Essex Property Trust (ESS) Stock Analysis
This is a peer-relative look at Essex Property Trust (ESS): its performance, risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividend, and valuation are each measured against its Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) peers, so every number reads in context rather than in isolation.
Company Profile
Essex Property Trust (ESS) is a REIT, a distribution-oriented structure — read its payout ratio and P/E alongside FFO (funds from operations) rather than at face value.
| Profile Item | ESS |
|---|---|
| Name | Essex Property Trust Inc. |
| Country/Region | United States |
| GICS Sector | Real Estate |
| GICS Industry Group | Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) |
| GICS Industry | Residential REITs |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Multi-Family Residential REITs |
| Market Capitalization | 18.78 billion USD |
| Currency | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE |
| Listing Date | June 7, 1994 |
| Security Type | REIT |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | Current stock: ESS | Industry group median |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 9.89% | 12.32% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 14.03% | 12.70% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | -0.58% | 0.76% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | Current stock: ESS | Industry group median |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 19.94% | 23.60% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.67 | 0.93 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -43.87% | -42.02% |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | Current stock: ESS | Industry group median |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.28 | 0.37 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 0.39 | 0.55 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Essex Property Trust (ESS) posts ROE of 6.52%, roughly around the peer group’s normal range. Shareholders’ equity is producing a return that looks broadly typical for the industry.
ESS
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) industry group
6.52%
Group distribution
- Max
- 22.74%
- Q3
- 10.54%
- ESS
- 6.52%
- Median
- 6.38%
- Q1
- 1.69%
- Min
- -10.86%
Largest peers
- SPG
- 129.35%
- AMT
- 32.96%
- EQIX
- 11.45%
- PLD
- 7.71%
- ESS
- 6.52%
- WELL
- 3.92%
- DLR
- 3.34%
Net Margin (TTM)
net margin is set aside for Essex Property Trust (ESS) in Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs): heavy depreciation can make net income a poor proxy for cash profitability, so FFO-based measures usually carry the read.
Operating Margin (TTM)
operating margin is set aside for Essex Property Trust (ESS) in Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs): the operating-income line is not a clean boundary for this business model, so net margin, ROE, FFO, or industry-specific measures may be more useful.
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | Current stock: ESS | Industry group median |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 6.52% | 6.38% |
| ROA (TTM) | 3.21% | 2.44% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Essex Property Trust (ESS) grew revenue 6.36%, roughly around the peer group's normal range. Top-line momentum looks broadly typical for the industry.
EPS Growth
EPS growth is not assessed for Essex Property Trust (ESS) in Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs): under this industry convention, per-share earnings need a different yardstick.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | Current stock: ESS | Industry group median |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 6.36% | 5.25% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 5.51% | 5.09% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -- | -- |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -- | -- |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Essex Property Trust (ESS) has current ratio of 0.41, in the tighter-liquidity quartile for its industry. The short-term cushion is thinner than most peers carry, even if the absolute comfort level still depends on the business model.
ESS
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) industry group
0.41
Group distribution
- Max
- 4.19
- Q3
- 2.11
- Median
- 1.31
- Q1
- 0.62
- ESS
- 0.41
- Min
- 0.06
Largest peers
- WELL
- 1.66
- EQIX
- 1.04
- PLD
- 0.73
- DLR
- 0.58
- ESS
- 0.41
- SPG
- 0.39
- AMT
- 0.35
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Essex Property Trust (ESS) has debt-to-equity ratio of 1.21, roughly in line with the peer group’s normal leverage range. Its mix of debt and equity looks typical for the industry.
ESS
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) industry group
1.21
Group distribution
- Max
- 2.72
- Q3
- 1.59
- ESS
- 1.21
- Median
- 0.99
- Q1
- 0.72
- Min
- 0.20
Largest peers
- SPG
- 5.67
- AMT
- 4.64
- EQIX
- 1.81
- ESS
- 1.21
- DLR
- 0.69
- PLD
- 0.62
- WELL
- 0.42
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | Current stock: ESS | Industry group median |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 0.41 | 1.31 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 1.21 | 0.99 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 5.10 | 5.82 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Essex Property Trust (ESS) has dividend yield of 3.81%, in the industry’s normal income range. It provides a meaningful dividend without the red flag of an unusually high headline yield.
ESS
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) industry group
3.81%
Group distribution
- Max
- 8.62%
- Q3
- 5.95%
- Median
- 4.34%
- ESS
- 3.81%
- Q1
- 3.26%
- Min
- 0.00%
Largest peers
- ESS
- 3.81%
- AMT
- 3.64%
- PLD
- 3.28%
- DLR
- 2.79%
- EQIX
- 2.02%
- WELL
- 1.30%
- SPG
- 0.97%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
payout ratio is not assessed for Essex Property Trust (ESS) in Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs): distributions in this industry are better read against FFO or cash-flow measures than accounting earnings.
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | Current stock: ESS | Industry group median |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 3.81% | 4.34% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | -- | -- |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
P/E ratio is not assessed for Essex Property Trust (ESS) in Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs): depreciation can depress accounting earnings in this industry, so price-to-FFO is the more relevant valuation yardstick.
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Essex Property Trust (ESS) trades at 9.48 on P/S ratio, in the higher sales-valuation quartile. Investors are paying up for each dollar of revenue, so stronger margins, growth, or revenue quality need to carry that price.
ESS
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) industry group
9.48
Group distribution
- Max
- 14.47
- ESS
- 9.48
- Q3
- 8.02
- Median
- 5.98
- Q1
- 3.27
- Min
- 0.43
Largest peers
- WELL
- 13.03
- PLD
- 12.48
- SPG
- 12.09
- EQIX
- 9.88
- ESS
- 9.48
- DLR
- 9.47
- AMT
- 7.95
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Essex Property Trust (ESS) trades at 3.30 on P/B ratio, in the higher book-value quartile. The market is paying a premium to book, so stronger ROE, cleaner assets, or a better growth profile need to justify it.
ESS
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) industry group
3.30
Group distribution
- Max
- 4.06
- ESS
- 3.30
- Q3
- 2.53
- Median
- 1.64
- Q1
- 1.06
- Min
- 0.21
Largest peers
- AMT
- 24.92
- SPG
- 19.38
- EQIX
- 6.90
- WELL
- 3.69
- ESS
- 3.30
- DLR
- 2.39
- PLD
- 2.16
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | Current stock: ESS | Industry group median |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | -- | -- |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 9.48 | 5.98 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 3.30 | 1.64 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | -- |