Is ESS or MAA cheaper?

On trailing earnings, ESS is cheaper: ESS trades at a 31.38 P/E and MAA at 40.57.

Which has grown faster, ESS or MAA?

Over the past five years, MAA grew revenue faster — ESS at a 5.52% CAGR versus MAA at 5.61%.

Does ESS or MAA pay a bigger dividend?

ESS yields 3.69% and MAA yields 4.55% based on trailing dividends and the latest price.

Is ESS or MAA more profitable?

ESS runs the higher net margin — ESS at 30.17% versus MAA at 17.60%.

Which has been the better investment, ESS or MAA?

Over the past 10-year, MAA delivered the higher annualized total return — ESS at 5.92% versus MAA at 6.43%. Past performance doesn't predict future results.

Essex Property Trust, Inc. (ESS) vs Mid-America Apartment Communities, Inc. (MAA)

ESS leads on 7 of 13 compared metrics.

A side-by-side comparison of Essex Property Trust, Inc. and Mid-America Apartment Communities, Inc. across valuation, profitability, dividends, and growth — built entirely from reported fundamentals, as of June 24, 2026. The ● marks the stronger figure on each row (cheaper multiple, higher margin/return).

ESS

Essex Property Trust, Inc.

$17.95B

$279.30Real Estate

MAA

Mid-America Apartment Communities, Inc.

$15.58B

$133.89Real Estate

Total return — ESS vs MAA

growth of $100 · last 30y

ESS +1148.0%MAA +417.3%ESS compounded faster

ESS MAA

ESS vs MAA: by the numbers

•ESS is the larger company ($17.95B vs $15.58B market cap).
•ESS trades at the lower earnings multiple (31.38 vs 40.57 P/E).
•ESS converts more revenue to profit (30.17% vs 17.60% net margin).
•MAA pays the higher dividend yield (4.55% vs 3.69%).

Which is better, ESS or MAA?

Metric tally: ESS 7 · MAA 6

It depends on what you're optimizing for:

ValueESS(lower P/E)

IncomeMAA(higher dividend yield)

QualityESS(higher ROIC)

Metrics side by side

Valuation

Metric	ESS	MAA
P/E ratio	31.38●	40.57
Forward P/E	46.11	39.93●
P/S ratio	9.44	7.04●
P/B ratio	3.31	2.80●
PEG ratio	8.53	3.53●
EV / EBITDA	16.93	17.24

Profitability

Metric	ESS	MAA
Gross margin	69.44%●	39.58%
Operating margin	38.38%●	27.43%
Net margin	30.17%●	17.60%
ROE	10.59%●	7.01%
ROIC	6.13%●	5.58%

Dividends

Metric	ESS	MAA
Dividend yield	3.69%	4.55%●
Payout ratio	98.94%	160.69%

Growth (annualized)

Metric	ESS	MAA
Revenue CAGR (5Y)	5.52%	5.61%
EPS CAGR (5Y)	3.68%	11.49%●
Total return CAGR (5Y)	1.67%●	-1.07%

Frequently asked

Which is better, ESS or MAA?: It depends on your goal. value: ESS (lower P/E); income: MAA (higher dividend yield); quality: ESS (higher ROIC). Across all compared metrics, ESS leads 7 to 6.
Is ESS or MAA cheaper?: On trailing earnings, ESS is cheaper: ESS trades at a 31.38 P/E and MAA at 40.57.
Which has grown faster, ESS or MAA?: Over the past five years, MAA grew revenue faster — ESS at a 5.52% CAGR versus MAA at 5.61%.
Does ESS or MAA pay a bigger dividend?: ESS yields 3.69% and MAA yields 4.55% based on trailing dividends and the latest price.
Is ESS or MAA more profitable?: ESS runs the higher net margin — ESS at 30.17% versus MAA at 17.60%.
Which has been the better investment, ESS or MAA?: Over the past 10-year, MAA delivered the higher annualized total return — ESS at 5.92% versus MAA at 6.43%. Past performance doesn't predict future results.

Go deeper

Full ESS analysis Full MAA analysis Interactive comparison tool

Dig into the metrics

Essex Property Trust P/E ratio Mid-America Apartment Communities P/E ratio Essex Property Trust dividend yield Mid-America Apartment Communities dividend yield Essex Property Trust ROE Mid-America Apartment Communities ROE Essex Property Trust operating margin Mid-America Apartment Communities operating margin Essex Property Trust revenue growth Mid-America Apartment Communities revenue growth Essex Property Trust free cash flow Mid-America Apartment Communities free cash flow

Essex Property Trust & Mid-America Apartment Communities appear in these rankings

Highest Dividend Yield Stocks Dividend Aristocrats Highest Operating Margin Stocks Highest FCF Yield Stocks

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 24, 2026.