Essex Property Trust, Inc. vs McDonald's Corp — how do they compare? Essex Property Trust, Inc. trades at $281.78 (market cap $18.15B), while McDonald's Corp trades at $275.3 (market cap $194.00B). The key difference: McDonald's Corp is far larger — about 10.7× 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 | MCD | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $18.15B | $194.00B |
Sector | Real Estate | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $298.33 | $341.06 |
52-Week Low | $239.61 | $262.80 |
Enterprise Value | $24.75B | $247.77B |
Dividend Yield | 3.93% | 2.71% |
Volume | — | 2,230,036 |
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.
McDonald's (MCD) trades at $273.72, down 0.28% on the day, with a neutral technical signal and strong fundamentals including a 31.72% net margin and consistent earnings beats. The company recently unveiled its 'McDonald's NEXT' growth strategy focusing on automation and menu innovation to drive future performance. Revenue growth remains steady, with 2025 revenue at $26.89 billion.
Outlook is positive with a consensus price target of $322.45 offering 17.8% upside, supported by 60% analyst buy ratings. Risks include inflationary pressures on franchisee margins and high long-term debt of $38.42 billion. The stock presents a value opportunity with stable dividends and strategic initiatives aimed at enhancing competitiveness.
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 →McDonald's Corporation franchises and operates fast-food restaurants in the global restaurant industry. The Company's restaurants serves a variety of value-priced menu products in countries around the world.
Read more on MCD →