CSGP vs. ESS: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison
Updated onHere’s a clear look at CSGP and ESS, comparing key factors like historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation.
Company Profile
A key difference in structure is that CSGP is a conventional stock, whereas ESS is a Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT), a company that primarily invests in income-generating real estate.
| Symbol | CSGP | ESS |
|---|---|---|
| Company Name | CoStar Group, Inc. | Essex Property Trust, Inc. |
| Country | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Real Estate | Real Estate |
| GICS Industry | Real Estate Management & Development | Residential REITs |
| Market Capitalization | 37.09 billion USD | 17.87 billion USD |
| Exchange | NasdaqGS | NYSE |
| Listing Date | July 1, 1998 | June 7, 1994 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | REIT |
Historical Performance
This chart compares the performance of CSGP and ESS by tracking the growth of an initial $10,000 investment in each. Use the tabs to select the desired time period. Data is adjusted for dividends and splits.
Historical Performance at a Glance
| Symbol | CSGP | ESS |
|---|---|---|
| 5-Day Price Return | -8.16% | 0.67% |
| 13-Week Price Return | 16.16% | -9.63% |
| 26-Week Price Return | 11.98% | -13.20% |
| 52-Week Price Return | 21.56% | -8.12% |
| Month-to-Date Return | -8.02% | -0.56% |
| Year-to-Date Return | 22.31% | -9.36% |
| 10-Day Avg. Volume | 3.16M | 0.66M |
| 3-Month Avg. Volume | 3.21M | 0.51M |
| 3-Month Volatility | 25.20% | 25.66% |
| Beta | 0.89 | 0.84 |
Profitability
Return on Equity (TTM)
CSGP
1.29%
Real Estate Management & Development Industry
- Max
- 14.65%
- Q3
- 8.92%
- Median
- 3.63%
- Q1
- 1.63%
- Min
- -8.05%
CSGP’s Return on Equity of 1.29% is in the lower quartile for the Real Estate Management & Development industry. This indicates a less efficient generation of profit from its equity base when compared to its competitors.
ESS
14.44%
Residential REITs Industry
- Max
- 12.21%
- Q3
- 9.45%
- Median
- 7.42%
- Q1
- 2.50%
- Min
- 0.37%
ESS’s Return on Equity of 14.44% is exceptionally high, placing it well beyond the typical range for the Residential REITs industry. This demonstrates a superior ability to generate profit from shareholder investments, though it could also be inflated by high financial leverage.
Net Profit Margin (TTM)
CSGP
3.57%
Real Estate Management & Development Industry
- Max
- 57.16%
- Q3
- 24.60%
- Median
- 9.48%
- Q1
- 2.61%
- Min
- -26.61%
CSGP’s Net Profit Margin of 3.57% is aligned with the median group of its peers in the Real Estate Management & Development industry. This indicates its ability to convert revenue into profit is typical for the sector.
ESS
43.51%
Residential REITs Industry
- Max
- 67.49%
- Q3
- 38.86%
- Median
- 25.74%
- Q1
- 7.62%
- Min
- 0.15%
In the Residential REITs industry, Net Profit Margin is often not the primary profitability metric.
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)
CSGP
-0.22%
Real Estate Management & Development Industry
- Max
- 92.29%
- Q3
- 43.61%
- Median
- 20.96%
- Q1
- 6.44%
- Min
- -48.90%
CSGP has a negative Operating Profit Margin of -0.22%. This signifies the company is unprofitable at the operational level, as its core business expenses exceed its revenue.
ESS
52.69%
Residential REITs Industry
- Max
- 54.06%
- Q3
- 45.82%
- Median
- 29.89%
- Q1
- 19.34%
- Min
- 5.28%
In the Residential REITs industry, Operating Profit Margin is often not the primary measure of operational efficiency.
Profitability at a Glance
| Symbol | CSGP | ESS |
|---|---|---|
| Return on Equity (TTM) | 1.29% | 14.44% |
| Return on Assets (TTM) | 1.06% | 6.16% |
| Net Profit Margin (TTM) | 3.57% | 43.51% |
| Operating Profit Margin (TTM) | -0.22% | 52.69% |
| Gross Profit Margin (TTM) | 79.33% | 70.55% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
CSGP
5.83
Real Estate Management & Development Industry
- Max
- 3.73
- Q3
- 2.22
- Median
- 1.42
- Q1
- 1.03
- Min
- 0.04
CSGP’s Current Ratio of 5.83 is exceptionally high, placing it well outside the typical range for the Real Estate Management & Development industry. This indicates a very strong liquidity position, though such a high ratio may also suggest that the company is not using its assets efficiently to generate profits.
ESS
0.71
Residential REITs Industry
- Max
- 1.28
- Q3
- 0.64
- Median
- 0.21
- Q1
- 0.12
- Min
- 0.00
ESS’s Current Ratio of 0.71 is in the upper quartile for the Residential REITs industry. This signifies a strong liquidity position, suggesting the company is well-equipped to cover its immediate liabilities compared to its peers.
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)
CSGP
0.12
Real Estate Management & Development Industry
- Max
- 2.62
- Q3
- 1.30
- Median
- 0.84
- Q1
- 0.39
- Min
- 0.00
Falling into the lower quartile for the Real Estate Management & Development industry, CSGP’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 0.12 points to a conservative financing strategy. This results in lower financial risk but potentially limits strategic investments compared to more leveraged competitors.
