Essex Property Trust, Inc. vs Paycom Software Inc — how do they compare? Essex Property Trust, Inc. trades at $298.49 (market cap $18.82B), while Paycom Software Inc trades at $149.78 (market cap $6.75B). The key difference: Essex Property Trust, Inc. is far larger — about 2.8× Paycom Software Inc's market cap, and Essex Property Trust, Inc. pays the higher dividend (3.54%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| ESS | PAYC | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $18.82B | $6.75B |
Sector | Real Estate | Technology |
52-Week High | $298.33 | $238.80 |
52-Week Low | $239.61 | $113.59 |
Enterprise Value | $25.54B | $7.36B |
Dividend Yield | 3.54% | 1.04% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
ESS trades at $297.29, down slightly by 0.28% on the day, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and neutral oscillators. The company reported strong earnings beats in recent quarters, with Q2 2026 results expected soon. Fundamentals show robust profitability with a 30.03% net income margin and $669.67M net income for 2025, though valuation ratios like a P/E of 32.93 appear elevated. Recent news highlights sustainability initiatives and inclusion in the Russell Microcap Index.
The outlook for ESS is cautiously optimistic, supported by high West Coast rental demand and AI-driven employment growth. Risks include elevated debt levels and Seattle market weakness. Analysts are mixed with a $294.25 consensus price target, slightly below the current price, suggesting limited near-term upside amid solid operational performance.
Paycom Software (PAYC) trades at $152.79, up 6.35% over 24 hours, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and a consensus analyst price target of $151.00. Recent earnings beat expectations in Q4 2025 and Q1 2026, with revenue growing to $2.05 billion in 2025. The company maintains strong profitability, including a 22.44% net income margin and 37.15% ROE, while launching new tools like Asset Management to drive growth.
Outlook is cautiously optimistic, with potential upside to the $183.00 high target, supported by solid fundamentals and product innovation. Risks include competitive pressures in HCM software and reliance on steady revenue growth. Investors should weigh the stock's current valuation against earnings consistency and market sentiment.
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 →Paycom is a fast-growing provider of payroll and human capital management, or HCM, software primarily targeting clients with 50-10,000 employees in the United States. Paycom was established in 1998 and services about 18,000 clients as of 2021, based on parent company grouping. Alongside its core payroll software, Paycom offers various HCM add-on modules, including time and attendance, talent management, and benefits administration.
Read more on PAYC →