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Essex Property Trust

Essex Property Trust owns a portfolio of 252 apartment communities with over 62,000 units and is developing another property with 264 units. The company focuses on owning large, high-quality properties on the West Coast in the urban and suburban submarkets of Southern California, Northern California, and Seattle.

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Foreigners Don&#39;t Want Your US Home: Sales Drop To 15-Year Lows For International Buyers

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Foreign investment in U.S. homes has dropped to its lowest in 15 years, as per a fresh report by the National Association of Realtors.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/06/39482229/home-prices-reach-new-record-highs-yet-signs-of-normalization-emerge">Low supply and high prices</a> have scared many foreign investors away from U.S. real estate, marking the seventh consecutive yearly drop in sales for this cohort.
The U.S. Home Market Slump: Unusually high inflation has pushed mortgage rates up, forcing many homeowners to stay in their current homes, bringing the supply of houses down significantly.
In this context, people who might have been looking for a new home are incentivized to stick to their low mortgage rates instead of selling their home in exchange for a more expensive mortgage.
The fall home sales hit its worst point in 28 years during 2023; and 2024 is lining up to be even worse. Looking at completed sales up to April, at this rate, 2024 would come with a drop of almost 2% since the previous year.
The panorama could change if the Fed decides to drop interest rates in an upcoming meeting. During a Wednesday call, a Bank of America economist <a href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/39819662">argued that the most likely rate cut will come in December</a>, against consensus from other colleagues who expect a drop by September.
Anticipation for an upcoming rate cut already caused a positive effect on the real estate market. On Wednesday, one report showed mortgages have come down to a four-month low last week, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/real-estate/reit/24/07/39816656/fed-rate-cut-expectations-drop-mortgage-rates-to-4-month-lows-surge-in-new-applications-refinanc">with new applications up by almost 4%</a>.
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Why Do Foreign Nationals Buy Houses In The U.S. And Why Are They Stopping?</h1>
The realtors report looked at two types of investor: foreign buyers who don't reside in the U.S. as well as visa holders who are not permanent immigrants, or new immigrants with less than two years in the country.
Foreign-born individuals with permanent U.S. residencies are not accounted for. For the groups examined, 45% of homes were purchased for use as a rental unit, vacation house, or both.
Yet the intended use of the homes varied greatly between the country of origin of the buyer. Forty-nine percent of Canadian buyers intend to use their homes for vacation, and only 16% as a permanent residency. For buyers from India, it was 6% for vacation and 66% for permanent residency.
Foreign investors might be lured by the U.S. real estate market as a way to diversify their foreign real estate investments in a market that has typically gone up with time.
Yet, the landscape for international buyers has been even worse than for U.S. buyers.&nbsp;
The U.S. dollar has strengthened against foreign currency in previous years, making it even more expensive for investors holding their capital in euros, Chinese yuan or Canadian dollars to purchase a U.S. home. 
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/39812270">Jerome Powell&#8217;s Top Advisor Hints At Fed&#8217;s Potential Rate Cut Plans: &#8216;All Moving In The Right Direction&#8217;</a>
While at a slower rate, foreign buyers continued to purchase homes in the U.S., with California, Florida, Texas and Arizona as main destinations. Against some prime locations around the world, the price per square meter for residential properties in the U.S. remains very competitive.
The price per square meter for a home in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara area in California is almost half that of Hong Kong. In Boulder, Colorado, a square meter costs half of that of Oslo, Norway, and a third of the average Canadian price.
In the period running from April 2023 to March 2024, there were only 54,300 U.S. homes sold to international buyers, the lowest it's been since the association began measuring the data point in 2009. This marks a whopping 36% decline since the previous year.
In dollars, this meant a 21% decrease, with purchases worth only $42 billion against $153 billion in 2017
But this year's drop is no exception. There have been year-over-year drops for the last seven periods, from a recent peak of 284,500 U.S. homes bought by foreigners in 2017.
Those who did buy a house in America did it for a higher price. The average sale reached $780,300, a 22% spike from the previous year.
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Impact On The Market</h1>
Foreign buyers accounted for only 1.3% of all U.S. home sales during the April 2023-March 2024 period, yet they represent a much more significant portion of the market in specific locations like Florida, Texas and California.
While the report analyzed a drop in foreign sales, most of its reasons are domestic, serving to better understand the state of the real estate market for homes in the U.S.
The drop in supply stemming from the rise in interest rates has affected U.S. buyers as much as foreigners.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/06/39204534/european-central-bank-cuts-interest-rates-by-0-25-but-projects-inflation-above-target-well-into-">Upcoming cuts in interest rates across the globe, and specially in Europe</a> could soon reignite foreign interest in the U.S. market. This might be even more true if it falls in line with an increased supply of homes that could come if mortgage rates continue to drop.
There are several real estate companies focused on the residential sector that are part of the S&amp;P 500 index. These include Equity Residential (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EQR#NYSE">EQR</a>), Essex Property Trust Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ESS#NYSE">ESS</a>), Mid-America Apartment Communities Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MAA#NYSE">MAA</a>), AvalonBay Communities Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AVB#NYSE">AVB</a>) and Invitation Homes Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/INVH#NYSE">INVH</a>).
Most real estate ETFs are not pure-play residential, with the exception of iShares Residential and Multisector Real Estate (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/REZ#NYSE">REZ</a>). Others follow the U.S. real estate market more broadly but are still liable to be affected by swings in the residential home market. These include Vanguard Real Estate Index Fund ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VNQ#NYSE">VNQ</a>) and Schwab US REIT ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SCHH#NYSE">SCHH</a>) among the largest.
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Foreigners Don't Want Your US Home: Sales Drop To 15-Year Lows For International Buyers

