Essex Property Trust, Inc. vs Philip Morris International Inc. — how do they compare? Essex Property Trust, Inc. trades at $282.11 (market cap $18.20B), while Philip Morris International Inc. trades at $186.35 (market cap $289.90B). The key difference: Philip Morris International Inc. is far larger — about 15.9× 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 | PM | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $18.20B | $289.90B |
Sector | Real Estate | Consumer Staples |
52-Week High | $298.33 | $200.17 |
52-Week Low | $239.61 | $144.33 |
Enterprise Value | $24.80B | $333.02B |
Dividend Yield | 3.66% | 3.16% |
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.
Philip Morris International (PM) trades at $186.22, down 1.77% with mixed technical signals. The company reported strong Q1 and Q2 2026 earnings beats but faces margin pressure from rising costs. Revenue grew to $40.65B in 2025 with a robust 25.56% net income margin. Analyst consensus remains bullish with a $211.17 price target, though recent news highlights challenges including a $500M impairment charge and increased illicit cigarette trade in Europe.
PM offers solid fundamentals with high profitability and dividend yield, but near-term headwinds from cost inflation and regulatory risks warrant caution. The stock's valuation at 25.54x P/E is reasonable given earnings growth potential, making it attractive for long-term investors despite current volatility.
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 →Philip Morris International is an international tobacco company with a product portfolio primarily consisting of cigarettes and reduced-risk products, including heat-not-burn, vapor and oral nicotine products, which are sold in markets outside the United States. The company diversified away from nicotine products with the acquisition of Vectura, a provider of innovative inhaled drug delivery solutions, in 2021.
Read more on PM →