ESS
1.20
Residential REITs Industry
- Max
- 1.62
- Q3
- 1.10
- Median
- 0.83
- Q1
- 0.69
- Min
- 0.28
ESS’s leverage is in the upper quartile of the Residential REITs industry, with a Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 1.20. While this approach can boost equity growth, it also exposes the company to greater financial vulnerability.
Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)
CSGP
14.65
Real Estate Management & Development Industry
- Max
- 23.14
- Q3
- 12.97
- Median
- 3.68
- Q1
- 1.29
- Min
- -4.45
CSGP’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 14.65 is in the upper quartile for the Real Estate Management & Development industry, signifying a strong and healthy capacity to meet its interest payments from operating profits.
ESS
8.86
Residential REITs Industry
- Max
- 5.11
- Q3
- 4.01
- Median
- 2.53
- Q1
- 1.52
- Min
- 0.52
With an Interest Coverage Ratio of 8.86, ESS demonstrates a superior capacity to service its debt, placing it well above the typical range for the Residential REITs industry. This stems from either robust earnings or a conservative debt load.
Financial Strength at a Glance
| Symbol | CSGP | ESS |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 5.83 | 0.71 |
| Quick Ratio (MRQ) | 5.72 | 0.17 |
| Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) | 0.12 | 1.20 |
| Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) | 14.65 | 8.86 |
Growth
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
Dividend
Dividend Yield (TTM)
CSGP
0.00%
Real Estate Management & Development Industry
- Max
- 6.79%
- Q3
- 3.51%
- Median
- 2.22%
- Q1
- 0.52%
- Min
- 0.00%
CSGP currently does not pay a dividend, resulting in a yield of 0%. This is a common strategy for growth-focused companies that prioritize reinvesting earnings, though it may be less typical in mature, income-oriented sectors.
ESS
3.90%
Residential REITs Industry
- Max
- 4.21%
- Q3
- 3.83%
- Median
- 3.40%
- Q1
- 3.27%
- Min
- 2.80%
With a Dividend Yield of 3.90%, ESS offers a more attractive income stream than most of its peers in the Residential REITs industry, signaling a strong commitment to shareholder returns.
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
CSGP
0.00%
Real Estate Management & Development Industry
- Max
- 242.45%
- Q3
- 106.13%
- Median
- 55.27%
- Q1
- 14.97%
- Min
- 0.00%
CSGP has a Dividend Payout Ratio of 0%, indicating it does not currently pay a dividend. This is a common strategy for growth-oriented companies that reinvest all profits back into the business.
ESS
79.64%
Residential REITs Industry
- Max
- 210.87%
- Q3
- 145.45%
- Median
- 102.94%
- Q1
- 84.58%
- Min
- 17.15%
ESS’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 79.64% is in the lower quartile for the Residential REITs industry. This suggests a conservative dividend policy, with a strategic focus on reinvesting profits for future growth.
Dividend at a Glance
| Symbol | CSGP | ESS |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.00% | 3.90% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 0.00% | 79.64% |
Valuation
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)
CSGP
344.90
Real Estate Management & Development Industry
- Max
- 41.09
- Q3
- 23.50
- Median
- 17.29
- Q1
- 11.14
- Min
- 6.36
At 344.90, CSGP’s P/E Ratio is exceptionally high, exceeding the typical maximum for the Real Estate Management & Development industry. This suggests the stock may be significantly overvalued compared to its peers and implies high market expectations that could be difficult to meet.
ESS
20.44
Residential REITs Industry
- Max
- 177.01
- Q3
- 109.22
- Median
- 31.26
- Q1
- 25.84
- Min
- 8.46
The P/E Ratio is often not the primary metric for valuation in the Residential REITs industry.
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)
CSGP
12.33
Real Estate Management & Development Industry
- Max
- 12.22
- Q3
- 5.64
- Median
- 2.53
- Q1
- 0.98
- Min
- 0.01
With a P/S Ratio of 12.33, CSGP trades at a valuation that eclipses even the highest in the Real Estate Management & Development industry. This implies the market has priced in exceptionally optimistic scenarios for future revenue growth, posing considerable valuation risk.
ESS
8.89
Residential REITs Industry
- Max
- 12.50
- Q3
- 10.33
- Median
- 8.01
- Q1
- 6.55
- Min
- 5.06
ESS’s P/S Ratio of 8.89 aligns with the market consensus for the Residential REITs industry. This suggests its valuation, based on sales, is seen as standard and is on par with its competitors.
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)
CSGP
3.94
Real Estate Management & Development Industry
- Max
- 2.36
- Q3
- 1.18
- Median
- 0.75
- Q1
- 0.35
- Min
- 0.06
At 3.94, CSGP’s P/B Ratio is at an extreme premium to the Real Estate Management & Development industry. This signifies that the market’s valuation is heavily reliant on future potential rather than its current net asset value, which can be a high-risk proposition.
ESS
3.24
Residential REITs Industry
- Max
- 4.49
- Q3
- 2.83
- Median
- 2.20
- Q1
- 1.42
- Min
- 0.67
ESS’s P/B Ratio of 3.24 is in the upper tier for the Residential REITs industry. This indicates that investors are paying a premium relative to the company’s net assets, a valuation that hinges on its ability to generate superior profits.
Valuation at a Glance
| Symbol | CSGP | ESS |
|---|---|---|
| Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) | 344.90 | 20.44 |
| Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) | 12.33 | 8.89 |
| Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) | 3.94 | 3.24 |
| Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (TTM) | 1,218.25 | 70.96 |