AvalonBay Communities (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/avb#NYSE">AVB</a>) is well-poised to benefit from the healthy renter demand for its residential properties in the high barrier-to-entry regions of the United States. The company&#39;s efforts to leverage technology and scale to drive margin expansion and operational efficiency seem encouraging.
However, the elevated supply of rental units in certain markets is likely to fuel competition and curb pricing power, thereby impeding the rent growth momentum to some extent. A high interest rate adds to its woes.
<h3>What&#39;s Aiding AVB?</h3>
AvalonBay has high-quality assets located in some of the country&#39;s premium markets. It focuses on adding properties situated in the leading metropolitan areas where the market is characterized by growing employment in the high-wage sectors of the economy, higher home ownership costs, and a diverse and vibrant quality of life. This offers AvalonBay an edge for generating superior long-term risk-adjusted returns on apartment community investments over the other markets that lack such characteristics.
Its portfolio is well-diversified, with its same-store portfolio comprising a decent number of suburban and urban assets. Moreover, limited single-family home inventory is making the transition from renter to homeowner difficult in its markets, and renting apartment units is a viable option. Hence, with these factors in place, AvalonBay remains well-poised for growth.
In 2024, management expects same-store residential revenues to increase 3.1% year over year. We expect year-over-year growth of 3.3% in the company&#39;s same-store residential rental revenues in 2024.
AvalonBay also has an encouraging development pipeline. Over the next few years, the developments underway are expected to deliver meaningful incremental net operating income (NOI) upon completion and stabilization and are expected to fuel funds from operation (FFO) and net asset value growth.
AvalonBay is leveraging technology, scale and organizational capabilities to drive margin expansion in its portfolio. The company is focusing on self-serve digital experiences to provide a seamless, personalized customer experience. Such efforts are likely to bring about operational efficiency and reduce costs, aiding NOI growth.
AvalonBay has a healthy balance sheet with ample liquidity, placing it well to capitalize on long-term growth opportunities. The company has a well-laddered debt maturity schedule with a weighted average year-to-maturity of 7.4 years. In addition, in the first quarter of 2024, its annualized net debt-to-core EBITDAre was 4.3 times, and the unencumbered NOI was 95%, providing scope for tapping the additional secured debt capital if required.
Over the past three months, shares of this Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) company have rallied 13.5% compared with the&nbsp;industry&#39;s upside of 10.8%.The Zacks Consensus Estimate for AvalonBay Communities&#39; second quarter 2024 FFO per share has risen marginally upward over the past two months to $2.71. AVB is slated to release quarterly numbers on Jul 31 after the closing bell.
<img alt="Zacks Investment Research" src="https://staticx-tuner.zacks.com/images/articles/charts/26/71508.jpg?v=1410159851" />
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
<h3>What&#39;s Hurting AVB?</h3>
The struggle to lure renters will persist as the supply volume is expected to remain elevated in some markets where the company operates. Such a competitive landscape limits the company&#39;s ability to increase the rent, thereby restricting its growth momentum to some extent.
A high interest rate environment is a concern for AvalonBay. The company may find it difficult to purchase or develop real estate with borrowed funds as the costs are likely to be on the higher side. AvalonBay has a substantial debt burden, and its total debt was approximately $8.04 billion as of Mar 31, 2024. For 2024, we project a year-over-year rise of 8.4% in the company&#39;s interest expenses.
<h3>Stocks to Consider</h3>
Some other top-ranked stocks from the residential REIT sector are&nbsp;Essex Property Trust (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ess#NYSE">ESS</a>) and&nbsp;Equity Residential (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/eqr#NYSE">EQR</a>), each carrying a Zacks Rank #2 at present.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Essex Property Trust&#39;s 2024 FFO per share has moved marginally northward over the past month to $15.41.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Equity Residential&#39;s 2024 FFO per share has moved marginally northward over the past two months to $3.88.
Note:&nbsp;Anything related to earnings presented in this write-up represents funds from operations (FFO), a widely used metric to gauge the performance of REITs.
<a href="https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2302704/should-you-retain-avalonbay-avb-stock-in-your-portfolio-now?cid=CS-BENZ-FT-analyst_blog|zer_report_update-2302704">To read this article on Zacks.com click here.</a>

