Aon PLC vs Essex Property Trust, Inc. — how do they compare? Aon PLC trades at $356.48 (market cap $75.72B), while Essex Property Trust, Inc. trades at $282.11 (market cap $18.20B). The key difference: Aon PLC is far larger — about 4.2× Essex Property Trust, Inc.'s market cap, and Essex Property Trust, Inc. pays the higher dividend (3.66%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| AON | ESS | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $75.72B | $18.20B |
Sector | Financials | Real Estate |
52-Week High | $381.26 | $298.33 |
52-Week Low | $308.22 | $239.61 |
Enterprise Value | $90.33B | $24.80B |
Dividend Yield | 0.92% | 3.66% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
AON trades at $358.3, down 0.68% on the day, with a neutral technical signal. The company reported strong Q2 2026 earnings, beating EPS estimates with $3.81 versus $3.8 expected, driven by 5% organic revenue growth. Valuation metrics include a P/E of 19.75 and P/S of 4.39, while profitability remains robust with a net income margin of 22.27% and ROE of 44.88%. Recent news highlights institutional buying and a new executive appointment.
The outlook is positive with a consensus price target of $410, implying 14% upside, supported by earnings momentum and solid cash flow. Risks include premium valuation concerns and modest organic growth. Analyst sentiment is balanced with 47% buy ratings, but high debt levels and competitive pressures warrant caution for investors.
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
Latest headlines on both assets
Aon is a leading global provider of insurance and reinsurance brokerage and human resource solutions. Its operations are tilted toward its brokerage operations. Headquartered in London, Aon has about 50,000 employees and operations in 120 countries around the world.
Read more on AON →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 →