Essex Property Trust, Inc. vs Simon Property Group Inc — how do they compare? Essex Property Trust, Inc. trades at $296.42 (market cap $18.82B), while Simon Property Group Inc trades at $227.08 (market cap $72.00B). The key difference: Simon Property Group Inc is far larger — about 3.8× Essex Property Trust, Inc.'s market cap, and Simon Property Group Inc pays the higher dividend (3.96%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| ESS | SPG | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $18.82B | $72.00B |
Sector | Real Estate | Real Estate |
52-Week High | $298.33 | $227.56 |
52-Week Low | $239.61 | $160.68 |
Enterprise Value | $25.54B | $100.48B |
Dividend Yield | 3.54% | 3.96% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Essex Property Trust (ESS) trades at $293.32, down 1.61% on the day, with a bullish technical outlook supported by moving averages. The stock shows strong profitability with a 30.03% net income margin and has beaten earnings estimates for three consecutive quarters. Recent news highlights include the upcoming Q2 2026 earnings release and inclusion in the Russell Microcap Index, reflecting positive momentum.
The outlook for ESS is cautiously optimistic, driven by robust West Coast rental demand and AI-driven employment growth. Risks include elevated debt levels and Seattle market weakness. Analysts maintain a mixed consensus with a $294.25 price target, suggesting limited near-term upside from current levels amid balanced sentiment.
Simon Property Group (SPG) trades at $221.28, up 0.82% with a bearish technical signal despite recent earnings beats. The REIT shows strong fundamentals with $4.63B net income (72.7% margin) and robust cash flow, though net cash flow turned negative in 2025. Recent news highlights strong leasing activity but concerns about valuation and debt levels. The stock trades above the consensus price target of $214.40 with mixed analyst sentiment (40.5% buy, 54.1% hold).
SPG offers quality real estate exposure with premium mall assets and consistent dividend payments, but faces headwinds from e-commerce competition and high leverage. Current valuation appears full with limited margin of safety. The upcoming Q2 2026 earnings report on July 1 will be crucial for confirming growth trajectory amid mixed technical indicators and cautious Wall Street positioning.
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 →Simon Property Group is the second- largest real estate investment trust in the United States. Its portfolio includes an interest in 207 properties: 119 traditional malls, 69 premium outlets, 14 Mills centers (a combination of a traditional mall, outlet center, and big-box retailers), six lifestyle centers, and five other retail properties. Simon's portfolio averaged $693 in sales per square foot over the 12 months prior to the pandemic. The company also owns a 21% interest in Klepierre, a European retail company with investments in shopping centers in 16 countries, and joint venture interests in 33 premium outlets across 11 countries.
Read more on SPG →