Essex Property Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ESS#NYSE">ESS</a>) has been analyzed by 15 analysts in the last three months, revealing a diverse range of perspectives from bullish to bearish.
The table below summarizes their recent ratings, showcasing the evolving sentiments within the past 30 days and comparing them to the preceding months.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th></th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Bullish</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Somewhat Bullish</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Indifferent</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Somewhat Bearish</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Bearish</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Total Ratings</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">4</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">10</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Last 30D</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">2</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1M Ago</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">2</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">2</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2M Ago</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">3</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3M Ago</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">3</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
The 12-month price targets assessed by analysts reveal further insights, featuring an average target of $271.03, a high estimate of $315.00, and a low estimate of $240.00. Witnessing a positive shift, the current average has risen by 6.34% from the previous average price target of $254.87.
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1720544467_0.png" alt="price target chart" />
<h2>Breaking Down Analyst Ratings: A Detailed Examination</h2>
An in-depth analysis of recent analyst actions unveils how financial experts perceive Essex Property Trust. The following summary outlines key analysts, their recent evaluations, and adjustments to ratings and price targets.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Analyst</th>
<th>Analyst Firm</th>
<th>Action Taken</th>
<th>Rating</th>
<th>Current Price Target</th>
<th>Prior Price Target</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Simon Yarmak</td>
<td>Stifel</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Hold</td>
<td>$267.00</td>
<td>$243.50</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Steve Sakwa</td>
<td>Evercore ISI Group</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>In-Line</td>
<td>$260.00</td>
<td>$254.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Alexander Goldfarb</td>
<td>Piper Sandler</td>
<td>Maintains</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$315.00</td>
<td>$315.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Michael Lewis</td>
<td>Truist Securities</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Hold</td>
<td>$282.00</td>
<td>$255.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Anthony Paolone</td>
<td>JP Morgan</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>$265.00</td>
<td>$244.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nicholas Yulico</td>
<td>Scotiabank</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Sector Outperform</td>
<td>$285.00</td>
<td>$283.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>James Feldman</td>
<td>Wells Fargo</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Equal-Weight</td>
<td>$269.00</td>
<td>$232.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Vikram Malhorta</td>
<td>Mizuho</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$266.00</td>
<td>$250.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nicholas Yulico</td>
<td>Scotiabank</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Sector Outperform</td>
<td>$283.00</td>
<td>$256.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Adam Kramer</td>
<td>Morgan Stanley</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Equal-Weight</td>
<td>$250.00</td>
<td>$230.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Michael Goldsmith</td>
<td>UBS</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>$261.00</td>
<td>$250.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Richard Anderson</td>
<td>Wedbush</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>$264.00</td>
<td>$240.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Alexander Goldfarb</td>
<td>Piper Sandler</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$315.00</td>
<td>$291.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Simon Yarmak</td>
<td>Stifel</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Hold</td>
<td>$243.50</td>
<td>$239.50</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Richard Anderson</td>
<td>Wedbush</td>
<td>Maintains</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>$240.00</td>
<td>$240.00</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>Key Insights:</h3>
<ul>
<li>Action Taken: Analysts adapt their recommendations to changing market conditions and company performance. Whether they 'Maintain', 'Raise' or 'Lower' their stance, it reflects their response to recent developments related to Essex Property Trust. This information provides a snapshot of how analysts perceive the current state of the company.</li>
<li>Rating: Analysts unravel qualitative evaluations for stocks, ranging from 'Outperform' to 'Underperform'. These ratings offer insights into expectations for the relative performance of Essex Property Trust compared to the broader market.</li>
<li>Price Targets: Analysts set price targets as an estimate of a stock's future value. Comparing the current and prior price targets provides insight into how analysts' expectations have changed over time. This information can be valuable for investors seeking to understand consensus views on the stock's potential future performance.</li>
</ul>
Capture valuable insights into Essex Property Trust's market standing by understanding these analyst evaluations alongside pertinent financial indicators. Stay informed and make strategic decisions with our Ratings Table.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/ESS/analyst-ratings?utm_source=Benzinga Insights">Stay up to date on Essex Property Trust analyst ratings.</a>
<h2>All You Need to Know About Essex Property Trust</h2>
Essex Property Trust owns a portfolio of 252 apartment communities with over 62,000 units and is developing another property with 264 units. The company focuses on owning large, high-quality properties on the West Coast in the urban and suburban submarkets of Southern California, Northern California, and Seattle.
<h3>Essex Property Trust's Financial Performance</h3>
Market Capitalization Analysis: The company's market capitalization is above the industry average, indicating that it is relatively larger in size compared to peers. This may suggest a higher level of investor confidence and market recognition.
Positive Revenue Trend: Examining Essex Property Trust's financials over 3 months reveals a positive narrative. The company achieved a noteworthy revenue growth rate of 3.52% as of 31 March, 2024, showcasing a substantial increase in top-line earnings. As compared to its peers, the company achieved a growth rate higher than the average among peers in Real Estate sector.
Net Margin: The company's net margin is a standout performer, exceeding industry averages. With an impressive net margin of 63.88%, the company showcases strong profitability and effective cost control.
Return on Equity (ROE): The company's ROE is a standout performer, exceeding industry averages. With an impressive ROE of 4.97%, the company showcases effective utilization of equity capital.
Return on Assets (ROA): Essex Property Trust's financial strength is reflected in its exceptional ROA, which exceeds industry averages. With a remarkable ROA of 2.16%, the company showcases efficient use of assets and strong financial health.
Debt Management: Essex Property Trust's debt-to-equity ratio is below industry norms, indicating a sound financial structure with a ratio of 1.19.
<h2>What Are Analyst Ratings?</h2>
Analysts work in banking and financial systems and typically specialize in reporting for stocks or defined sectors. Analysts may attend company conference calls and meetings, research company financial statements, and communicate with insiders to publish "analyst ratings" for stocks. Analysts typically rate each stock once per quarter.
Some analysts also offer predictions for helpful metrics such as earnings, revenue, and growth estimates to provide further guidance as to what to do with certain tickers. It is important to keep in mind that while stock and sector analysts are specialists, they are also human and can only forecast their beliefs to traders.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Analyst Scoreboard: 15 Ratings For Essex Property Trust

Stifel analyst Simon Yarmak maintains Essex Property Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ESS#NYSE">ESS</a>) with a Hold and raises the price target from $243.5 to $267.

Stifel Maintains Hold on Essex Property Trust, Raises Price Target to $267

Evercore ISI Group analyst Steve Sakwa maintains Essex Property Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ESS#NYSE">ESS</a>) with a In-Line and raises the price target from $254 to $260.

Evercore ISI Group Maintains In-Line on Essex Property Trust, Raises Price Target to $260

