Essex Property Trust, Inc. vs Simon Property Group Inc — how do they compare? Essex Property Trust, Inc. trades at $282.78 (market cap $18.15B), while Simon Property Group Inc trades at $220.31 (market cap $71.03B). The key difference: Simon Property Group Inc is far larger — about 3.9× Essex Property Trust, Inc.'s market cap, and Simon Property Group Inc pays the higher dividend (4.05%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| ESS | SPG | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $18.15B | $71.03B |
Sector | Real Estate | Real Estate |
52-Week High | $298.33 | $236.70 |
52-Week Low | $239.61 | $169.22 |
Enterprise Value | $24.75B | $99.48B |
Dividend Yield | 3.93% | 4.05% |
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.
SPG trades at $220.55, down 1.06% with a bearish technical signal. The REIT shows strong fundamentals with Q2 2026 FFO beating estimates at $3.29 per share and raised full-year guidance. Valuation metrics appear reasonable with P/E of 15.49 and EV/EBITDA of 11.96, while profitability remains robust with 66.57% net margin and 135.7% ROE. Recent news highlights leasing strength and retailer sales growth driving performance.
The outlook remains positive with analyst consensus at Buy (40.54%) and $226.58 price target offering 2.7% upside. Key risks include interest rate sensitivity from $24.21B debt load and retail sector headwinds. Strong cash flow generation and dividend consistency support the investment case for income-focused investors.
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 →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 →