AGNC Investment Corp vs Essex Property Trust, Inc. — how do they compare? AGNC Investment Corp trades at $10.9 (market cap $12.74B), while Essex Property Trust, Inc. trades at $282.11 (market cap $18.20B). The key difference: Essex Property Trust, Inc. is the larger of the two by market cap, and AGNC Investment Corp pays the higher dividend (13.4%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| AGNC | ESS | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $12.74B | $18.20B |
Sector | Financials | Real Estate |
52-Week High | $12.17 | $298.33 |
52-Week Low | $9.46 | $239.61 |
Dividend Yield | 13.4% | 3.66% |
Enterprise Value | — | $24.80B |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
AGNC Investment trades at $10.84, up 2.17% today, with a bullish technical signal and strong earnings beats in Q1 and Q2 2026. The stock offers a high dividend yield, with consistent monthly payouts, and trades at a P/E of 5.39 and P/B of 1.22. Recent news highlights its 13%+ yield and stable dividend history, though analyst consensus is mixed with a Hold majority.
Outlook remains positive due to robust net income margins above 94% and economic returns, but risks include interest rate sensitivity and leveraged mortgage securities. The consensus price target of $11.30 suggests modest upside, supported by institutional interest and earnings momentum, though volatility from macroeconomic factors warrants caution.
ESS trades at $288.1, up 1.05% daily, with a neutral technical signal and support near $284. The stock shows strong profitability with a 21.48% net margin and recent Q2 2026 earnings miss on EPS but beat on FFO, leading to raised full-year guidance. Revenue growth is steady, reaching $1.89B in 2025, though net income declined to $670M from $742M in 2024.
Outlook is cautiously optimistic with a consensus price target of $305.86, implying ~6% upside. Risks include high debt levels (debt-to-asset ratio of 51.92% in 2024) and regional economic exposure. Analyst sentiment is mixed with 40% buy ratings, but institutional interest grew with Amundi increasing its stake in Q1 2026.
Trailing returns across standard periods
AGNC Investment Corp is a real estate investment trust that invests in agency residential mortgage-backed securities. The firm's asset portfolio is comprised of residential mortgage pass-through securities and collateralized mortgage obligations for which the principal and interest payments are guaranteed by a U.S. Government-sponsored enterprise, such as the Federal National Mortgage Association and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, or by a U.S. Government agency, such as the Government National Mortgage Association. It also invests in other types of mortgage and mortgage-related residential and commercial mortgage-backed securities or other investments in or related to, the housing, mortgage or real estate markets.
Read more on AGNC →Essex Property Trust owns a portfolio of 253 apartment communities with over 62,000 units and is developing three additional properties with 571 units. The company focuses on owning large, high-quality properties on the West Coast in the urban and suburban submarkets of Southern California, Northern California, and Seattle.
Read more on ESS →