Crown Castle Inc. (CCI) vs Essex Property Trust, Inc. (ESS)
ESS leads on 9 of 12 compared metrics.
A side-by-side comparison of Crown Castle Inc. and Essex Property Trust, Inc. across valuation, profitability, dividends, and growth — built entirely from reported fundamentals, as of June 14, 2026. The ● marks the stronger figure on each row (cheaper multiple, higher margin/return).
Total return — CCI vs ESS
growth of $100 · last 28yCCI +608.9%ESS +806.3%ESS compounded faster
CCI ESS
CCI vs ESS: by the numbers
- •CCI is the larger company ($40.22B vs $18.23B market cap).
- •ESS trades at the lower earnings multiple (31.88 vs 38.08 P/E).
- •ESS converts more revenue to profit (30.17% vs 25.13% net margin).
- •ESS grew revenue faster over the past five years (5.52% vs -6.52% CAGR).
- •ESS pays the higher dividend yield (3.63% vs 3.46%).
Which is better, CCI or ESS?
Metric tally: CCI 3 · ESS 9It depends on what you're optimizing for:
ValueESS(lower P/E)
GrowthESS(faster 5Y revenue CAGR)
IncomeESS(higher dividend yield)
QualityCCI(higher ROIC)
Metrics side by side
Valuation
| Metric | CCI | ESS |
|---|---|---|
| P/E ratio | 38.08 | 31.88● |
| Forward P/E | 31.99● | 46.85 |
| P/S ratio | 9.56 | 9.59 |
| P/B ratio | — | 3.37 |
| PEG ratio | — | 8.66 |
| EV / EBITDA | 23.93 | 17.12● |
Profitability
| Metric | CCI | ESS |
|---|---|---|
| Gross margin | 65.71% | 69.44%● |
| Operating margin | 48.01%● | 38.38% |
| Net margin | 25.13% | 30.17%● |
| ROE | -27.16% | 10.59%● |
| ROIC | 6.81%● | 6.13% |
Dividends
| Metric | CCI | ESS |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend yield | 3.46% | 3.63%● |
| Payout ratio | 312.50% | 98.94% |
Growth (annualized)
| Metric | CCI | ESS |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue CAGR (5Y) | -6.52% | 5.52%● |
| EPS CAGR (5Y) | -15.45% | 3.68%● |
| Total return CAGR (5Y) | -9.85% | 1.54%● |
Frequently asked
- Which is better, CCI or ESS?
- It depends on your goal. value: ESS (lower P/E); growth: ESS (faster 5Y revenue CAGR); income: ESS (higher dividend yield); quality: CCI (higher ROIC). Across all compared metrics, ESS leads 9 to 3.
- Is CCI or ESS cheaper?
- On trailing earnings, ESS is cheaper: CCI trades at a 38.08 P/E and ESS at 31.88.
- Which has grown faster, CCI or ESS?
- Over the past five years, ESS grew revenue faster — CCI at a -6.52% CAGR versus ESS at 5.52%.
- Does CCI or ESS pay a bigger dividend?
- CCI yields 3.46% and ESS yields 3.63% based on trailing dividends and the latest price.
- Is CCI or ESS more profitable?
- ESS runs the higher net margin — CCI at 25.13% versus ESS at 30.17%.
- Which has been the better investment, CCI or ESS?
- Over the past 10-year, ESS delivered the higher annualized total return — CCI at 4.03% versus ESS at 6.54%. Past performance doesn't predict future results.
Go deeper
Dig into the metrics
Crown Castle P/E ratioEssex Property Trust P/E ratioCrown Castle dividend yieldEssex Property Trust dividend yieldCrown Castle ROEEssex Property Trust ROECrown Castle operating marginEssex Property Trust operating marginCrown Castle revenue growthEssex Property Trust revenue growthCrown Castle free cash flowEssex Property Trust free cash flow
Crown Castle & 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 June 14, 2026.