Conagra Brands Inc vs Essex Property Trust, Inc. — how do they compare? Conagra Brands Inc trades at $14.19 (market cap $6.77B), while Essex Property Trust, Inc. trades at $295.88 (market cap $19.16B). The key difference: Essex Property Trust, Inc. is far larger — about 2.8× Conagra Brands Inc's market cap, and Conagra Brands Inc pays the higher dividend (9.89%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| CAG | ESS | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $6.77B | $19.16B |
Sector | Consumer Staples | Real Estate |
52-Week High | $20.02 | $298.33 |
52-Week Low | $12.58 | $239.61 |
Enterprise Value | $14.05B | $25.88B |
Dividend Yield | 9.89% | 3.47% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Conagra Brands (CAG) trades at $14.33, up 3.62% today, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages. The stock shows mixed earnings performance, missing Q2 2025 and Q1 2026 estimates but beating Q3 2025. Valuation ratios appear attractive with P/E of 10.06 and P/B of 0.84, though net income margin is negative at -0.39%. Recent news highlights upcoming Q4 earnings and dividend sustainability concerns under new leadership.
CAG presents a high-yield opportunity with a 10% dividend, but faces risks from potential dividend cuts, high debt, and revenue pressures. Analyst consensus is cautious with a $13.70 price target below current levels. Investors should weigh the defensive staple positioning against fundamental headwinds and earnings volatility for balanced risk-reward assessment.
ESS trades at $297.48, up 1.34% today, near its consensus price target of $294.25. The stock shows bullish technical momentum with strong moving average signals 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. Fundamentals remain solid with $1.89B revenue and a 30.03% net income margin in 2025.
Outlook is cautiously optimistic given analyst consensus leaning toward Hold (52.17%) despite recent beats. Key opportunities include AI-driven rental demand in West Coast markets and a sustainable dividend. Risks involve high debt levels (debt-to-asset ratio of 51.92% in 2024) and potential economic sensitivity. The stock offers moderate upside if earnings momentum continues but requires monitoring of leverage and regional market conditions.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
Conagra Brands is a packaged food company that operates predominantly in the United States (over 90% of revenue and profits). It has a significant presence in the freezer aisle, with brands such as Marie Callender's, Healthy Choice, Banquet, and Birds Eye. Other popular brands include Duncan Hines, Hunt's, Slim Jim, Vlasic, Orville Redenbacher's, Reddi-wip, Wish-Bone, and Chef Boyardee. While the majority of revenue is sold into the U.S. retail channel, 9% of fiscal 2022 sales were to the food-service channel, down from 11% in fiscal 2019 due to the pandemic.
Read more on CAG →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 →