Essex Property Trust, Inc. vs First Solar, Inc. — how do they compare? Essex Property Trust, Inc. trades at $282.11 (market cap $18.15B), while First Solar, Inc. trades at $227.8 (market cap $25.89B). The key difference: First Solar, Inc. is the larger of the two by market cap, and Essex Property Trust, Inc. pays a 3.93% dividend while First Solar, Inc. pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| ESS | FSLR | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $18.15B | $25.89B |
Sector | Real Estate | Technology |
52-Week High | $298.33 | $318.30 |
52-Week Low | $239.61 | $180.05 |
Enterprise Value | $24.75B | $24.36B |
Dividend Yield | 3.93% | — |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
ESS trades at $281.27, down 0.69% on the day, with a bearish technical signal. The company reported a Q2 2026 EPS miss ($0.97 vs. $1.46 expected) but raised full-year FFO guidance. Revenue grew to $1.89B in 2025, with a strong net income margin of 35.48%, though profitability is projected to moderate in 2026. The stock is supported by a $2.59 dividend and a consensus price target of $305.86, implying potential upside.
The outlook is mixed: raised guidance and institutional buying signal confidence, but technical weakness and a high debt load pose risks. The stock offers income and growth potential if operational execution improves, yet faces headwinds from regional market softness and interest rate sensitivity.
First Solar (FSLR) trades at $228.27, down 4.62% on the day, amid mixed signals. The stock shows a bullish technical trend with strong moving averages, though RSI levels suggest potential overbought conditions. Fundamentally, the company reported robust revenue growth to $5.22B in 2025, with a net income margin of 29.27%, while recent earnings beat expectations in Q1 and Q2 2026. However, multiple class-action lawsuits filed in August 2026 create near-term legal overhang.
The outlook remains positive given analyst consensus favoring a buy rating with a $282.07 price target, implying significant upside. Key risks include legal proceedings and competitive pressures in the solar sector. Earnings growth and operational cash flow strength support long-term value, but investors should weigh legal uncertainties against fundamental strengths.
Trailing returns across standard periods
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 →First Solar designs and manufactures solar photovoltaic panels, modules, and systems for use in utility-scale development projects. The company's solar modules use cadmium telluride to convert sunlight into electricity. This is commonly called thin-film technology. First Solar is the world's largest thin-film solar module manufacturer. It has production lines in Vietnam, Malaysia, the United States, and a new factory under construction in India.
Read more on FSLR →