Shares of Equity Residential (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/eqr#NYSE">EQR</a>), currently carrying a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), have rallied 10.3% in the year-to-date period, outperforming the industry&#39;s growth of 3.2%.
Equity Residential boasts a portfolio of high-quality apartment units in some of the key markets of the United States that have an affluent tenant base.
For the full-year 2024, Equity Residential expects normalized FFO per share in the band of $3.80-$3.90. The company&#39;s full-year guidance incorporated projections for same-store revenue growth of 2-3%, an expense increase of 3.5-4.5% and an NOI expansion of 1-2.6%. Also, physical occupancy is expected at 95.9%.
<img alt="Zacks Investment Research" src="https://staticx-tuner.zacks.com/images/articles/charts/01/70441.jpg?v=963189614" />
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
In May, EQR announced that it expects its 2024 same-store revenues, net operating income (NOI) and normalized FFO per share results toward the higher end of its existing guidance ranges. This latest projection came with the residential REIT experiencing sustained high demand across its market, which is pushing physical occupancy above expectations. Also, strong pricing power in its East Coast markets and continued recovery in its West Coast markets are tailwinds.
Analysts seem bullish on this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its 2024 and 2025 FFO per share has moved marginally upward over the past two months to $3.88 and $4.00, respectively.
Let us now decipher the factors behind the surge in the stock price and also check whether this trend will last.
Equity Residential has a dominating presence in Boston, New York, Washington, D.C., Seattle, San Francisco and Southern California. The residential REIT is also growing its presence in Denver, CO; Atlanta, GA; Dallas/Ft. Worth and Austin, TX. It is particularly targeting places where affluent renters prefer to live, work and play. The company&#39;s affluent residents work in the highest earning sectors of the economy and are not rent-burdened, creating the ability to raise rents more readily in good economic times and reducing risk during downturns.
In its strategy, EQR is taking into consideration the hybrid working environment and the recent migration trends of affluent renters and opting for the acquisition and development of properties in suburban locations of its established markets and adding select new markets like its entry into Atlanta, GA, and Austin, TX. Moreover, given the high cost of homeownership, especially relative to rents, the transition from renter to homeowner is difficult in its markets, making renting apartment units a viable option.
Equity Residential is also banking on technology and organizational capabilities to drive rent growth and improve the efficiency of its operating platform. Such efforts are likely to provide Equity Residential with a competitive edge over others and drive growth in net operating income (NOI) in the upcoming period.
Equity Residential noted that in May (preliminary data as of May 24, 2024), physical occupancy reached 96.5%, up from 96.3% in the first quarter of 2024 and 95.8% in the fourth quarter of 2023. The blended rate for May is 2.9%, improving from 1.6% in the first quarter and 0.7% in the fourth quarter. Particularly, the new lease change was 0.4% in May against a decline of 2.2% in the first quarter of 2024 and a fall of 4.6% in the fourth quarter of 2023.
The company is making efforts toward repositioning its portfolio, selling older properties, properties in jurisdictions with challenging regulatory environments or in submarkets where the company is over-concentrated and acquiring newer properties in submarkets with high numbers of affluent renters, favorable long-term demand drivers and manageable forward supply. Such efforts are likely to drive EQR&#39;s growth over the long term.
Equity Residential has an encouraging development pipeline. Over the next few years, the developments underway are expected to deliver meaningful incremental net operating income (NOI) upon completion and stabilization and are expected to fuel FFO and NAV growth.
Equity Residential has a healthy balance sheet with ample liquidity and financial flexibility. This will help it pursue growth opportunities and enjoy greater liquidity for day-to-day operations. As of Mar 31, 2024, the company had nearly $2.3 billion of liquidity through cash and cash equivalents and the available borrowing capacity on its revolving credit facility. It has a well-laddered debt maturity schedule with no significant debt maturities until 2025.
EQR ended the first quarter of 2024 with a net debt to normalized EBITDAre of 3.97X. Unencumbered NOI as a percentage of the total NOI was 89.6% in the quarter. Further, an A-rated balance sheet renders the company access to the debt market at favorable rates.
With manageable debt maturities, solid credit metrics, significant unencumbered assets and sufficient access to capital markets at favorable rates, Equity Residential seems well-positioned to meet its future obligations as well as ride the growth curve.
Solid dividend payouts remain the biggest attraction for REIT investors, and Equity Residential remains committed to this purpose. Over the last decade, the residential REIT has delivered strong dividend growth while maintaining a conservative payout ratio. Per the June Investor Update, for the 2011-2024 period, the company&#39;s dividend is expected to witness a compound annual growth rate of 6%.
Therefore, given the company&#39;s solid operating platform, our FFO per share growth projections and balance sheet strength compared with industry counterparts, this dividend growth rate is expected to be sustainable over the long run.
However, the elevated supply of apartments in some of Equity Residential&#39;s markets and an expected moderation in rent growth act as deterrents. High interest rates add to the company&#39;s concerns.
<h3>Stocks to Consider</h3>
Some better-ranked stocks from the REIT sector are Invitation Homes (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/invh#NYSE">INVH</a>) and Essex Property Trust, Inc. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ess#NYSE">ESS</a>). Invitation Homes and Essex Property Trust each carry a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Invitation Home&#39;s current-year FFO per share has been raised marginally over the past two months to $1.88.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Essex Property Trust&#39;s 2024 FFO per share has moved marginally northward over the past month to $15.40.
Note: Anything related to earnings presented in this write-up represents funds from operations (FFO) &mdash; a widely used metric to gauge the performance of REITs.
<a href="https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2297288/equity-residential-eqr-stock-up-10-3-ytd-will-the-trend-last?cid=CS-BENZ-FT-analyst_blog|price_surge_/_plunge-2297288">To read this article on Zacks.com click here.</a>

Piper Sandler analyst Alexander Goldfarb reiterates Essex Property Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ESS#NYSE">ESS</a>) with a Overweight and maintains $315 price target.

Reiteration

Piper Sandler Reiterates Overweight on Essex Property Trust, Maintains $315 Price Target

