ESRT

Real Estate

Empire State Realty Trust, Inc. · REIT - Diversified · $960M

UQS Score — Balanced Preset
28.1
Poor

Empire State Realty Trust, Inc. scores 28.1/100 using the Balanced preset.

UQS vs Real Estate Sector
ESRT
28.1
Sector avg
38.4
Quality
Neutral
Moat
Weak
Growth
Weak
Risk
Weak
Valuation
Neutral

What is Empire State Realty Trust, Inc.?

Empire State Realty Trust is a New York-based real estate investment trust best known for owning and operating the Empire State Building. The company focuses on office and retail properties across Manhattan and the greater New York metropolitan area.

ESRT owns, manages, and repositions office and retail properties in Manhattan, Fairfield County, and Westchester County. Revenue comes primarily from tenant leases across a portfolio exceeding ten million rentable square feet. The company also benefits from the Empire State Building's observatory, which draws significant visitor traffic. ESRT has been a recognized leader in energy efficiency and indoor environmental quality standards within commercial real estate.

Empire State Realty Trust was incorporated in 2013 and is headquartered in New York City.

  • Manhattan office properties and leasing
  • Retail portfolio across the New York metro area
  • Empire State Building observatory operations
  • Energy efficiency and sustainability programs
  • Property repositioning and redevelopment

Is ESRT a Good Stock to Buy?

UQS Score rates ESRT as Below Average overall.

Among the five pillars, Valuation comes in at a Neutral reading — meaning the stock is not obviously expensive relative to its fundamentals. That is the most constructive signal in an otherwise challenged profile.

Quality, Moat, Growth, and Risk all register as Weak, reflecting the pressures facing Manhattan office real estate — including subdued demand, limited competitive differentiation, and balance-sheet considerations.

See the exact pillar breakdown and full financial metrics by signing up for a UQS Pro account. Sign up free →

Past performance does not guarantee future results. UQS Score is based on fundamental data and is not a buy/sell recommendation.

Does ESRT pay dividends?

Yes — Empire State Realty Trust, Inc. pays a dividend.

ESRT pays a regular dividend, consistent with its structure as a REIT — which is required to distribute the majority of taxable income to shareholders. Income-oriented investors often screen for REITs on this basis. Given the Weak Quality and Risk pillar readings, prospective investors should review dividend sustainability carefully before relying on the payout as a primary return driver.

When does ESRT report earnings?

Empire State Realty Trust reports earnings on a quarterly cadence, typical for US-listed REITs.

The company's recent results reflect the ongoing challenges in Manhattan office leasing, with occupancy and revenue trends that lag stronger periods in the portfolio's history. Operational improvements in sustainability and building quality have not yet translated into a meaningfully stronger financial profile.

For the most recent quarter's results, visit Empire State Realty Trust's investor relations page directly.

ESRT Price History

-48.4% over 5Y

Monthly close, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment.

Return Calculator

What if I invested in Empire State Realty Trust, Inc.?

$
Today it would be worth
$5,517
That's a -44.8% total return, or -11.2% annualized.

Based on Empire State Realty Trust, Inc.'s historical closing prices, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is for informational purposes only and is not financial advice.

ESRT Long-term Outlook

The fundamental outlook for ESRT is cautious. With Growth and Risk both rated Weak, the near-term trajectory depends heavily on a recovery in Manhattan office demand — a trend that remains uneven. The Neutral Valuation reading suggests the market has already priced in a degree of uncertainty, which limits downside from valuation compression but does not resolve the underlying operational headwinds.

Growth drivers

  • Potential recovery in Manhattan office leasing demand
  • Observatory and experiential revenue from the Empire State Building
  • Ongoing sustainability leadership attracting ESG-focused tenants

Key risks

  • Persistent weakness in New York office occupancy trends
  • Elevated sensitivity to interest rate changes as a leveraged REIT
  • Limited geographic and asset diversification

ESRT vs Peers

ESRT operates in a competitive segment of the real estate market alongside several other smaller REITs and real estate finance companies.

