Compare Essex Property Trust, Inc. (ESS) vs NRG Energy Inc (NRG) Price & Performance
Price performance (Past 24H)
Key statistics
Key statistics
Essex Property Trust, Inc. vs NRG Energy Inc — how do they compare? Essex Property Trust, Inc. trades at $298.43 (market cap $18.82B), while NRG Energy Inc trades at $135.09 (market cap $29.10B). The key difference: NRG Energy Inc is the larger of the two by market cap, and Essex Property Trust, Inc. pays the higher dividend (3.54%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| ESS | NRG | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $18.82B | $29.10B |
Sector | Real Estate | Utilities |
52-Week High | $298.33 | $184.03 |
52-Week Low | $239.61 | $120.65 |
Enterprise Value | $25.54B | $52.92B |
Dividend Yield | 3.54% | 1.38% |
Aura AI Summary
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Aura AI Summary
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.
NRG Energy trades at $138.36, down 0.8% on the day, with a bearish technical signal and key support at $136. Fundamentally, the company reported 2025 revenue of $30.71 billion and net income of $864 million, though net margin is thin at 0.74%. Recent earnings show mixed results, with a Q1 2026 miss, while analysts maintain a consensus buy rating with a $190 price target. Cash flow trends are volatile, with 2025 net cash flow positive at $3.83 billion but 2026 projected negative.
The stock presents a valuation case with a high P/E of 151.54 offset by a reasonable P/S of 0.85. Upside is supported by analyst optimism and exposure to energy demand trends, but risks include volatile cash flows, high debt levels, and execution challenges in a competitive market. The upcoming Q2 2026 earnings report on August 4, 2026, will be critical for confirming growth trajectory.
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
About Essex Property Trust, Inc.
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 →About NRG Energy Inc
NRG Energy is one of the largest retail energy providers in the U.S., with 7 million customers, including its 2021 acquisition of Direct Energy. It also is one of the largest U.S. independent power producers, with 16 gigawatts of nuclear, coal, gas, and oil power generation capacity primarily in Texas. Since 2018, NRG has divested its 47% stake in NRG Yield, among other renewable energy and conventional generation investments. NRG exited Chapter 11 bankruptcy as a stand-alone entity in December 2003.
Read more on NRG →
