AngloGold Ashanti Limited vs Essex Property Trust, Inc. — how do they compare? AngloGold Ashanti Limited trades at $98 (market cap $49.19B), while Essex Property Trust, Inc. trades at $282.11 (market cap $18.20B). The key difference: AngloGold Ashanti Limited is far larger — about 2.7× Essex Property Trust, Inc.'s market cap, and AngloGold Ashanti Limited pays the higher dividend (4.65%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| AU | ESS | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $49.19B | $18.20B |
Sector | Basic Materials | Real Estate |
52-Week High | $128.26 | $298.33 |
52-Week Low | $52.15 | $239.61 |
Enterprise Value | $48.20B | $24.80B |
Dividend Yield | 4.65% | 3.66% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
AngloGold Ashanti (AU) surged 9.85% to $96.22 on strong gold price momentum and positive Q2 earnings. The stock trades near its 52-week high with bullish technical indicators and robust fundamentals including 26.64% net margins and 46.5% ROE. Recent quarterly results showed mixed performance with Q1 beating expectations while Q2 slightly missed, but strong free cash flow growth supports increased shareholder returns including dividends and a $2 billion buyback program.
Outlook remains positive with analyst consensus at $120.33 target (25% upside) and 64% buy ratings. Key catalysts include H2 production growth and gold price strength, while risks involve operational disruptions and commodity volatility. The company's improving balance sheet and cash generation support continued dividend payments and strategic initiatives.
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
Anglogold Ashanti Ltd is one of the largest gold miners. The company also produces silver and sulphuric acid as by-products. Its operating divisions are Africa, Australia, and the Americas. The firm generates a majority of its revenue from Africa which includes Ghana, Guinea, Mali, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Tanzania.
Read more on AU →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 →