AvalonBay Communities, Inc. (AVB) vs Essex Property Trust, Inc. (ESS)
A side-by-side comparison of AvalonBay Communities, Inc. and Essex Property Trust, Inc. across valuation, profitability, dividends, and growth — built entirely from reported fundamentals, as of July 28, 2026. Differences are shown without an overall score or investment verdict.
AVB
AvalonBay Communities, Inc.
$190.39Real EstateDelayed quote: Jul 28, 2026, 4:00 PM EDT
ESS
Essex Property Trust, Inc.
$294.52Real EstateDelayed quote: Jul 28, 2026, 4:00 PM EDT
Total return — AVB vs ESS
growth of $100 · dividends reinvested · last 30yAVB +2448.1%ESS +4079.5%ESS compounded faster
AVB ESS
AVB vs ESS: by the numbers
- •AVB is the larger company ($27.05B vs $18.93B market cap).
- •AVB trades at the lower trailing earnings multiple (23.33 vs 32.66 P/E), one valuation lens rather than an overall verdict.
- •AVB converts more revenue to profit (37.27% vs 30.17% net margin).
- •AVB grew revenue faster over the past five years (6.36% vs 5.52% CAGR).
- •AVB pays the higher dividend yield (3.76% vs 3.55%).
Metrics side by side
Valuation
| Metric | AVB | ESS |
|---|---|---|
| P/E ratio | 23.33 | 32.66 |
| Forward P/E | 31.06 | 48.82 |
| P/S ratio | 8.62 | 9.82 |
| P/B ratio | 2.30 | 3.45 |
| PEG ratio | 5.00 | 8.88 |
| EV / EBITDA | 19.57 | 19.02 |
Profitability
| Metric | AVB | ESS |
|---|---|---|
| Gross margin | 67.92% | 69.44% |
| Operating margin | 29.15% | 38.38% |
| Net margin | 37.27% | 30.17% |
| ROE | 9.94% | 10.59% |
| ROIC | 4.31% | 5.98% |
Dividends
| Metric | AVB | ESS |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend yield | 3.76% | 3.55% |
| Payout ratio | 95.41% | 99.14% |
Growth (annualized)
| Metric | AVB | ESS |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue CAGR (5Y) | 6.36% | 5.52% |
| EPS CAGR (5Y) | 4.67% | 3.68% |
| Total return CAGR (5Y) | -0.50% | 0.96% |
Frequently asked
- Which has the lower trailing P/E, AVB or ESS?
- AVB has the lower trailing P/E: AVB trades at 23.33 and ESS at 32.66. P/E is one valuation measure and does not by itself establish which business is cheaper.
- Which has grown faster, AVB or ESS?
- Over the past five years, AVB grew revenue faster — AVB at a 6.36% CAGR versus ESS at 5.52%.
- Does AVB or ESS pay a bigger dividend?
- AVB yields 3.76% and ESS yields 3.55% based on trailing dividends and the latest price.
- Is AVB or ESS more profitable?
- AVB runs the higher net margin — AVB at 37.27% versus ESS at 30.17%.
- How have AVB and ESS total returns compared?
- Over the past 10 years, AVB delivered 3.88% and ESS delivered 6.34% annualized total return. Past performance doesn't predict future results.
Go deeper
Dig into the metrics
AvalonBay Communities P/E ratioEssex Property Trust P/E ratioAvalonBay Communities dividend yieldEssex Property Trust dividend yieldAvalonBay Communities ROEEssex Property Trust ROEAvalonBay Communities operating marginEssex Property Trust operating marginAvalonBay Communities revenue growthEssex Property Trust revenue growthAvalonBay Communities free cash flowEssex Property Trust free cash flow
AvalonBay Communities & Essex Property Trust appear in these rankings
Figures are sourced from reported fundamentals and the latest end-of-day price. This comparison is informational only and is not investment advice. Past performance does not predict future results. See our methodology. Compiled by TGMCharts Research · data verified July 28, 2026.