Angela Kleiman, President and CEO at Essex Property Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ESS#NYSE">ESS</a>), disclosed an insider sell on June 25, according to a recent SEC filing.
What Happened: Kleiman's recent Form 4 filing with the <a href="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0000920522/000092052224000073//Archives/edgar/data/920522/000092052224000073/0000920522-24-000073-index.htm">U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission</a> on Tuesday unveiled the sale of 3,780 shares of Essex Property Trust. The total transaction value is $1,051,860.
At Wednesday morning, Essex Property Trust shares are down by 0.0%, trading at $275.62.
<h3>Delving into Essex Property Trust's Background</h3>
Essex Property Trust owns a portfolio of 252 apartment communities with over 62,000 units and is developing another property with 264 units. The company focuses on owning large, high-quality properties on the West Coast in the urban and suburban submarkets of Southern California, Northern California, and Seattle.
<h3>Breaking Down Essex Property Trust's Financial Performance</h3>
Revenue Growth: Essex Property Trust displayed positive results in 3 months. As of 31 March, 2024, the company achieved a solid revenue growth rate of approximately 3.52%. This indicates a notable increase in the company's top-line earnings. When compared to others in the Real Estate sector, the company excelled with a growth rate higher than the average among peers.
Key Profitability Indicators:
<ul>
<li>
Gross Margin: Achieving a high gross margin of 67.77%, the company performs well in terms of cost management and profitability within its sector.
</li>
<li>
Earnings per Share (EPS): The company excels with an EPS that surpasses the industry average. With a current EPS of 4.25, Essex Property Trust showcases strong earnings per share.
</li>
</ul>
Debt Management: With a below-average debt-to-equity ratio of 1.19, Essex Property Trust adopts a prudent financial strategy, indicating a balanced approach to debt management.
Market Valuation:
<ul>
<li>
Price to Earnings (P/E) Ratio: Essex Property Trust's stock is currently priced at a premium level, as reflected in the higher-than-average P/E ratio of 33.65.
</li>
<li>
Price to Sales (P/S) Ratio: With a higher-than-average P/S ratio of 10.51, Essex Property Trust's stock is perceived as being overvalued in the market, particularly in relation to sales performance.
</li>
<li>
EV/EBITDA Analysis (Enterprise Value to its Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation &amp; Amortization): The company's EV/EBITDA ratio 17.92 is above the industry average, suggesting that the market values the company more highly for each unit of EBITDA. This could be attributed to factors such as strong growth prospects or superior operational efficiency.
</li>
</ul>
Market Capitalization Analysis: The company's market capitalization is above the industry average, indicating that it is relatively larger in size compared to peers. This may suggest a higher level of investor confidence and market recognition.
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<h3>Why Insider Transactions Are Important</h3>
Insider transactions contribute to decision-making but should be supplemented by a comprehensive investment analysis.
Exploring the legal landscape, an "insider" is defined as any officer, director, or beneficial owner holding more than ten percent of a company's equity securities, as stipulated by Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. This encompasses executives in the c-suite and major hedge funds. These insiders are required to report their transactions through a Form 4 filing, which must be submitted within two business days of the transaction.
Highlighted by a company insider's new purchase, there's a positive anticipation for the stock to rise.
But, insider sells may not necessarily indicate a bearish view and can be motivated by various factors.
<h3>Unlocking the Meaning of Transaction Codes</h3>
In the domain of transactions, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/investing-tools">investors</a> frequently turn their focus to those taking place in the open market, as meticulously outlined in Table I of the Form 4 filing. A P in Box 3 indicates a purchase, while S signifies a sale. Transaction code C signals the conversion of an option, and transaction code A denotes a grant, award, or other acquisition of securities from the company.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/sec/insider-trades/search/index?company_cik=0000920522">Check Out The Full List Of Essex Property Trust's Insider Trades.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Insider Trades

Insider Selling: Angela Kleiman Unloads $1.05M Of Essex Property Trust Stock

Truist Securities analyst Michael Lewis maintains Essex Property Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ESS#NYSE">ESS</a>) with a Hold and raises the price target from $255 to $282.

Truist Securities Maintains Hold on Essex Property Trust, Raises Price Target to $282

Essex Property Trust's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ESS#NYSE">ESS</a>) short percent of float has fallen 10.83% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 1.26 million shares sold short, which is 2.8% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 4.22 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock/">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>Essex Property Trust Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1718916316_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Essex Property Trust has declined since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to rise in the near-term but traders should be aware that less shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing Essex Property Trust's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>, Essex Property Trust's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 3.88%, which means the company has less short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze/">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

