Applied Digital Corporation vs Essex Property Trust, Inc. — how do they compare? Applied Digital Corporation trades at $28.96 (market cap $8.90B), while Essex Property Trust, Inc. trades at $296.75 (market cap $18.86B). The key difference: Essex Property Trust, Inc. is far larger — about 2.1× Applied Digital Corporation's market cap, and Essex Property Trust, Inc. pays a 3.53% dividend while Applied Digital Corporation pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| APLD | ESS | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $8.90B | $18.86B |
Sector | Technology | Real Estate |
52-Week High | $49.65 | $298.33 |
52-Week Low | $9.18 | $239.61 |
Enterprise Value | $10.00B | $25.59B |
Dividend Yield | — | 3.53% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Applied Digital (APLD) trades at $31.15, down 3.53% today, amid bearish technical signals despite unanimous analyst buy ratings. The company shows strong revenue growth with $144M in 2025 and $319M projected for 2026, but remains unprofitable with negative margins. Recent news highlights APLD's pivot to AI data centers with $36B in contracted lease value, though execution risks and customer concentration persist.
Outlook: High growth potential from AI infrastructure expansion contrasts with profitability challenges and heavy capital spending. Risks include customer concentration and debt load, but analyst consensus targets $76.67 suggest significant upside if execution improves.
ESS trades at $293.55, up 0.83% on the day, with a bullish technical signal and strong fundamental performance. The stock exhibits robust profitability with a 30.03% net income margin and has beaten earnings estimates for three consecutive quarters. Recent news highlights include the upcoming Q2 2026 earnings release and the company's addition to the Russell Microcap Index, reflecting positive momentum.
The outlook for ESS is supported by strong West Coast rental demand and AI-driven employment growth, though risks include high debt levels and Seattle market weakness. Analyst consensus is mixed with a $292.89 price target, slightly below the current price, indicating cautious optimism amid valuation concerns.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
Applied Digital provides high-performance computing (HPC) infrastructure and cloud services. It designs and operates data centers tailored for AI, machine learning, and other intensive digital workloads across North America.
Read more on APLD →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 →