SAFEESRT scores lower
Safehold Inc.

Safehold focuses on ground lease structures rather than traditional property ownership, giving it a fundamentally different risk and revenue profile than ESRT.

PKSTESRT scores lower
Peakstone Realty Trust

Peakstone targets single-tenant net lease office and industrial assets, offering a more diversified geographic footprint compared to ESRT's concentrated New York focus.

BRSPSimilar UQS
BrightSpire Capital, Inc.

BrightSpire operates as a commercial real estate credit company, lending against properties rather than owning them directly — a distinct business model from ESRT's equity ownership approach.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Empire State Realty Trust do?

Empire State Realty Trust owns and manages office and retail properties in Manhattan and the surrounding New York metro area. Its portfolio includes the Empire State Building, which generates both leasing and observatory revenue. The company also has a track record in sustainability and building efficiency programs.

Does ESRT pay dividends?

Yes, ESRT pays a regular dividend. As a REIT, it is required to distribute most of its taxable income to shareholders. However, given the Weak Quality and Risk pillar ratings, investors should assess the dividend's sustainability within the context of the company's broader financial health before making income-focused decisions.

When does ESRT report earnings?

Empire State Realty Trust reports on a quarterly cadence, as is standard for US-listed REITs. For specific dates and the most recent results, check the investor relations section of the company's official website.

Is ESRT a good stock to buy?

UQS Score rates ESRT as Below Average. Four of five pillars — Quality, Moat, Growth, and Risk — are rated Weak, while Valuation is Neutral. This profile suggests meaningful fundamental challenges. Investors should review the full pillar breakdown available to UQS Pro members before drawing conclusions.

Is ESRT overvalued?

The UQS Valuation pillar for ESRT is rated Neutral, suggesting the stock is neither clearly cheap nor obviously expensive relative to its fundamentals. Given the weak underlying quality and growth profile, the Neutral valuation reading reflects a market that has already discounted significant uncertainty.

How does ESRT compare to its competitors?

ESRT is differentiated by its iconic asset — the Empire State Building — and its Manhattan-centric portfolio. Peers like Safehold and Peakstone operate with different structures or broader geographic reach. BrightSpire focuses on real estate credit rather than direct ownership. Each carries a distinct risk and return profile worth comparing through a structured framework like UQS Score.

What is ESRT's market cap bracket?

ESRT is classified as a small-cap company. This places it below large-cap REITs in terms of total market value, which can mean lower liquidity and higher sensitivity to sector-specific headwinds compared to larger peers in the real estate space.

Who founded Empire State Realty Trust?

Empire State Realty Trust was formed in 2013 as part of a consolidation of properties long associated with the Malkin family's real estate holdings. For detailed founding history, publicly available sources and the company's official filings provide comprehensive background.

Is ESRT a long-term quality investment?

As a long-term quality indicator, ESRT's UQS profile raises caution. With Weak ratings across Quality, Moat, Growth, and Risk, the company faces structural challenges in Manhattan office real estate that may persist. Long-term investors should weigh the iconic asset base against the fundamental headwinds reflected in the pillar scores.

What is the main competitive advantage of Empire State Realty Trust?

ESRT's most distinctive asset is the Empire State Building itself — a globally recognized landmark that generates observatory revenue alongside traditional office leasing. The company also holds a leadership position in sustainability certifications. However, the UQS Moat pillar rates this advantage as Weak, suggesting limited durable differentiation at the portfolio level.

What sector does ESRT belong to?

ESRT operates in the Real Estate sector, specifically as an office and retail REIT focused on the New York metropolitan area. Office REITs have faced particular pressure in recent years due to shifting workplace trends, which is reflected in ESRT's overall UQS profile.

