Compare Essex Property Trust, Inc. (ESS) vs Paychex, Inc. (PAYX) Price & Performance
Price performance (Past 24H)
Key statistics
Key statistics
Essex Property Trust, Inc. vs Paychex, Inc. — how do they compare? Essex Property Trust, Inc. trades at $280.01 (market cap $18.15B), while Paychex, Inc. trades at $118.94 (market cap $43.14B). The key difference: Paychex, Inc. is far larger — about 2.4× 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 | PAYX | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $18.15B | $43.14B |
Sector | Real Estate | Industrials |
52-Week High | $298.33 | $140.81 |
52-Week Low | $239.61 | $85.57 |
Enterprise Value | $24.75B | $46.63B |
Dividend Yield | 3.93% | 3.92% |
Aura AI Summary
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Aura AI Summary
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.
Paychex (PAYX) trades at $121.18, up 0.95% with a bullish technical outlook and strong fundamentals. The company maintains robust profitability with 27.03% net margins and consistent earnings beats. Recent expansion of WISE platform and steady small business employment trends support growth. Technical indicators show bullish momentum with support at $120 and resistance at $122.
PAYX offers stable dividend income and consistent execution but faces valuation concerns with P/E of 24.81 above sector averages. Analyst consensus remains cautious with 63% hold ratings. Key risks include economic sensitivity and competitive pressures in HR services. Upside depends on continued market share gains and margin maintenance.
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 Paychex, Inc.
Paychex is a leading provider of payroll, human capital management, and insurance solutions servicing small and midsize clients primarily in the United States. The company, established in 1979, services over 730,000 clients and pays over 1 in 12 U.S. private-sector workers. Alongside its traditional payroll services, Paychex offers HCM solutions such as benefits administration and time and attendance software, as well as human resources outsourcing and insurance agency services.
Read more on PAYX →
