Essex Property Trust, Inc. vs AT&T Inc. — how do they compare? Essex Property Trust, Inc. trades at $282.11 (market cap $18.20B), while AT&T Inc. trades at $24.48 (market cap $164.80B). The key difference: AT&T Inc. is far larger — about 9.1× Essex Property Trust, Inc.'s market cap, and AT&T Inc. pays the higher dividend (4.62%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| ESS | T | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $18.20B | $164.80B |
Sector | Real Estate | Media |
52-Week High | $298.33 | $29.62 |
52-Week Low | $239.61 | $20.49 |
Enterprise Value | $24.80B | $310.12B |
Dividend Yield | 3.66% | 4.62% |
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.
AT&T (T) trades at $23.80, up 0.38% today, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and a consensus analyst price target of $27.69. The company reported strong earnings beats in recent quarters, with Q2 2026 EPS of $0.65 exceeding the $0.59 estimate. Revenue grew to $125.65 billion in 2025, and net income surged to $21.95 billion, reflecting a robust profit margin of 17.47%. Recent news highlights fiber expansion and 5G network investments.
The outlook is positive, supported by improving cash flow, strategic investments, and a 4.8% dividend yield. However, risks include competitive pressure from new entrants like SpaceX's Starlink and high debt levels. Analyst sentiment is mixed but leans bullish, with 41% buy ratings. The stock presents a value opportunity with a low P/E of 7.85, but investors should monitor execution on growth initiatives.
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 →AT&T Inc. is a communications holding company. The Company, through its subsidiaries and affiliates, provides local and long-distance phone service, wireless and data communications, Internet access and messaging, IP-based and satellite television, security services, telecommunications equipment, and directory advertising and publishing.
Read more on T →