D R Horton Inc vs Essex Property Trust, Inc. — how do they compare? D R Horton Inc trades at $150.79 (market cap $41.02B), while Essex Property Trust, Inc. trades at $282.11 (market cap $18.20B). The key difference: D R Horton Inc is far larger — about 2.3× 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.
| DHI | ESS | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $41.02B | $18.20B |
Sector | Consumer Cyclical | Real Estate |
52-Week High | $184.04 | $298.33 |
52-Week Low | $132.53 | $239.61 |
Enterprise Value | $46.13B | $24.80B |
Dividend Yield | 1.23% | 3.66% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
D.R. Horton (DHI) trades at $151.08, up 3.47% on the day, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and a consensus analyst price target of $153.00. The company reported Q3 2026 EPS of $3.20, beating estimates, but lowered full-year sales guidance amid persistent affordability pressures. Valuation metrics appear reasonable with a P/E of 14.4 and P/S of 1.32, while profitability remains solid with a net income margin of 9.15%.
The outlook is mixed: strong execution and cash returns provide support, but weaker demand and margin pressure pose headwinds. Investment opportunity lies in disciplined inventory management and shareholder returns, while risks include elevated mortgage rates and competitive threats from disruptors like Boxabl. Analyst sentiment is balanced with 45% buy ratings.
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
D.R. Horton is a leading homebuilder in the United States with operations in 98 markets across 31 states. D.R. Horton mainly builds single-family detached homes (over 90% of home sales revenue) and offers products to entry-level, move-up, luxury buyers, and active adults. The company offers homebuyers mortgage financing and title agency services through its financial services segment. D.R. Horton's headquarters are in Arlington, Texas, and it manages six regional segments across the United States.
Read more on DHI →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 →