Essex Property Trust, Inc. vs Walmart Stores Inc — how do they compare? Essex Property Trust, Inc. trades at $282.11 (market cap $18.20B), while Walmart Stores Inc trades at $113 (market cap $896.56B). The key difference: Walmart Stores Inc is far larger — about 49.3× Essex Property Trust, Inc.'s market cap, and Essex Property Trust, Inc. pays the higher dividend (3.66%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| ESS | WMT | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $18.20B | $896.56B |
Sector | Real Estate | Consumer Staples |
52-Week High | $298.33 | $134.20 |
52-Week Low | $239.61 | $96.05 |
Enterprise Value | $24.80B | $960.01B |
Dividend Yield | 3.66% | 0.88% |
Volume | — | 5,675,288 |
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.
Walmart (WMT) stock trades at $113.26, up 1.26% today, with a neutral technical signal and strong analyst consensus. The company demonstrates robust fundamentals with revenue growth to $681.0B in 2025 and net income of $19.4B, alongside consistent earnings beats. Recent news highlights operational innovations like drone delivery expansion and AI tools, while maintaining a solid dividend.
Outlook remains positive with a $142 consensus price target, though risks include competitive pressures and margin sustainability. The stock presents a long-term opportunity given its defensive positioning and growth initiatives, but investors should monitor execution against Amazon and consumer spending trends.
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 →Walmart Inc. operates discount stores, supercenters, and neighborhood markets. The Company offers merchandise such as apparel, house wares, small appliances, electronics, musical instruments, books, home improvement, shoes, jewelry, toddler, games, household essentials, pets, pharmaceutical products, party supplies, and automotive tools. Walmart serves customers worldwide.
Read more on WMT →