Essex Property Trust, Inc. vs HCA Health Inc — how do they compare? Essex Property Trust, Inc. trades at $269.13 (market cap $17.23B), while HCA Health Inc trades at $443.69 (market cap $95.08B). The key difference: HCA Health Inc is far larger — about 5.5× Essex Property Trust, Inc.'s market cap, and Essex Property Trust, Inc. pays the higher dividend (3.86%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals — on Pluang, investors hold Essex Property Trust, Inc. for 111 Days and HCA Health Inc for 76 Days on average.
| ESS | HCA | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $17.23B | $95.08B |
Volume | 346,109 | 998,787 |
Sector | Real Estate | Health |
52-Week High | $298.33 | $545.13 |
52-Week Low | $239.61 | $361.32 |
Typical Hold Time | 111 Days | 76 Days |
Enterprise Value | $23.82B | $145.62B |
Dividend Yield | 3.86% | 0.71% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
ESS trades at $268.05, down 1.63% with bearish technical signals. The company reported mixed Q2 2026 results, beating FFO estimates but missing EPS expectations. Strong operational performance and litigation resolution provide fundamental support, though high valuation ratios and debt levels present concerns. Recent institutional buying and a $2.59 dividend declaration highlight investor confidence.
Outlook remains cautiously optimistic with a $303.41 consensus price target offering 13% upside. Key risks include earnings volatility, high leverage, and regional economic exposure. The stock presents a balanced opportunity for income-focused investors seeking quality REIT exposure with disciplined risk management.
HCA Healthcare (HCA) trades at $445.01, up 2.96% today, with a bullish technical signal and strong earnings beats in recent quarters. Revenue grew to $75.6B in 2025, with net income of $6.78B, and the stock trades at a P/E of 14.73. Analyst consensus is a Buy with a $461.12 price target, though ongoing legal investigations pose a headwind.
The outlook remains positive given solid demand and cost controls, but risks include payer-mix pressure and high debt levels. Upside potential exists if earnings growth continues, but investors should monitor legal developments and interest rate impacts on the leveraged balance sheet.
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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 →HCA Healthcare is a Nashville-based healthcare provider organization operating the largest collection of acute-care hospitals in the U.S. As of December 2021, the firm owned and operated 182 hospitals, 125 freestanding outpatient surgery centers, and a broad network of physician offices, urgent care clinics, and freestanding emergency rooms across nearly 20 states and a small foothold in England.
Read more on HCA →