Essex Property Trust, Inc. vs Paycom Software Inc — how do they compare? Essex Property Trust, Inc. trades at $282.11 (market cap $18.20B), while Paycom Software Inc trades at $211 (market cap $9.62B). The key difference: Essex Property Trust, Inc. 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 | PAYC | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $18.20B | $9.62B |
Sector | Real Estate | Technology |
52-Week High | $298.33 | $233.89 |
52-Week Low | $239.61 | $113.59 |
Enterprise Value | $24.80B | $10.41B |
Dividend Yield | 3.66% | 0.7% |
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.
Paycom Software (PAYC) trades at $214.94, down 0.48% on the day, with a bullish technical signal supported by moving averages. The stock exhibits strong fundamentals, including a 22.78% net income margin and consistent earnings beats, most recently with Q2 2026 EPS of $2.78 versus $2.38 expected. Recent news highlights AI-driven demand and raised 2026 guidance, fueling positive sentiment.
Outlook remains favorable due to robust profitability and growth initiatives, though risks include high valuation multiples and competitive pressures. Analyst consensus is mixed with a $219.22 price target, suggesting modest upside potential from current levels amid balanced buy/hold ratings.
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 →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 →