ESS
Real EstateEssex Property Trust, Inc. · REIT - Residential · $18B
What is Essex Property Trust, Inc.?
Essex Property Trust is a West Coast-focused REIT that owns and manages multifamily apartment communities across select coastal markets. It is a member of the S&P 500.
Essex acquires, develops, redevelops, and manages multifamily residential properties. Revenue comes primarily from apartment rents across roughly 246 communities. The company targets high-demand coastal markets in California and the Pacific Northwest, where supply constraints and strong employment bases historically support rental demand.
Founded in 1994 and headquartered in San Mateo, California.
- Multifamily apartment ownership and management
- Property acquisition and development
- Redevelopment of existing communities
Is ESS a Good Stock to Buy?
UQS Score rates ESS as Below Average overall.
Essex earns a Strong Quality pillar rating, reflecting the operational discipline typical of a large, established REIT. Risk comes in at Neutral, suggesting the balance sheet and exposure profile are broadly in line with sector norms.
Growth and Moat both register as Weak, pointing to limited near-term expansion momentum and a competitive positioning that does not stand out strongly within the residential real estate sector.
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 ESS pay dividends?
Yes — Essex Property Trust, Inc. pays a dividend.
Essex Property Trust pays a regular dividend, consistent with its REIT structure, which requires distributing the majority of taxable income to shareholders. Income-focused investors often consider REITs like ESS for their dividend cadence. The sustainability of that payout is worth examining alongside the Growth and Moat pillar ratings.
When does ESS report earnings?
Essex Property Trust reports earnings on a quarterly cadence, standard for US-listed REITs.
As a large-cap REIT, Essex typically reports occupancy trends, same-property revenue growth, and funds from operations alongside standard financial results. The Quality pillar rating suggests operational results have been relatively consistent, though Growth remains a watch area.
For the most recent quarter's results, visit Essex Property Trust's investor relations page directly.
ESS Price History
+2.6% over 5Y
Monthly close, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment.
What if I invested in Essex Property Trust, Inc.?
Based on Essex Property 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Essex Property Trust do?
Essex Property Trust is a REIT that owns, develops, and manages multifamily apartment communities on the West Coast. It holds interests in roughly 246 communities and targets high-demand coastal markets in California and the Pacific Northwest.
Does ESS pay dividends?
Yes. As a REIT, Essex Property Trust is required to distribute the majority of its taxable income and pays a regular dividend. Income investors often include REITs like ESS for this reason, though dividend sustainability should be evaluated alongside overall financial health.
When does ESS report earnings?
Essex reports on a quarterly cadence. For exact dates and the most recent results, check the investor relations section of the Essex Property Trust website.
Is ESS a good stock to buy?
UQS Score rates ESS as Below Average overall. Quality is a relative strength, but Weak Growth and Moat ratings weigh on the composite score. Whether it fits your portfolio depends on your income needs and risk tolerance — the full pillar breakdown is available to Pro members.
Is ESS overvalued?
ESS carries a Neutral Valuation rating on the UQS platform, suggesting its price is neither clearly stretched nor deeply discounted relative to its fundamentals. The full valuation metrics are available to Pro members.
What is ESS's market cap bracket?
Essex Property Trust is classified as a large-cap company, reflecting its scale as one of the larger publicly traded apartment REITs focused on West Coast markets.
Is ESS a long-term quality investment?
The UQS long-term quality indicator for ESS is Below Average overall. Strong Quality is a positive signal, but Weak Growth and Moat ratings suggest limited structural advantages that would compound value over time. Pro members can view the complete pillar analysis.
What sector does ESS belong to?
Essex Property Trust operates in the Real Estate sector, specifically as a residential REIT. It focuses exclusively on multifamily apartment communities rather than commercial or industrial properties.
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Pro Analysis
ESS — Score History
| Date | UQS | Quality | Moat | Growth | Risk | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 23, 2026 | 42.4 | 78.9 | 35.0 | 13.8 | 19.4 | 54.9 | -5.2 |
| May 7, 2026 | 47.6 | 83.5 | 35.0 | 14.0 | 46.6 | 54.4 | 0.0 |
| May 3, 2026 | 47.6 | 83.5 | 35.0 | 14.0 | 46.6 | 54.7 | -0.1 |
| May 1, 2026 | 47.7 | 83.5 | 35.0 | 14.0 | 46.6 | 55.3 | 0.0 |
| Apr 26, 2026 | 47.7 | 83.5 | 35.0 | 13.9 | 46.6 | 55.4 | +0.1 |
| Apr 25, 2026 | 47.6 | 83.5 | 35.0 | 13.9 | 46.6 | 55.0 | -0.1 |
| Apr 23, 2026 | 47.7 | 83.7 | 35.0 | 13.9 | 46.6 | 54.9 | +0.1 |
| Apr 21, 2026 | 47.6 | 83.3 | 35.0 | 13.9 | 46.6 | 55.2 | -0.1 |
| Apr 19, 2026 | 47.7 | 83.5 | 35.0 | 13.9 | 46.6 | 55.4 | -0.1 |
| Apr 18, 2026 | 47.8 | 83.5 | 35.0 | 13.9 | 46.6 | 56.0 | +0.1 |
ESS — Pillar Breakdown
Quality
— 78.9/100 (25%)Essex Property Trust, Inc. demonstrates outstanding capital efficiency and profitability, placing it among the highest-quality businesses in the market.
Profitability relative to shareholders' equity.
Ability to convert revenue into operating profit.
Bottom-line profit as a share of revenue.
Free cash flow relative to market value.
Growth
— 13.8/100 (20%)Essex Property Trust, Inc. faces growth headwinds with declining or stagnant revenue trends.
Revenue trajectory over the last twelve months.
Compound annual revenue growth rate over 3 years.
Year-over-year earnings per share growth.
Analyst consensus for future revenue growth.
Analyst consensus for future earnings growth.
Risk
— 19.4/100 (15%)Essex Property Trust, Inc. presents elevated risk with concerns around leverage or financial stability.
Total debt relative to shareholder equity.
Short-term liquidity — ability to pay near-term obligations.
Earnings capacity relative to interest payments.
Valuation
— 54.4/100 (15%)Essex Property Trust, Inc. has a mixed valuation — some metrics suggest fair value while others appear stretched.
Inverse of forward P/E — higher yield means cheaper stock.
How many years of FCF the market cap represents.
Enterprise value multiple relative to sector median.
Moat
— 35/100 (25%)Essex Property Trust, Inc. possesses some competitive advantages but faces meaningful competition. 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 ESS.
Score Composition
Financial Data
More Stock Analysis
How is the ESS UQS Score Calculated?
The UQS (Unified Quality Score) for Essex Property 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 Essex Property 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 Essex Property 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.