Zacks Research Has Optimistic Outlook of ESS Q1 Earnings

Essex Property Trust, Inc. (NYSE:ESS) – Equities researchers at Zacks Research lifted their Q1 2025 earnings per share estimates for shares of Essex Property Trust in a note issued to investors on Tuesday, February 25th. Zacks Research analyst R. Department now anticipates that the real estate investment trust will earn $3.93 per share for the quarter, up from their prior forecast of $3.90. The consensus estimate for Essex Property Trust’s current full-year earnings is $15.96 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Essex Property Trust’s Q4 2025 earnings at $4.02 EPS, Q3 2026 earnings at $4.13 EPS and FY2027 earnings at $17.21 EPS.

A number of other research analysts have also weighed in on the company. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised Essex Property Trust from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and increased their price target for the stock from $308.00 to $310.00 in a research note on Tuesday, January 21st. Barclays increased their price target on Essex Property Trust from $302.00 to $304.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 19th. Royal Bank of Canada increased their price target on Essex Property Trust from $302.00 to $315.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Thursday, February 6th. Evercore ISI increased their price target on Essex Property Trust from $297.00 to $302.00 and gave the stock an “in-line” rating in a research note on Monday, February 10th. Finally, JMP Securities reissued a “market perform” rating on shares of Essex Property Trust in a research note on Thursday, February 6th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, thirteen have issued a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $306.63.

Essex Property Trust Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:ESS opened at $301.13 on Thursday. The business’s fifty day moving average price is $285.38 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $293.48. The stock has a market cap of $19.35 billion, a PE ratio of 26.09, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 6.84 and a beta of 0.92. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.15, a quick ratio of 1.14 and a current ratio of 1.14. Essex Property Trust has a one year low of $225.85 and a one year high of $317.73.

Essex Property Trust (NYSE:ESS) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, February 4th. The real estate investment trust reported $3.92 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.40 by $2.52. Essex Property Trust had a return on equity of 13.05% and a net margin of 41.79%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Essex Property Trust

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Yoffe Investment Management LLC bought a new stake in Essex Property Trust during the fourth quarter worth approximately $358,000. Ameriflex Group Inc. bought a new stake in Essex Property Trust during the fourth quarter worth approximately $59,000. Mackenzie Financial Corp raised its holdings in Essex Property Trust by 48.9% during the fourth quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 8,302 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock worth $2,370,000 after purchasing an additional 2,725 shares in the last quarter. Toronto Dominion Bank raised its holdings in Essex Property Trust by 8.1% during the fourth quarter. Toronto Dominion Bank now owns 34,354 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock worth $9,806,000 after purchasing an additional 2,574 shares in the last quarter. Finally, GF Fund Management CO. LTD. bought a new stake in Essex Property Trust during the fourth quarter worth approximately $333,000. Institutional investors own 96.51% of the company’s stock.

Essex Property Trust Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 15th. Investors of record on Monday, March 31st will be issued a dividend of $2.57 per share. This is a boost from Essex Property Trust’s previous quarterly dividend of $2.45. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 31st. This represents a $10.28 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.41%. Essex Property Trust’s payout ratio is presently 89.08%.

Essex Property Trust Company Profile

Essex Property Trust, Inc, an S&P 500 company, is a fully integrated real estate investment trust (REIT) that acquires, develops, redevelops, and manages multifamily residential properties in selected West Coast markets. Essex currently has ownership interests in 252 apartment communities comprising approximately 62,000 apartment homes with an additional property in active development.