Short Sellers

Peering Into Essex Property Trust's Recent Short Interest

In the latest quarter, 15 analysts provided ratings for Essex Property Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ESS#NYSE">ESS</a>), showcasing a mix of bullish and bearish perspectives.
The following table encapsulates their recent ratings, offering a glimpse into the evolving sentiments over the past 30 days and comparing them to the preceding months.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th></th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Bullish</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Somewhat Bullish</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Indifferent</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Somewhat Bearish</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Bearish</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Total Ratings</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">2</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">4</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">9</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Last 30D</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1M Ago</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2M Ago</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">2</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">5</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3M Ago</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">2</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Analysts have recently evaluated Essex Property Trust and provided 12-month price targets. The average target is $268.1, accompanied by a high estimate of $315.00 and a low estimate of $240.00. Marking an increase of 5.6%, the current average surpasses the previous average price target of $253.88. 
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1718650886_0.png" alt="price target chart" />
<h2>Analyzing Analyst Ratings: A Detailed Breakdown</h2>
A clear picture of Essex Property Trust's perception among financial experts is painted with a thorough analysis of recent analyst actions. The summary below outlines key analysts, their recent evaluations, and adjustments to ratings and price targets.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Analyst</th>
<th>Analyst Firm</th>
<th>Action Taken</th>
<th>Rating</th>
<th>Current Price Target</th>
<th>Prior Price Target</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Anthony Paolone</td>
<td>JP Morgan</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>$265.00</td>
<td>$244.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nicholas Yulico</td>
<td>Scotiabank</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Sector Outperform</td>
<td>$285.00</td>
<td>$283.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>James Feldman</td>
<td>Wells Fargo</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Equal-Weight</td>
<td>$269.00</td>
<td>$232.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Vikram Malhorta</td>
<td>Mizuho</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$266.00</td>
<td>$250.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nicholas Yulico</td>
<td>Scotiabank</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Sector Outperform</td>
<td>$283.00</td>
<td>$256.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Adam Kramer</td>
<td>Morgan Stanley</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Equal-Weight</td>
<td>$250.00</td>
<td>$230.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Michael Goldsmith</td>
<td>UBS</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>$261.00</td>
<td>$250.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Richard Anderson</td>
<td>Wedbush</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>$264.00</td>
<td>$240.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Alexander Goldfarb</td>
<td>Piper Sandler</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$315.00</td>
<td>$291.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Simon Yarmak</td>
<td>Stifel</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Hold</td>
<td>$243.50</td>
<td>$239.50</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Richard Anderson</td>
<td>Wedbush</td>
<td>Maintains</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>$240.00</td>
<td>-</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Michael Lewis</td>
<td>Truist Securities</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Hold</td>
<td>$255.00</td>
<td>$259.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Joshua Dennerlein</td>
<td>B of A Securities</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$275.00</td>
<td>$250.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Michael Lewis</td>
<td>Truist Securities</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Hold</td>
<td>$259.00</td>
<td>$276.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Alexander Goldfarb</td>
<td>Piper Sandler</td>
<td>Maintains</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$291.00</td>
<td>-</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>Key Insights:</h3>
<ul>
<li>Action Taken: Analysts respond to changes in market conditions and company performance, frequently updating their recommendations. Whether they 'Maintain', 'Raise' or 'Lower' their stance, it reflects their reaction to recent developments related to Essex Property Trust. This information offers a snapshot of how analysts perceive the current state of the company.</li>
<li>Rating: Unveiling insights, analysts deliver qualitative insights into stock performance, from 'Outperform' to 'Underperform'. These ratings convey expectations for the relative performance of Essex Property Trust compared to the broader market.</li>
<li>Price Targets: Analysts navigate through adjustments in price targets, providing estimates for Essex Property Trust's future value. Comparing current and prior targets offers insights into analysts' evolving expectations.</li>
</ul>
Considering these analyst evaluations in conjunction with other financial indicators can offer a comprehensive understanding of Essex Property Trust's market position. Stay informed and make well-informed decisions with our Ratings Table.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/ESS/analyst-ratings?utm_source=Benzinga Insights">Stay up to date on Essex Property Trust analyst ratings.</a>
<h2>All You Need to Know About Essex Property Trust</h2>
Essex Property Trust owns a portfolio of 252 apartment communities with over 62,000 units and is developing another property with 264 units. The company focuses on owning large, high-quality properties on the West Coast in the urban and suburban submarkets of Southern California, Northern California, and Seattle.
<h3>Financial Insights: Essex Property Trust</h3>
Market Capitalization Analysis: With an elevated market capitalization, the company stands out above industry averages, showcasing substantial size and market acknowledgment.
Revenue Growth: Essex Property Trust displayed positive results in 3 months. As of 31 March, 2024, the company achieved a solid revenue growth rate of approximately 3.52%. This indicates a notable increase in the company's top-line earnings. As compared to competitors, the company surpassed expectations with a growth rate higher than the average among peers in the Real Estate sector.
Net Margin: The company's net margin is a standout performer, exceeding industry averages. With an impressive net margin of 63.88%, the company showcases strong profitability and effective cost control.
Return on Equity (ROE): Essex Property Trust's ROE stands out, surpassing industry averages. With an impressive ROE of 4.97%, the company demonstrates effective use of equity capital and strong financial performance.
Return on Assets (ROA): The company's ROA is a standout performer, exceeding industry averages. With an impressive ROA of 2.16%, the company showcases effective utilization of assets.
Debt Management: Essex Property Trust's debt-to-equity ratio is below industry norms, indicating a sound financial structure with a ratio of 1.19.
<h2>The Significance of Analyst Ratings Explained</h2>
Analysts work in banking and financial systems and typically specialize in reporting for stocks or defined sectors. Analysts may attend company conference calls and meetings, research company financial statements, and communicate with insiders to publish "analyst ratings" for stocks. Analysts typically rate each stock once per quarter.
Some analysts publish their predictions for metrics such as growth estimates, earnings, and revenue to provide additional guidance with their ratings. When using analyst ratings, it is important to keep in mind that stock and sector analysts are also human and are only offering their opinions to investors.
If you want to keep track of which analysts are outperforming others, you can view updated analyst ratings along withanalyst success scores in <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a>.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Critical Insights From Essex Property Trust Analyst Ratings: What You Need To Know

JP Morgan analyst Anthony Paolone maintains Essex Property Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ESS#NYSE">ESS</a>) with a Neutral and raises the price target from $244 to $265.

JP Morgan Maintains Neutral on Essex Property Trust, Raises Price Target to $265

As of June 17, 2024, four stocks in the real estate sector could be flashing a real warning to investors who value momentum as a key criteria in their trading decisions.
The RSI is a momentum indicator, which compares a stock&#8217;s strength on days when prices go up to its strength on days when prices go down. When compared to a stock&#8217;s price action, it can give traders a better sense of how a stock may perform in the short term. An asset is typically considered overbought when the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/rsi">RSI is above 70</a>, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>. 
Here's the latest list of major overbought players in this sector.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Essex Property Trust Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ESS#NYSE">ESS</a>)</h3>
<ul>
<li>On June 14, Scotiabank analyst Nicholas Yulico maintained Essex Property Trust with a Sector Outperform and raised the price target from $283 to $285. The company's stock gained around 4% over the past five days and has a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/ESS">52-week high of $279.09</a>.</li>
<li>RSI Value: 71.28&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
<li>ESS Price Action: Shares of Essex Property Trust rose 1.2% to close at $278.50 on Friday.</li>
</ul>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">InnSuites Hospitality Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IHT#NYSE">IHT</a>)</h3>
<ul>
<li>On Jan. 8, InnSuites Hospitality Trust announced a semi-annual dividend of 1 cent per share after clocking December revenue of $0.52 million. The company's stock gained around 31% over the past month and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/IHT">has a 52-week high</a> of $3.62.</li>
<li>RSI Value: 78.37</li>
<li>IHT Price Action: Shares of InnSuites Hospitality Trust fell 2.2% to close at $1.75 on Friday.</li>
</ul>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Iron Mountain Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IRM#NYSE">IRM</a>)</h3>
<ul>
<li>On May 2, the company, under the helm of CEO William Meaney, reported first-quarter adjusted earnings per share of 43 cents. Quarterly revenue of $1.477 billion, beating the street view of $1.453 billion. Iron Mountain declared a quarterly cash dividend of 65 cents per share for the second quarter, which is payable on July 5, 2024, for shareholders of record on June 17, 2024. The company's stock gained around 7% over the past month and has a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/IRM">52-week high</a> of $89.91.</li>
<li>RSI Value: 74.06</li>
<li>IRM Price Action: Shares of Iron Mountain gained 0.3% to close at $88.02 on Friday.</li>
</ul>
National Storage Affiliates Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NSA#NYSE">NSA</a>)
<ul>
<li>On May 1, National Storage posted weaker-than-expected quarterly sales. The company's stock jumped around 6% over the past five days and has a 52-week high of $42.54.</li>
<li>RSI Value: 73.81</li>
<li>NSA Price Action: Shares of National Storage Affiliates Trust gained 0.4% to close at $40.85 on Friday.</li>
</ul>
Check This Out: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/06/39331770/wall-streets-most-accurate-analysts-weigh-in-on-3-tech-stocks-with-over-3-dividend-yields">Wall Street&#8217;s Most Accurate Analysts Weigh In On 3 Tech Stocks With Over 3% Dividend Yields</a>

Scotiabank analyst Nicholas Yulico maintains Essex Property Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ESS#NYSE">ESS</a>) with a Sector Outperform and raises the price target from $283 to $285.

