Essex Property Trust, Inc. vs Howmet Aerospace Inc — how do they compare? Essex Property Trust, Inc. trades at $281.29 (market cap $18.15B), while Howmet Aerospace Inc trades at $283.74 (market cap $112.20B). The key difference: Howmet Aerospace Inc is far larger — about 6.2× Essex Property Trust, Inc.'s market cap, and Essex Property Trust, Inc. pays the higher dividend (3.93%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| ESS | HWM | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $18.15B | $112.20B |
Sector | Real Estate | Industrials |
52-Week High | $298.33 | $291.28 |
52-Week Low | $239.61 | $171.00 |
Enterprise Value | $24.75B | $116.30B |
Dividend Yield | 3.93% | 0.2% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
ESS trades at $282.11, down 0.39% on the day, with a bearish technical signal from moving averages and oscillators. The company reported Q2 2026 EPS of $0.97, missing expectations, but raised full-year guidance after strong property NOI growth. Revenue reached $1.89B in 2025 with a net income margin of 35.48%, though profitability is trending lower in 2026. Recent news includes ESS being named a top GreenTech company and signing a 500 MWh energy storage agreement with Juniper Energy.
The outlook is mixed: raised guidance and institutional buying support upside, but technical weakness and earnings miss pose near-term risks. Valuation ratios like P/E of 19.9 and P/S of 9.05 are reasonable for a REIT, yet debt levels and regional market volatility require caution. Analyst consensus is a Moderate Buy with a $305.86 price target, suggesting 8.4% potential upside from current levels.
Howmet Aerospace (HWM) trades at $283.94, up 0.08% with strong bullish momentum following consecutive earnings beats. The stock shows robust fundamentals with Q2 2026 EPS of $1.33 beating estimates by 7.3%, driven by 24% revenue growth in aerospace and defense markets. Technical indicators signal bullish momentum with the current price above key support levels. The company raised full-year 2026 guidance, reflecting confidence in continued demand across commercial aerospace and gas turbine segments.
Outlook remains positive with 84% analyst buy ratings and $334.63 consensus price target suggesting 18% upside. Key risks include execution of capacity expansion plans and potential supply chain constraints. The combination of strong earnings momentum, raised guidance, and institutional support positions HWM for continued growth, though investors should monitor Q3 2026 results due for confirmation of guidance sustainability.
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 →Howmet Aerospace provides advanced engineered solutions for the aerospace and transportation industries. It specializes in jet engine components, aerospace fastening systems, and forged aluminum wheels.
Read more on HWM →