Is ESS or SBAC cheaper?

On trailing earnings, SBAC is cheaper: ESS trades at a 31.88 P/E and SBAC at 21.53.

Which has grown faster, ESS or SBAC?

Over the past five years, SBAC grew revenue faster — ESS at a 5.52% CAGR versus SBAC at 6.18%.

Does ESS or SBAC pay a bigger dividend?

ESS yields 3.63% and SBAC yields 2.30% based on trailing dividends and the latest price.

Is ESS or SBAC more profitable?

SBAC runs the higher net margin — ESS at 30.17% versus SBAC at 35.66%.

Which has been the better investment, ESS or SBAC?

Over the past 10-year, SBAC delivered the higher annualized total return — ESS at 6.54% versus SBAC at 8.32%. Past performance doesn't predict future results.

Essex Property Trust, Inc. (ESS) vs SBA Communications Corporation (SBAC)

SBAC leads on 9 of 16 compared metrics.

A side-by-side comparison of Essex Property Trust, Inc. and SBA Communications Corporation across valuation, profitability, dividends, and growth — built entirely from reported fundamentals, as of June 13, 2026. The ● marks the stronger figure on each row (cheaper multiple, higher margin/return).

ESS

Essex Property Trust, Inc.

$18.23B

$283.75Real Estate

SBAC

SBA Communications Corporation

$21.72B

$204.79Real Estate

Total return — ESS vs SBAC

growth of $100 · last 27y

ESS +754.9%SBAC +2206.2%SBAC compounded faster

ESS SBAC

ESS vs SBAC: by the numbers

•SBAC is the larger company ($21.72B vs $18.23B market cap).
•SBAC trades at the lower earnings multiple (21.53 vs 31.88 P/E).
•SBAC converts more revenue to profit (35.66% vs 30.17% net margin).
•SBAC grew revenue faster over the past five years (6.18% vs 5.52% CAGR).
•ESS pays the higher dividend yield (3.63% vs 2.30%).

Which is better, ESS or SBAC?

Metric tally: ESS 7 · SBAC 9

It depends on what you're optimizing for:

ValueSBAC(lower P/E)

GrowthSBAC(faster 5Y revenue CAGR)

IncomeESS(higher dividend yield)

QualitySBAC(higher ROIC)

Valuation

Metric	ESS	SBAC
P/E ratio	31.88	21.53●
Forward P/E	46.85	24.39●
P/S ratio	9.59	7.61●
P/B ratio	3.37	—
PEG ratio	8.66	0.48●
EV / EBITDA	17.12●	17.49
FCF yield	5.27%●	4.69%

Profitability

Metric	ESS	SBAC
Gross margin	69.44%●	63.62%
Operating margin	38.38%	47.63%●
Net margin	30.17%	35.66%●
ROE	10.59%●	-21.71%
ROIC	6.13%	10.05%●

Dividends

Metric	ESS	SBAC
Dividend yield	3.63%●	2.30%
Payout ratio	98.94%	48.02%

Growth (annualized)

Metric	ESS	SBAC
Revenue CAGR (5Y)	5.52%	6.18%●
EPS CAGR (5Y)	3.68%	113.83%●
FCF CAGR (5Y)	8.49%●	-0.03%
Total return CAGR (5Y)	1.54%●	-6.93%

Frequently asked

Which is better, ESS or SBAC?: It depends on your goal. value: SBAC (lower P/E); growth: SBAC (faster 5Y revenue CAGR); income: ESS (higher dividend yield); quality: SBAC (higher ROIC). Across all compared metrics, SBAC leads 9 to 7.
Is ESS or SBAC cheaper?: On trailing earnings, SBAC is cheaper: ESS trades at a 31.88 P/E and SBAC at 21.53.
Which has grown faster, ESS or SBAC?: Over the past five years, SBAC grew revenue faster — ESS at a 5.52% CAGR versus SBAC at 6.18%.
Does ESS or SBAC pay a bigger dividend?: ESS yields 3.63% and SBAC yields 2.30% based on trailing dividends and the latest price.
Is ESS or SBAC more profitable?: SBAC runs the higher net margin — ESS at 30.17% versus SBAC at 35.66%.
Which has been the better investment, ESS or SBAC?: Over the past 10-year, SBAC delivered the higher annualized total return — ESS at 6.54% versus SBAC at 8.32%. Past performance doesn't predict future results.

Go deeper

Full ESS analysis Full SBAC analysis Interactive comparison tool

ESS & SBAC 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 13, 2026.