Scotiabank Maintains Sector Outperform on Essex Property Trust, Raises Price Target to $285

Editor&#8217;s note: This story has been updated with additional details.
Multiple stocks on the New York Stock Exchange experienced sudden trading halts after 9:40 a.m. ET Monday <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/nyse">due to technical issues.</a>
The unexpected pauses in trading were triggered by a technical issue categorized under the &#8220;Limit Up/Limit Down&#8221; code, which is typically used to curb excessive volatility in a single stock.
The NYSE said it is investigating the reported technical issue. &#8220;Additional information will follow as soon as possible,&#8221; NYSE-owner Intercontinental Exchange Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ICE#NYSE">ICE</a>) stated. 
Among the largest companies halted on Monday were Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BRK#NYSE">BRK</a>) at 9:50:52 a.m. ET and Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CMG#NYSE">CMG</a>) at 9:44:58 a.m. ET. 
Chipotle shares experienced a sudden and dramatic decline of 66%, plummeting from $3,097 to $1,047. The stock resumed trading at 10:21 a.m.
At 9:49 a.m., ET shares of Berkshire Hathaway faced an even more severe downturn, nearly being wiped out with a staggering 99.7% collapse from $622,375 to $185.10. As of this update, trading has not yet resumed for the company owned by Warren Buffett.
Monday&#8217;s technical malfunctions on the NYSE occur just one week after U.S. stock exchanges transitioned to a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/05/39039375/t-1-settlement-era-on-trading-begins-what-you-need-to-know">one-day settlement period.</a>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="500" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/03101722/image-4-1024x500.png" alt="" class="wp-image-368052" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/03101722/image-4-1024x500.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/03101722/image-4-300x147.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/03101722/image-4-768x375.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/03101722/image-4-1536x750.png 1536w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/03101722/image-4.png 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="500" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/03102012/image-5-1024x500.png" alt="" class="wp-image-368067" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/03102012/image-5-1024x500.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/03102012/image-5-300x147.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/03102012/image-5-768x375.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/03102012/image-5-1536x750.png 1536w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/03102012/image-5.png 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Other Stocks Impacted </h3>
Other stocks affected by the sudden technical glitch on the New York Stock Exchange in Monday trading include:
<ul>
<li>Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ABT#NYSE">ABT</a>)</li>
<li>Barrick Gold Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOLD#NYSE">GOLD</a>)</li>
<li>Franco-Nevada Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FNV#NYSE">FNV</a>)</li>
<li>Essex Property Trust, Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ESS#NYSE">ESS</a>)</li>
<li>NuScale Power Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SMR#NYSE">SMR</a>)</li>
<li>Destiny Tech100 Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DXYZ#NYSE">DXYZ</a>)</li>
<li>Ault Disruptive Technologies Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ADRT#NYSE">ADRT</a>)</li>
<li>Nouveau Monde Graphite Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NMG#NYSE">NMG</a>)</li>
<li>Bowhead Specialty Holdings Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BOW#NYSE">BOW</a>)</li>
<li>Banco Santander-Chile (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BSAC#NYSE">BSAC</a>)</li>
<li>Logistic Properties of the Americas (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LPA#NYSE">LPA</a>)</li>
<li>Xperi Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XPER#NYSE">XPER</a>)</li>
<li>ICL Group Ltd. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ICL#NYSE">ICL</a>)</li>
<li>Telefonica, S.A. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TEF#NYSE">TEF</a>)</li>
<li>Trinity Industries, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TRN#NYSE">TRN</a>)</li>
</ul>
The technical fallout also impacted trading on the following NYSE-Arca listed exchange traded funds:
<ul>
<li>Direxion Daily Aerospace &amp; Defense Bull 3X Shares (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DFEN#NYSE">DFEN</a>)</li>
<li>MAX S&amp;P 500 4x Leveraged ETN (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UPRO#NYSE">UPRO</a>)</li>
<li>JPMorgan Core Plus Bond ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JCPB#NYSE">JCPB</a>)</li>
<li>Global X MSCI Argentina ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARGT#NYSE">ARGT</a>)</li>
<li>Nationwide Nasdaq-100 Risk-Managed Income ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NUSI#NYSE">NUSI</a>)</li>
<li>SPDR S&amp;P Semiconductor ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XSD#NYSE">XSD</a>)</li>
</ul>
Read now: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/06/39136240/koss-corp-tupperware-blackberry-shares-are-moving-monday-whats-going-on">Koss Corp, Tupperware, BlackBerry Shares Are Moving Monday: What&#8217;s Going On?</a>
Photo via Shutterstock.

Wells Fargo analyst James Feldman maintains Essex Property Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ESS#NYSE">ESS</a>) with a Equal-Weight and raises the price target from $232 to $269.

