference Announcement: SBA Communications CFO Marc Montagner is scheduled to speak at the JP Morgan 2026 Global Technology, Media and Communications Conference on May 18, 2026, at 2:50 PM ET, highlighting the company's leadership in wireless communications infrastructure.
- Event Location: The conference will take place at The Westin Boston Seaport District in Boston, Massachusetts, expected to attract numerous investors and professionals from the industry, thereby enhancing SBA's market visibility.
- Company Overview: SBA Communications is a leading independent owner and operator of wireless communications infrastructure, boasting over 46,000 communication sites across the Americas and Africa, showcasing its strong influence in the global market.
- Market Position: As a NASDAQ-listed company, SBA is part of the S&P 500 and ranks among the top Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) by market capitalization, reflecting its significant standing in the industry.
See More
SBA COMMUNICATIONS CORP: RAYMOND JAMES INCREASES TARGET PRICE FROM $255 TO $270
Company Overview: Communications Corp has raised its target price for Raymond James.
New Target Price: The new target price is set at $270, an increase from the previous $255.
See More
SBA Communications Q1 2026 Earnings Call Insights and Outlook
- Upgraded Performance Outlook: SBA Communications' management indicated that due to strong first-quarter performance, the company is raising its full-year outlook for all key metrics, including site leasing revenue and adjusted EBITDA, showcasing its competitive edge and growth potential in the market.
- Strong U.S. Leasing Demand: In the U.S., SBA added approximately $10 million in quarterly new lease and amendment billings year-over-year, indicating effective strategies in meeting operational demands and market expansion, which are expected to drive future revenue growth.
- International Market Integration Progress: The company successfully built over 60 new towers in Central America and made significant progress in integrating Millicom assets, exceeding initial lease-up projections, demonstrating healthy demand and future growth potential in international markets.
- Financial Stability: At the end of the first quarter, SBA reported approximately $13 billion in total debt, with a net debt to adjusted EBITDA leverage ratio at a historical low of 6.6x, while also declaring a quarterly dividend of $1.25 per share, reflecting the company's commitment to shareholder returns.
See More
SBA Communications Take-Private Process Ends, Shares Drop 4%
- Take-Private Process Ends: A report from Green Street indicates that the take-private process for SBA Communications has stalled, with KKR and Brookfield unable to finalize a deal over the past month, resulting in a 4% drop in the company's stock price, reflecting market concerns about its future prospects.
- Valuation Issues Impact Deal: KKR's decision to halt negotiations last month due to worries about SBA's elevated valuation and the equity commitment required has directly affected investor confidence in the company's outlook.
- Acquisition Interest Peaked: Following Bloomberg's report on April 2 that SBA was exploring options, including a potential sale, shares surged 19%, indicating strong interest from large infrastructure funds, but the recent developments have quickly reversed this optimistic sentiment.
- Market Reaction Significant: The failure of the privatization talks has led to a reassessment of SBA Communications' growth potential by investors, potentially resulting in greater challenges for the company in terms of financing and expansion.
See More
Investment Comparison: SBA vs. Crown Castle
- Revenue and Profit Comparison: SBA Communications reported nearly $2.8 billion in revenue for FY 2025, with a growth rate of approximately 5.1% and a net income of around $1.1 billion, resulting in a net margin of 37.4%, showcasing its strong profitability; in contrast, Crown Castle's revenue was nearly $4.3 billion, reflecting a 35.1% decline year-over-year, with a net income of about $444 million and a net margin of only 10.4%, indicating market pressures.
- Customer Concentration Risk: SBA's primary customers include T-Mobile, AT&T, and Verizon, with T-Mobile accounting for over 31% of total revenue, presenting a significant risk due to high customer concentration; similarly, Crown Castle relies on the big three carriers for approximately 90% of its site rental revenue, which poses a comparable risk to its financial stability.
- Debt and Liquidity Position: As of December 2025, SBA's debt-to-equity ratio was -3.2, with a current ratio of about 0.5, indicating risks from liabilities exceeding shareholder equity; in comparison, Crown Castle's debt-to-equity ratio was -18.1, with a current ratio of approximately 0.3, suggesting limited financial flexibility.
- Market Performance and Investment Outlook: Over the past five years, SBA's stock has declined by over 36%, while Crown Castle has seen a drop of about 55%, both facing challenges in investor confidence; however, SBA's lower forward P/E ratio and potential acquisition opportunities may attract more investor interest in the future.
See More
5G Network Expansion Drives Real Estate Growth
- SBA Financial Performance: In FY 2025, SBA Communications reported nearly $2.8 billion in revenue, reflecting a growth rate of approximately 5.1%, with net income around $1.1 billion and a net margin of 37.4%, showcasing its strong profitability in leasing wireless infrastructure.
- Crown Castle Market Challenges: Crown Castle's revenue for FY 2025 was nearly $4.3 billion, representing a significant decline of about 35.1% year-over-year, with net income of approximately $444 million and a net margin of only 10.4%, highlighting customer concentration risks and competitive pressures in the U.S. market.
- Risk Analysis: SBA Communications faces risks from a small customer base, particularly with the recent default of EchoStar expected to lead to a revenue loss of about $56 million in 2026, while Crown Castle carries approximately $24.2 billion in debt, limiting its flexibility for new projects.
- Industry Outlook Comparison: Despite being the smallest in market cap and tower count, SBA Communications exhibits superior financials compared to Crown Castle, and the market's interest in potential acquisitions could rejuvenate investor confidence, especially against the backdrop of growing demand for 5G infrastructure.
See More
SBA Communications CFO to Speak at JP Morgan Conference
- Conference Announcement: SBA Communications CFO Marc Montagner is scheduled to speak at the JP Morgan 2026 Global Technology, Media and Communications Conference on May 18, 2026, at 2:50 PM ET, highlighting the company's leadership in wireless communications infrastructure.
- Event Location: The conference will take place at The Westin Boston Seaport District in Boston, Massachusetts, expected to attract numerous investors and professionals from the industry, thereby enhancing SBA's market visibility.
- Company Overview: SBA Communications is a leading independent owner and operator of wireless communications infrastructure, boasting over 46,000 communication sites across the Americas and Africa, showcasing its strong influence in the global market.
- Market Position: As a NASDAQ-listed company, SBA is part of the S&P 500 and ranks among the top Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) by market capitalization, reflecting its significant standing in the industry.
See More
SBA COMMUNICATIONS CORP: RAYMOND JAMES INCREASES TARGET PRICE FROM $255 TO $270
Company Overview: Communications Corp has raised its target price for Raymond James.
New Target Price: The new target price is set at $270, an increase from the previous $255.
See More
SBA Communications Q1 2026 Earnings Call Insights and Outlook
- Upgraded Performance Outlook: SBA Communications' management indicated that due to strong first-quarter performance, the company is raising its full-year outlook for all key metrics, including site leasing revenue and adjusted EBITDA, showcasing its competitive edge and growth potential in the market.
- Strong U.S. Leasing Demand: In the U.S., SBA added approximately $10 million in quarterly new lease and amendment billings year-over-year, indicating effective strategies in meeting operational demands and market expansion, which are expected to drive future revenue growth.
- International Market Integration Progress: The company successfully built over 60 new towers in Central America and made significant progress in integrating Millicom assets, exceeding initial lease-up projections, demonstrating healthy demand and future growth potential in international markets.
- Financial Stability: At the end of the first quarter, SBA reported approximately $13 billion in total debt, with a net debt to adjusted EBITDA leverage ratio at a historical low of 6.6x, while also declaring a quarterly dividend of $1.25 per share, reflecting the company's commitment to shareholder returns.
See More
