Essex Property Trust, Inc. vs HCA Health Inc — how do they compare? Essex Property Trust, Inc. trades at $297.98 (market cap $18.82B), while HCA Health Inc trades at $391.2 (market cap $84.04B). The key difference: HCA Health Inc is far larger — about 4.5× Essex Property Trust, Inc.'s market cap, and Essex Property Trust, Inc. pays the higher dividend (3.54%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| ESS | HCA | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $18.82B | $84.04B |
Sector | Real Estate | Health |
52-Week High | $298.33 | $545.13 |
52-Week Low | $239.61 | $334.32 |
Enterprise Value | $25.54B | $132.95B |
Dividend Yield | 3.54% | 0.82% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Essex Property Trust (ESS) trades at $293.32, down 1.61% on the day, with a bullish technical outlook supported by moving averages. The stock shows strong profitability with a 30.03% net income margin and has beaten earnings estimates for three consecutive quarters. Recent news highlights include the upcoming Q2 2026 earnings release and inclusion in the Russell Microcap Index, reflecting positive momentum.
The outlook for ESS is cautiously optimistic, driven by robust West Coast rental demand and AI-driven employment growth. Risks include elevated debt levels and Seattle market weakness. Analysts maintain a mixed consensus with a $294.25 price target, suggesting limited near-term upside from current levels amid balanced sentiment.
HCA Healthcare (HCA) is trading at $363.60, down 6.95% amid lowered 2026 guidance. The stock shows bearish technical signals but maintains strong fundamentals with consistent revenue growth to $75.6 billion in 2025 and earnings beats in recent quarters. Analyst consensus remains bullish with a $469.40 price target despite recent negative sentiment from payer mix challenges.
The outlook presents a value opportunity given attractive valuation multiples (P/E 13.05, EV/EBITDA 8.48) and dividend yield, though risks include rising uninsured patients and margin compression. Long-term growth drivers include capacity expansion and specialty care investments, but near-term volatility may persist until Q2 earnings clarity.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
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 →