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Pro Analysis

ESRT — Score History

2025303540Apr 2Apr 12Apr 22May 2May 12May 22May 24v5
Score changes· 24 most recent
DateUQSQualityMoatGrowthRiskValueChange
May 21, 202631.540.725.05.037.056.8-0.1
May 19, 202631.640.825.05.037.057.00.0
May 12, 202631.641.225.05.037.057.0-1.9
May 9, 202633.545.325.00.051.854.1+2.5
May 7, 202631.039.725.05.037.055.30.0
May 3, 202631.039.725.05.037.055.40.0
May 2, 202631.039.725.05.037.055.5-0.2
Apr 25, 202631.239.725.05.637.055.50.0
Apr 23, 202631.239.825.05.637.055.30.0
Apr 21, 202631.239.625.05.637.055.70.0

ESRT — Pillar Breakdown

Quality

40.7/100 (25%)

Empire State Realty Trust, Inc. has average quality metrics, with room for improvement in margins or capital efficiency.

Return on EquityWeak

Profitability relative to shareholders' equity.

Operating ProfitabilityModerate

Ability to convert revenue into operating profit.

Net ProfitabilityWeak

Bottom-line profit as a share of revenue.

Cash GenerationStrong

Free cash flow relative to market value.

Growth

5.0/100 (20%)

Empire State Realty Trust, Inc. faces growth headwinds with declining or stagnant revenue trends.

Recent Revenue TrendWeak

Revenue trajectory over the last twelve months.

3Y Revenue CAGRWeak

Compound annual revenue growth rate over 3 years.

EPS GrowthWeak

Year-over-year earnings per share growth.

Forward Revenue OutlookWeak

Analyst consensus for future revenue growth.

Forward EPS GrowthWeak

Analyst consensus for future earnings growth.

Risk

14.5/100 (15%)

Empire State Realty Trust, Inc. presents elevated risk with concerns around leverage or financial stability.

Debt/EquityWeak

Total debt relative to shareholder equity.

Current RatioWeak

Short-term liquidity — ability to pay near-term obligations.

Interest CoverageWeak

Earnings capacity relative to interest payments.

Valuation

56.7/100 (15%)

Empire State Realty Trust, Inc. trades at a reasonable valuation with decent earnings yield and FCF multiples.

Earnings YieldWeak

Inverse of forward P/E — higher yield means cheaper stock.

Price to Free Cash FlowStrong

How many years of FCF the market cap represents.

EV/EBITDA vs SectorStrong

Enterprise value multiple relative to sector median.

Moat

25/100 (25%)

Empire State Realty Trust, Inc. operates in a highly competitive environment with limited sustainable advantages. The Moat pillar evaluates competitive advantages across five dimensions: Switching Costs, Network Effects, Cost Advantage, Intangible Assets, and Scale & Ecosystem. Sign in to customize moat ratings for ESRT.

Score Composition

Quality
40.7×25%10.2
Growth
5.0×20%1.0
Risk
14.5×15%2.2
Valuation
56.7×15%8.5
Moat
25.0×25%6.3
Total
28.1Poor

Financial Data

More Stock Analysis

How is the ESRT UQS Score Calculated?

The UQS (Unified Quality Score) for Empire State Realty Trust, Inc. is calculated using a proprietary 6-pillar framework with 29 financial metrics. Each pillar evaluates a different dimension on a 0–100 scale, then combines into a single weighted score. Scoring thresholds are calibrated per sector. Momentum is an optional Pro toggle — without it, you get the 5-pillar / 25-metric core shown below.

Quality (25%) measures profitability and capital efficiency — ROIC, ROE, margins, GP/Assets, and FCF Yield.

Moat (25%) assesses Empire State Realty Trust, Inc.'s competitive advantages across switching costs, network effects, cost advantages, intangible assets, and ecosystem scale.

Growth (20%) tracks revenue trajectory and earnings momentum, combining historical results with analyst forward estimates.

Risk (15%) is inversely scored — lower leverage and strong balance sheet health result in higher scores.

Valuation (15%) measures whether Empire State Realty Trust, Inc. is fairly priced using earnings yield, price-to-FCF, PEG ratio, and EV/EBITDA relative to sector peers.

Six investor-inspired presets are available, each with different pillar weights: Balanced, Buffett, Munger, Lynch, Cathie Wood, and Graham. The public score shown here uses the Balanced preset. Learn more in our FAQ.