Is ESS or NNN cheaper?

On trailing earnings, NNN is cheaper: ESS trades at a 31.88 P/E and NNN at 22.62.

Which has grown faster, ESS or NNN?

Over the past five years, NNN grew revenue faster — ESS at a 5.52% CAGR versus NNN at 7.06%.

Does ESS or NNN pay a bigger dividend?

ESS yields 3.63% and NNN yields 5.15% based on trailing dividends and the latest price.

Is ESS or NNN more profitable?

NNN runs the higher net margin — ESS at 30.17% versus NNN at 41.38%.

Which has been the better investment, ESS or NNN?

Over the past 10-year, ESS delivered the higher annualized total return — ESS at 6.54% versus NNN at 4.73%. Past performance doesn't predict future results.

Essex Property Trust, Inc. (ESS) vs NNN REIT, Inc. (NNN)

NNN leads on 12 of 13 compared metrics.

A side-by-side comparison of Essex Property Trust, Inc. and NNN REIT, 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).

ESS

Essex Property Trust, Inc.

Total return — ESS vs NNN

growth of $100 · last 30y

ESS +1227.2%NNN +251.6%ESS compounded faster

ESS NNN

ESS vs NNN: by the numbers

•ESS is the larger company ($18.23B vs $8.86B market cap).
•NNN trades at the lower earnings multiple (22.62 vs 31.88 P/E).
•NNN converts more revenue to profit (41.38% vs 30.17% net margin).
•NNN grew revenue faster over the past five years (7.06% vs 5.52% CAGR).
•NNN pays the higher dividend yield (5.15% vs 3.63%).

Which is better, ESS or NNN?

Metric tally: ESS 1 · NNN 12

It depends on what you're optimizing for:

ValueNNN(lower P/E)

GrowthNNN(faster 5Y revenue CAGR)

IncomeNNN(higher dividend yield)

Valuation

Metric	ESS	NNN
P/E ratio	31.88	22.62●
Forward P/E	46.85	23.04●
P/S ratio	9.59	9.43
P/B ratio	3.37	2.01●
PEG ratio	8.66	2.03●
EV / EBITDA	17.12	15.72●

Profitability

Metric	ESS	NNN
Gross margin	69.44%	81.38%●
Operating margin	38.38%	63.13%●
Net margin	30.17%	41.38%●
ROE	10.59%●	8.81%
ROIC	6.13%	6.10%

Dividends

Metric	ESS	NNN
Dividend yield	3.63%	5.15%●
Payout ratio	98.94%	115.94%

Growth (annualized)

Metric	ESS	NNN
Revenue CAGR (5Y)	5.52%	7.06%●
EPS CAGR (5Y)	3.68%	11.15%●
Total return CAGR (5Y)	1.54%	4.03%●

Frequently asked

Which is better, ESS or NNN?: It depends on your goal. value: NNN (lower P/E); growth: NNN (faster 5Y revenue CAGR); income: NNN (higher dividend yield). Across all compared metrics, NNN leads 12 to 1.
Is ESS or NNN cheaper?: On trailing earnings, NNN is cheaper: ESS trades at a 31.88 P/E and NNN at 22.62.
Which has grown faster, ESS or NNN?: Over the past five years, NNN grew revenue faster — ESS at a 5.52% CAGR versus NNN at 7.06%.
Does ESS or NNN pay a bigger dividend?: ESS yields 3.63% and NNN yields 5.15% based on trailing dividends and the latest price.
Is ESS or NNN more profitable?: NNN runs the higher net margin — ESS at 30.17% versus NNN at 41.38%.
Which has been the better investment, ESS or NNN?: Over the past 10-year, ESS delivered the higher annualized total return — ESS at 6.54% versus NNN at 4.73%. Past performance doesn't predict future results.

Go deeper

Full ESS analysis Full NNN analysis Interactive comparison tool

Dig into the metrics

Essex Property Trust P/E ratio NNN REIT P/E ratio Essex Property Trust dividend yield NNN REIT dividend yield Essex Property Trust ROE NNN REIT ROE Essex Property Trust operating margin NNN REIT operating margin Essex Property Trust revenue growth NNN REIT revenue growth Essex Property Trust free cash flow NNN REIT free cash flow

Essex Property Trust & NNN REIT 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 14, 2026.