Colgate-Palmolive Company vs Essex Property Trust, Inc. — how do they compare? Colgate-Palmolive Company trades at $92.43 (market cap $74.26B), while Essex Property Trust, Inc. trades at $282.11 (market cap $18.20B). The key difference: Colgate-Palmolive Company is far larger — about 4.1× 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.
| CL | ESS | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $74.26B | $18.20B |
Sector | Consumer Staples | Real Estate |
52-Week High | $99.14 | $298.33 |
52-Week Low | $74.98 | $239.61 |
Enterprise Value | $80.74B | $24.80B |
Dividend Yield | 2.28% | 3.66% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Colgate-Palmolive (CL) trades at $93.27, up 0.29% on the day, with a bullish technical signal and consistent earnings beats. The company reported Q2 2026 EPS of $0.99, exceeding estimates, driven by strong margins and organic growth in emerging markets, though North American performance remains weak. Operating cash flow remains robust at $4.2 billion in 2025, supporting shareholder returns.
Outlook is mixed: valuation appears stretched with a P/E of 36.72, but analyst consensus targets $99.10. Risks include competitive pressures in North America and high debt levels. The stock offers a stable dividend, but growth concerns and insider selling warrant caution.
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
Since its founding in 1806, Colgate-Palmolive has grown to become a leading global consumer product company. In addition to its namesake oral care line, the firm manufactures shampoos, shower gels, deodorants, and home care products that are sold in over 200 countries (international sales account for about 70% of its consolidated total, including approximately 45% from emerging regions). It also owns specialty pet food maker Hill's, which sells its products through veterinarians and specialty pet retailers.
Read more on CL →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 →