Essex Property Trust (NYSE:ESS) Stock Price Target Raised at UBS Group

Key Points

• UBS raised its price target for Essex Property Trust from $275 to $286, while maintaining a Neutral rating; the new target implies about 3.65% upside from the prior close.
• Analyst views are mixed: MarketBeat reports a Moderate Buy consensus and an average target of $298.38, while other firms recently adjusted targets both higher and lower.
• Essex reported quarterly EPS of $1.52, below the $4.01 consensus estimate, though revenue of $492.69 million slightly exceeded expectations.

Essex Property Trust (NYSE:ESS - Get Free Report) had its price objective hoisted by stock analysts at UBS Group from $275.00 to $286.00 in a note issued to investors on Tuesday, Benzinga reports. The firm presently has a "neutral" rating on the real estate investment trust's stock. UBS Group's price target points to a potential upside of 3.65% from the company's previous close.

Other equities research analysts also recently issued research reports about the stock. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their target price on shares of Essex Property Trust from $297.00 to $279.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, October 19th. Cantor Fitzgerald dropped their target price on shares of Essex Property Trust from $316.00 to $305.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research report on Monday. Stifel Nicolaus cut their price target on shares of Essex Property Trust from $292.75 to $285.50 and set a "hold" rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, October 28th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price target on shares of Essex Property Trust from $275.00 to $295.00 and gave the company an "underweight" rating in a research report on Friday, August 14th. Finally, Wall Street Zen cut shares of Essex Property Trust from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating in a research note on Saturday, August 1st. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, ten have assigned a Buy rating, ten have issued a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $298.38.

Essex Property Trust Price Performance

ESS traded up $0.39 during midday trading on Tuesday, reaching $275.93. 268,440 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 515,810. The company has a quick ratio of 0.54, a current ratio of 0.54 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.21. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $272.36 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $270.14. The firm has a market capitalization of $17.75 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 51.26, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 9.60 and a beta of 0.69. Essex Property Trust has a one year low of $238.46 and a one year high of $303.35.

Essex Property Trust (NYSE:ESS - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, October 27th. The real estate investment trust reported $1.52 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $4.01 by ($2.49). The company had revenue of $492.69 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $491.01 million. Essex Property Trust had a return on equity of 6.24% and a net margin of 17.84%. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $3.97 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts predict that Essex Property Trust will post 16.17 EPS for the current year.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Voya Investment Management LLC boosted its position in Essex Property Trust by 0.9% in the 3rd quarter. Voya Investment Management LLC now owns 13,264 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock valued at $3,573,000 after buying an additional 124 shares during the last quarter. Rothschild Investment LLC lifted its stake in shares of Essex Property Trust by 2.1% during the third quarter. Rothschild Investment LLC now owns 2,068 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock valued at $557,000 after acquiring an additional 43 shares during the period. Cibc World Market Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Essex Property Trust by 36.6% during the third quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. now owns 41,215 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock valued at $11,103,000 after acquiring an additional 11,033 shares during the period. HighTower Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of Essex Property Trust by 0.7% during the third quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 14,117 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock valued at $3,803,000 after acquiring an additional 98 shares during the period. Finally, Intech Investment Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Essex Property Trust during the third quarter valued at $449,000. Institutional investors own 96.51% of the company's stock.

Essex Property Trust News Summary

Here are the key news stories impacting Essex Property Trust this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Essex Property Trust was reported to have raised its 2026 guidance, a potentially supportive sign for its outlook as a residential-property REIT. Article: Essex Property Trust stock in focus after higher 2026 guidance
• Positive Sentiment: Truist Financial raised its price target to $288 from $286, while maintaining a Hold rating. UBS also lifted its target to $286 from $275 and kept a Neutral rating. These revisions imply modestly improved expectations, though neither signals a bullish rating change. Article: UBS adjusts price target
• Neutral Sentiment: Cantor Fitzgerald cut its target to $305 from $316 but retained an Overweight rating, leaving its view positive despite the lower estimate. Article: Essex Property Trust price target cut by Cantor Fitzgerald
• Negative Sentiment: BNP Paribas lowered its price target to $284 from $296, indicating reduced expectations for the shares, though the report does not specify a rating change. Article: BNP Paribas adjusts price target

About Essex Property Trust

Essex Property Trust, Inc. is a real estate investment trust focused on owning, operating, acquiring, developing and redeveloping apartment communities. Its portfolio serves renters in major coastal markets in Southern California, Northern California and the Seattle metropolitan area. Founded in 1971, the company became publicly traded in 1994. Essex's primary business is providing rental housing, with property operations and development activities supporting its apartment portfolio.

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