Apartment Investment and Management Co vs Essex Property Trust, Inc. — how do they compare? Apartment Investment and Management Co trades at $2.61 (market cap $380.52M), while Essex Property Trust, Inc. trades at $282.11 (market cap $18.20B). The key difference: Essex Property Trust, Inc. is far larger — about 47.8× Apartment Investment and Management Co's market cap, and Essex Property Trust, Inc. pays a 3.66% dividend while Apartment Investment and Management Co pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| AIV | ESS | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $380.52M | $18.20B |
Sector | Real Estate | Real Estate |
52-Week High | $7.93 | $298.33 |
52-Week Low | $2.59 | $239.61 |
Enterprise Value | $742.67M | $24.80B |
Dividend Yield | — | 3.66% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
AIV trades at $2.66, up 0.38% on the day, with a bearish technical signal from moving averages. The company reported a net income margin of 400.05% in 2025, driven by a significant tax benefit, though revenue declined to $138.49 million. Earnings history shows mixed quarterly results, with two beats and two misses against expectations. Analyst consensus is mixed with a hold rating from two of three analysts.
The outlook is cautious due to volatile earnings and declining revenue, offset by strong profitability metrics and a dividend announcement. Key risks include inconsistent financial performance and high debt levels. Upside potential exists if the company stabilizes revenue growth and maintains improved margins.
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
Apartment Investment & Management Co is a self-managed real estate investment trust. It is focused on property development, redevelopment and various other value-creating investment strategies, targeting the U.S multifamily market. Its operating segments are Development and Redevelopment
Read more on AIV →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 →