Analysts Set Essex Property Trust, Inc. (NYSE:ESS) Price Target at $299.08

Posted by Francis Steltz on Jul 26th, 2026

Shares of Essex Property Trust, Inc. (NYSE:ESS – Get Free Report) have received a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” from the twenty-one analysts that are presently covering the firm, Marketbeat reports. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have assigned a hold rating, ten have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating on the company. The average 12-month price objective among brokerages that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $299.0789.

Several analysts have weighed in on ESS shares. Jefferies Financial Group upgraded Essex Property Trust to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price target on shares of Essex Property Trust from $280.00 to $297.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a report on Wednesday. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price objective on Essex Property Trust from $272.00 to $275.00 and gave the stock an “underweight” rating in a report on Monday, May 18th. Sanford C. Bernstein assumed coverage on Essex Property Trust in a research report on Friday, June 26th. They issued an “outperform” rating and a $320.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, Barclays boosted their target price on Essex Property Trust from $277.00 to $296.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 14th.

Read Our Latest Report on Essex Property Trust

Insider Buying and Selling at Essex Property Trust

In related news, Director Mary Kasaris sold 600 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, May 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $279.45, for a total transaction of $167,670.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director owned 2,394 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $669,003.30. This trade represents a 20.04% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. 3.47% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Essex Property Trust

A number of institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of ESS. Nemes Rush Group LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Essex Property Trust during the fourth quarter valued at $27,000. Generali Asset Management SPA SGR bought a new stake in Essex Property Trust in the 4th quarter worth approximately $29,000. Cassaday & Co Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in Essex Property Trust during the 1st quarter valued at $38,000. Western Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Essex Property Trust during the 1st quarter valued at $44,000. Finally, Elevation Wealth Partners LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Essex Property Trust by 523.1% during the 2nd quarter. Elevation Wealth Partners LLC now owns 162 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock valued at $47,000 after buying an additional 136 shares during the period. 96.51% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Essex Property Trust Stock Up 0.0%

ESS opened at $293.32 on Thursday. The stock has a market cap of $18.85 billion, a PE ratio of 32.96, a P/E/G ratio of 12.65 and a beta of 0.70. The company has a quick ratio of 0.98, a current ratio of 0.98 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.22. Essex Property Trust has a 52 week low of $238.46 and a 52 week high of $303.35. The business’s fifty day simple moving average is $285.41 and its 200 day simple moving average is $264.95.

Essex Property Trust (NYSE:ESS – Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, April 28th. The real estate investment trust reported $1.65 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.96 by ($2.31). The company had revenue of $484.76 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $479.89 million. Essex Property Trust had a net margin of 30.03% and a return on equity of 10.00%. During the same period last year, the firm posted $3.97 EPS. Essex Property Trust has set its Q2 2026 guidance at 3.920-4.040 EPS. As a group, research analysts expect that Essex Property Trust will post 16.11 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Essex Property Trust Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, July 15th. Investors of record on Tuesday, June 30th were paid a $2.59 dividend. This represents a $10.36 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.5%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, June 30th. Essex Property Trust’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 116.40%.

Essex Property Trust Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Essex Property Trust, Inc (NYSE: ESS) is a publicly traded real estate investment trust that acquires, develops, owns and operates multifamily residential properties. The company focuses on market-rate apartment communities and delivers a full suite of property services including leasing, resident services, asset management, and capital improvement programs designed to preserve and enhance long‑term property values.

Essex concentrates its portfolio in West Coast markets, with a significant presence in California and the Pacific Northwest.