Essex Property Trust, Inc. vs VF Corp — how do they compare? Essex Property Trust, Inc. trades at $282.11 (market cap $18.20B), while VF Corp trades at $14.76 (market cap $5.86B). The key difference: Essex Property Trust, Inc. is far larger — about 3.1× VF Corp's market cap, and Essex Property Trust, Inc. pays the higher dividend (3.66%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| ESS | VFC | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $18.20B | $5.86B |
Sector | Real Estate | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $298.33 | $21.55 |
52-Week Low | $239.61 | $11.79 |
Enterprise Value | $24.80B | $10.14B |
Dividend Yield | 3.66% | 2.42% |
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.
VFC trades at $14.99, up 1.63% on the day, with a bearish technical signal and mixed earnings. Recent Q1 2027 results missed EPS estimates, though revenue exceeded expectations. The company faces challenges with Vans brand performance and a CFO transition, but maintains a raised fiscal 2027 sales outlook. Cash flow trends show improvement in 2026, with net cash flow turning positive.
Outlook remains cautious due to weak consumer sentiment and brand-specific headwinds, but deleveraging progress and margin gains offer potential upside. Risks include persistent Vans drag and macro pressures. Analyst consensus is Hold with a $17.44 price target, suggesting modest upside from current levels.
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 →VF designs, produces, and distributes branded apparel and accessories. Its largest apparel categories include action sports, outdoor, and workwear. Its portfolio of about a dozen brands includes Vans, The North Face, Timberland, Supreme, and Dickies. VF markets its products in the Americas, Europe, and Asia-Pacific through wholesale sales to retailers, e-commerce, and branded stores owned by the company and partners. The company has grown through multiple acquisitions and traces its roots to 1899.
Read more on VFC →