Wells Fargo Maintains Equal-Weight on Essex Property Trust, Raises Price Target to $269

Across the recent three months, 14 analysts have shared their insights on Essex Property Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ESS#NYSE">ESS</a>), expressing a variety of opinions spanning from bullish to bearish.
The table below offers a condensed view of their recent ratings, showcasing the changing sentiments over the past 30 days and comparing them to the preceding months.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th></th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Bullish</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Somewhat Bullish</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Indifferent</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Somewhat Bearish</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Bearish</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Total Ratings</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">2</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">4</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">8</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Last 30D</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1M Ago</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">2</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">4</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2M Ago</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">2</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3M Ago</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">2</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">2</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Providing deeper insights, analysts have established 12-month price targets, indicating an average target of $264.54, along with a high estimate of $315.00 and a low estimate of $236.00. This current average reflects an increase of 5.03% from the previous average price target of $251.86. 
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1717084876_0.png" alt="price target chart" />
<h2>Interpreting Analyst Ratings: A Closer Look</h2>
The analysis of recent analyst actions sheds light on the perception of Essex Property Trust by financial experts. The following summary presents key analysts, their recent evaluations, and adjustments to ratings and price targets.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Analyst</th>
<th>Analyst Firm</th>
<th>Action Taken</th>
<th>Rating</th>
<th>Current Price Target</th>
<th>Prior Price Target</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Vikram Malhorta</td>
<td>Mizuho</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$266.00</td>
<td>$250.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nicholas Yulico</td>
<td>Scotiabank</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Sector Outperform</td>
<td>$283.00</td>
<td>$256.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Adam Kramer</td>
<td>Morgan Stanley</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Equal-Weight</td>
<td>$250.00</td>
<td>$230.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Michael Goldsmith</td>
<td>UBS</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>$261.00</td>
<td>$250.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Richard Anderson</td>
<td>Wedbush</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>$264.00</td>
<td>$240.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Alexander Goldfarb</td>
<td>Piper Sandler</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$315.00</td>
<td>$291.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Simon Yarmak</td>
<td>Stifel</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Hold</td>
<td>$243.50</td>
<td>$239.50</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Richard Anderson</td>
<td>Wedbush</td>
<td>Maintains</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>$240.00</td>
<td>-</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Michael Lewis</td>
<td>Truist Securities</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Hold</td>
<td>$255.00</td>
<td>$259.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Joshua Dennerlein</td>
<td>B of A Securities</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$275.00</td>
<td>$250.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Michael Lewis</td>
<td>Truist Securities</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Hold</td>
<td>$259.00</td>
<td>$276.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Alexander Goldfarb</td>
<td>Piper Sandler</td>
<td>Maintains</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$291.00</td>
<td>-</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Buck Horne</td>
<td>Raymond James</td>
<td>Announces</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$265.00</td>
<td>-</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Wesley Golladay</td>
<td>Baird</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>$236.00</td>
<td>$229.00</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>Key Insights:</h3>
<ul>
<li>Action Taken: Responding to changing market dynamics and company performance, analysts update their recommendations. Whether they 'Maintain', 'Raise', or 'Lower' their stance, it signifies their response to recent developments related to Essex Property Trust. This offers insight into analysts' perspectives on the current state of the company.</li>
<li>Rating: Gaining insights, analysts provide qualitative assessments, ranging from 'Outperform' to 'Underperform'. These ratings reflect expectations for the relative performance of Essex Property Trust compared to the broader market.</li>
<li>Price Targets: Understanding forecasts, analysts offer estimates for Essex Property Trust's future value. Examining the current and prior targets provides insight into analysts' changing expectations.</li>
</ul>
Navigating through these analyst evaluations alongside other financial indicators can contribute to a holistic understanding of Essex Property Trust's market standing. Stay informed and make data-driven decisions with our Ratings Table.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/ESS/analyst-ratings?utm_source=Benzinga Insights">Stay up to date on Essex Property Trust analyst ratings.</a>
<h2>About Essex Property Trust</h2>
Essex Property Trust owns a portfolio of 252 apartment communities with over 62,000 units and is developing another property with 264 units. The company focuses on owning large, high-quality properties on the West Coast in the urban and suburban submarkets of Southern California, Northern California, and Seattle.
<h3>Essex Property Trust: Delving into Financials</h3>
Market Capitalization: Surpassing industry standards, the company's market capitalization asserts its dominance in terms of size, suggesting a robust market position.
Revenue Growth: Essex Property Trust displayed positive results in 3 months. As of 31 March, 2024, the company achieved a solid revenue growth rate of approximately 1.23%. This indicates a notable increase in the company's top-line earnings. When compared to others in the Real Estate sector, the company faces challenges, achieving a growth rate lower than the average among peers.
Net Margin: Essex Property Trust's net margin surpasses industry standards, highlighting the company's exceptional financial performance. With an impressive 63.88% net margin, the company effectively manages costs and achieves strong profitability.
Return on Equity (ROE): Essex Property Trust's ROE excels beyond industry benchmarks, reaching 4.97%. This signifies robust financial management and efficient use of shareholder equity capital.
Return on Assets (ROA): Essex Property Trust's financial strength is reflected in its exceptional ROA, which exceeds industry averages. With a remarkable ROA of 2.16%, the company showcases efficient use of assets and strong financial health.
Debt Management: Essex Property Trust's debt-to-equity ratio is below the industry average. With a ratio of 1.19, the company relies less on debt financing, maintaining a healthier balance between debt and equity, which can be viewed positively by investors.
<h2>The Significance of Analyst Ratings Explained</h2>
Analyst ratings serve as essential indicators of stock performance, provided by experts in banking and financial systems. These specialists diligently analyze company financial statements, participate in conference calls, and engage with insiders to generate quarterly ratings for individual stocks.
Some analysts will also offer forecasts for metrics like growth estimates, earnings, and revenue to provide further guidance on stocks. Investors who use analyst ratings should note that this specialized advice comes from humans and may be subject to error.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

The Latest Analyst Ratings For Essex Property Trust

Mizuho analyst Vikram Malhorta maintains Essex Property Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ESS#NYSE">ESS</a>) with a Buy and raises the price target from $250 to $266.

Mizuho Maintains Buy on Essex Property Trust, Raises Price Target to $266

Scotiabank analyst Nicholas Yulico maintains Essex Property Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ESS#NYSE">ESS</a>) with a Sector Outperform and raises the price target from $256 to $283.

Scotiabank Maintains Sector Outperform on Essex Property Trust, Raises Price Target to $283

Morgan Stanley analyst Adam Kramer maintains Essex Property Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ESS#NYSE">ESS</a>) with a Equal-Weight and raises the price target from $230 to $250.

Morgan Stanley Maintains Equal-Weight on Essex Property Trust, Raises Price Target to $250

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In a report released today, Adam Kramer from Morgan Stanley maintained a Hold rating on Essex Property (ESS – Research Report), with a price target...


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