Autozone Inc vs Essex Property Trust, Inc. — how do they compare? Autozone Inc trades at $3,042 (market cap $50.09B), while Essex Property Trust, Inc. trades at $282.11 (market cap $18.20B). The key difference: Autozone Inc is far larger — about 2.8× Essex Property Trust, Inc.'s market cap, and Essex Property Trust, Inc. pays a 3.66% dividend while Autozone Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| AZO | ESS | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $50.09B | $18.20B |
Sector | Consumer Cyclical | Real Estate |
52-Week High | $4.35K | $298.33 |
52-Week Low | $2.92K | $239.61 |
Enterprise Value | $62.46B | $24.80B |
Dividend Yield | — | 3.66% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
AutoZone (AZO) trades at $3,127.29, up 1.88% recently, with a bullish technical signal and strong analyst support. Revenue grew to $18.94B in 2025, though net income margin dipped to 13.19%. The company maintains robust cash flow from operations and recently authorized a $1.5B stock buyback, signaling confidence. Key resistance lies near $3,160, with support at $3,063.
Outlook remains positive with 73% analyst buy ratings and a $3,730 consensus price target, implying ~19% upside. Risks include margin pressure from rising costs and competitive threats. Earnings beats in recent quarters support growth, but investors should monitor execution on international expansion and capex efficiency.
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
AutoZone is the premier seller of aftermarket automotive parts, tools, and accessories to do-it-yourself customers in the United States. The company derives an increasing proportion of its sales from domestic commercial customers, although its presence in its home market is still dominated by its do-it-yourself operation, which accounts for nearly 75% of sales in country. AutoZone also has a growing presence in Mexico and Brazil. AutoZone had 6,767 stores in the U.S. (6,051), Mexico (664), and Brazil (52) as of the end of fiscal 2021.
Read more on AZO →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 →