Public Storage scores 95 for management and 37 for moat. The management score rests on a return on invested capital of 11.5% and a gross margin of 25.0% — figures that describe a business turning capital into profit efficiently. Debt sits at 1.11x equity. The narrow moat and exceptional management are not the same judgement, and the gap between them is where the argument about this business sits.
Three independent anchors set the price worth paying. Growth is modelled at 10.6% a year, below the 11.0% actually measured over the last decade — the model caps growth rather than extrapolating a good run forwards. The exit multiple assumed is 21.2x. That produces an intrinsic value of $150.40, a 10-CAP price of $179.17 and a payback time price of $231.61, with the value zone set at the highest of the three, $231.61. Today's price of $284.00 sits 23% above it.
The price is above the value zone and the business scores 37 for moat and 95 for management. Neither test argues for paying up here.
| Price | $284.00 |
| Market cap | $53.0B |
| P/E ratio | 27.1x |
| Return on invested capital | 11.5% |
| Gross margin | 25.0% |
| Debt to equity | 1.11x |
| Free cash flow yield | 6.4% |
| Growth rate used | 10.6% |
| Growth rate measured | 11.0% |
| Exit multiple assumed | 21.2x |
| Company | Moat | Buy price |
| Realty Income Corp. (O) | 57 | $46.91 |
| Simon Property Group (SPG) | 73 | $117.37 |
| Ventas (VTR) | 44 | $40.84 |
| Digital Realty (DLR) | 53 | $62.46 |
Every number above is built on assumptions that can be changed. In Moatly you can move the growth rate, the exit multiple and the margin of safety and watch every figure recalculate, so you are testing your own view of Public Storage rather than accepting ours.