Essex Property Trust, Inc. vs Upstart Holdings Inc — how do they compare? Essex Property Trust, Inc. trades at $297.17 (market cap $18.82B), while Upstart Holdings Inc trades at $30.86 (market cap $3.02B). The key difference: Essex Property Trust, Inc. is far larger — about 6.2× Upstart Holdings Inc's market cap, and Essex Property Trust, Inc. pays a 3.54% dividend while Upstart Holdings Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| ESS | UPST | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $18.82B | $3.02B |
Sector | Real Estate | Financials |
52-Week High | $298.33 | $84.13 |
52-Week Low | $239.61 | $24.22 |
Enterprise Value | $25.54B | — |
Dividend Yield | 3.54% | — |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
ESS trades at $297.29, down slightly by 0.28% on the day, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and neutral oscillators. The company reported strong earnings beats in recent quarters, with Q2 2026 results expected soon. Fundamentals show robust profitability with a 30.03% net income margin and $669.67M net income for 2025, though valuation ratios like a P/E of 32.93 appear elevated. Recent news highlights sustainability initiatives and inclusion in the Russell Microcap Index.
The outlook for ESS is cautiously optimistic, supported by high West Coast rental demand and AI-driven employment growth. Risks include elevated debt levels and Seattle market weakness. Analysts are mixed with a $294.25 consensus price target, slightly below the current price, suggesting limited near-term upside amid solid operational performance.
Upstart Holdings (UPST) trades at $30.86, down 2.71% today, with a bearish technical signal from moving averages but oversold RSI conditions. The company reported a return to profitability in 2025 with $1.02B revenue and $53.60M net income, though recent Q1 2026 earnings missed expectations. Analyst sentiment is divided with a $42.00 consensus price target, while cash flow trends show improved but still negative operational cash generation.
UPST presents a high-risk, high-reward opportunity with strong AI lending growth potential but faces execution risks and margin pressure. The stock's current valuation at 77x P/E demands flawless execution of expansion into auto and home loans. Near-term performance hinges on Q2 2026 results due August 4, 2026, with investors watching for sustained profitability and funding stability.
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 →Upstart Holdings Inc provides credit services. The company provides a proprietary, cloud-based, artificial intelligence lending platform. The platform aggregates consumer demand for loans and connects it to the network of Upstart AI-enabled bank partners. The revenue of the company is primarily comprised of fees paid by banks.
Read more on UPST →