Essex Property Trust, Inc. vs Valero Energy Corporation — how do they compare? Essex Property Trust, Inc. trades at $298.34 (market cap $18.82B), while Valero Energy Corporation trades at $301.79 (market cap $86.90B). The key difference: Valero Energy Corporation is far larger — about 4.6× Essex Property Trust, Inc.'s market cap, and Essex Property Trust, Inc. pays the higher dividend (3.54%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| ESS | VLO | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $18.82B | $86.90B |
Sector | Real Estate | Energy |
52-Week High | $298.33 | $301.43 |
52-Week Low | $239.61 | $131.77 |
Enterprise Value | $25.54B | $92.66B |
Dividend Yield | 3.54% | 1.64% |
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.
No Aura AI signal available yet.
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 →Valero Energy is one of the largest independent refiners in the United States. It operates 14 refineries with a total throughput capacity of 3.2 million barrels a day in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Valero also owns 14 ethanol plants with capacity of 1.7 billion gallons of ethanol a year and holds a 50% stake in Diamond Green Diesel, which has capacity to produce 700 million gallons per year of renewable diesel.
Read more on VLO →