ESS vs MAA
Essex Property Trust (ESS) and Mid-America Apartment Communities (MAA) compared side by side. Essex Property Trust (ESS) is larger, with a market cap of $19.2B versus $14.2B for Mid-America Apartment Communities, about 1.3 times the size. On trailing earnings, MAA is cheaper at 35.0x versus 43.3x for ESS.
Head to head
| Metric | ESS | MAA |
|---|---|---|
| Market cap | $19.2B | $14.2B |
| P/E (TTM) | 43.3x | 35.0x |
| Forward P/E | 44.5x | 36.5x |
| Revenue (TTM) | $2.0B | $2.2B |
| Revenue growth | 3.1% | 1.0% |
| Gross margin | 68.8% | 58.4% |
| Operating margin | 34.0% | 25.4% |
| Free cash flow | $990.8M | $644.6M |
| Dividend yield | 3.72% | 5.11% |
| 1-year return | +9.7% | -6.5% |
| 5-year return (annual) | -0.0% | -6.3% |
| Max drawdown | -63% | -60% |
| FI Handbook grade | C | C |
Highlighted: the stronger figure on metrics where higher or lower is clearly better.
Growth of $10,000 (5 years, price only)
ESS vs MAA FAQ
Which is bigger, ESS or MAA?
Essex Property Trust (ESS) is larger, with a market cap of $19.2B versus $14.2B for Mid-America Apartment Communities, about 1.3 times the size.
Is ESS or MAA cheaper?
On trailing earnings, MAA is cheaper at 35.0x versus 43.3x for ESS. A lower P/E can reflect slower expected growth, so compare growth and margins too.
Which stock performed better over the past year, ESS or MAA?
ESS returned +9.7% over the past year including dividends, versus -6.5% for MAA, through October 23, 2026.
Which pays a higher dividend, ESS or MAA?
MAA yields 5.11% versus 3.72% for ESS.
Full pages: Essex Property Trust · Mid-America Apartment Communities