Essex Property Trust, Inc. vs KeyCorp — how do they compare? Essex Property Trust, Inc. trades at $282.11 (market cap $18.20B), while KeyCorp trades at $22.7 (market cap $24.31B). The key difference: KeyCorp is the larger of the two by market cap, and Essex Property Trust, Inc. pays the higher dividend (3.66%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| ESS | KEY | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $18.20B | $24.31B |
Sector | Real Estate | Financials |
52-Week High | $298.33 | $23.99 |
52-Week Low | $239.61 | $16.78 |
Enterprise Value | $24.80B | — |
Dividend Yield | 3.66% | 3.62% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
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.
KeyCorp (KEY) trades at $22.73, up 0.31% today, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and a consensus analyst price target of $29.41. Recent Q2 2026 earnings beat estimates with EPS of $0.44, driven by net interest income growth and fee expansion. The acquisition of Clearwater UK bolsters its investment banking presence, while a 3.6% dividend yield adds income appeal.
Outlook is positive with earnings momentum and strategic acquisitions supporting growth, but risks include interest rate sensitivity and competitive pressures. Wall Street sentiment is bullish with 61% buy ratings, though net cash flow volatility and modest ROE of 2.72% warrant caution for value-focused investors.
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 →With assets of over $170 billion, Ohio-based KeyCorp's bank footprint spans 16 states, but it is predominantly concentrated in its two largest markets: Ohio and New York. KeyCorp is primarily focused on serving middle-market commercial clients through a hybrid community/corporate bank model.
Read more on KEY →