Essex Property Trust, Inc. vs Old Dominion Freight Line Inc — how do they compare? Essex Property Trust, Inc. trades at $282.11 (market cap $18.20B), while Old Dominion Freight Line Inc trades at $209.64 (market cap $44.07B). The key difference: Old Dominion Freight Line Inc is far larger — about 2.4× Essex Property Trust, Inc.'s market cap, and Essex Property Trust, Inc. pays the higher dividend (3.66%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| ESS | ODFL | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $18.20B | $44.07B |
Sector | Real Estate | Industrials |
52-Week High | $298.33 | $248.73 |
52-Week Low | $239.61 | $126.29 |
Enterprise Value | $24.80B | $43.81B |
Dividend Yield | 3.66% | 0.55% |
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.
ODFL stock trades at $216.36, up 2.34% today, with a bearish technical signal but strong fundamentals. Recent Q2 2026 earnings beat expectations with EPS of $1.68 versus $1.54 expected, driven by yield improvements and cost discipline. The company maintains robust profitability with a net income margin of 19.44% and ROE of 24.82%, though revenue has declined from $6.3B in 2022 to $5.5B in 2025. Analyst consensus price target is $239.85, suggesting upside potential.
Outlook is mixed: earnings momentum and a solid balance sheet support growth, but high valuation ratios (P/E of 41.6) and freight volume pressures pose risks. Investors should weigh the premium pricing against operational efficiency gains and market recovery prospects.
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 →Old Dominion Freight Line is the fourth-largest less-than-truckload carrier in the United States, with more than 240 service centers and 9,200-plus tractors. OD is by far one of the most disciplined and efficient providers in the trucking industry, and its profitability and capital returns stand head and shoulders above its peers. Strategic initiatives revolve around increasing network density through market share gains and maintaining industry-leading service via consistent infrastructure investment.
Read more on ODFL →