Compare Essex Property Trust, Inc. (ESS) vs Essential Utilities Inc. Common Stock (WTRG) Price & Performance
Price performance (Past 24H)
Key statistics
Key statistics
Essex Property Trust, Inc. vs Essential Utilities Inc. Common Stock — how do they compare? Essex Property Trust, Inc. trades at $268.84 (market cap $17.47B), while Essential Utilities Inc. Common Stock trades at $39.82 (market cap $11.15B). The key difference: Essex Property Trust, Inc. is the larger of the two by market cap, and Essex Property Trust, Inc. pays the higher dividend (3.81%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals — on Pluang, investors hold Essex Property Trust, Inc. for 112 Days and Essential Utilities Inc. Common Stock for 0 Days on average.
| ESS | WTRG | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $17.47B | $11.15B |
Volume | 425,157 | 1,760,234 |
Sector | Real Estate | Utilities |
52-Week High | $298.33 | $42.00 |
52-Week Low | $239.61 | $36.25 |
Typical Hold Time | 112 Days | 0 Days |
Enterprise Value | $24.07B | $19.66B |
Dividend Yield | 3.81% | 3.67% |
Aura AI Summary
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Aura AI Summary
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
ESS trades at $269.37, down 0.38% with neutral technical signals. The company shows strong profitability with 67.9% gross margins and 21.48% net income, though recent earnings were mixed with Q2 2026 missing expectations. Revenue growth has been steady, reaching $1.89B in 2025. Analyst consensus is mixed with 38.3% buy ratings and a $300.77 price target, representing 11.7% upside. Recent news highlights strong Q2 results and legal resolution.
ESS offers solid fundamentals with premium valuation (P/E 42.35) and strong operational efficiency. Key risks include earnings volatility and high debt levels ($6.46B long-term). The stock presents opportunity from raised guidance and institutional interest, but requires monitoring of West Coast real estate market conditions and interest rate sensitivity.
WTRG trades at $39.29, up 0.36% with neutral technical signals. The stock shows mixed earnings performance with two beats and one miss in recent quarters, while maintaining strong profitability margins (21.6% net income margin). Analyst consensus is bullish with a $44.50 price target, supported by ongoing acquisitions and pending merger developments with American Water.
The stock presents a stable utility investment with moderate growth potential through strategic acquisitions, though near-term earnings volatility and integration risks from the pending merger warrant caution. Current valuation at 20.15 P/E appears reasonable given the company's consistent cash flow generation and defensive sector positioning.
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
Investor sentiment on Pluang
What Pluang investors did over the last 30 days
Investor sentiment on Pluang
What Pluang investors did over the last 30 days
About Essex Property Trust, Inc.
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 →About Essential Utilities Inc. Common Stock
Essential Utilities Inc. is a holding company for regulated water, wastewater, and natural gas utilities, operating under the Aqua and Peoples brands. It serves customers across Pennsylvania, Ohio, Texas, Illinois, North Carolina, New Jersey, Indiana, Virginia, and Kentucky.
Read more on WTRG →
