Essex Property (ESS) vs Lamar Advertising (LAMR)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Lamar Advertising (LAMR) has outperformed Essex Property (ESS) over the past year, gaining 17.9% versus a gain of 2.3%. Over five years, LAMR leads with a +20.2% price change compared with -19.5% for ESS. Essex Property is the larger company by market cap ($18.48 billion vs $14.55 billion), about 1.3 times the size.
On valuation, Lamar Advertising trades at a lower forward P/E (22.1x vs 42.6x for Essex Property). Lamar Advertising offers the higher dividend yield (4.40% vs 3.85%). Essex Property converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 37.2% versus 25.9%.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | ESS | LAMR |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $268.05 | $143.24 |
| Market cap | $18.48B | $14.55B |
| 1-day change | -1.63% | -1.04% |
| YTD return | +2.43% | +13.16% |
| 1-year return | +2.28% | +17.92% |
| 5-year return | -19.53% | +20.24% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 42.35 | 26.43 |
| Forward P/E | 42.55 | 22.10 |
| EPS (TTM) | $6.33 | $5.42 |
| Dividend yield | 3.85% | 4.40% |
| Annual dividend | $10.32 | $6.30 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $1.89B | $2.27B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +6.36% | +2.68% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $702.77M | $587.15M |
| Gross margin | 69.89% | 67.04% |
| Operating margin | 47.65% | 34.16% |
| Net margin | 37.24% | 25.91% |
| 52-week high | $303.35 | $166.33 |
| 52-week low | $238.46 | $114.45 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -11.64% | -13.88% |
| Analyst consensus | hold | hold |
| Avg. price target upside | +13.44% | +13.24% |
| Average volume | 498.53K | 580.78K |
| Shares outstanding | 64.27M | 87.13M |
| Employees | 1,686 | 3,500 |
| Sector | Real Estate | Real Estate |
| Industry | Real Estate Investment Trusts | Real Estate Investment Trusts |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- LAMR has outperformed ESS by 15.6 percentage points over the past year.
- Essex Property trades at a higher earnings multiple (42.3x vs 26.4x trailing P/E).
- Essex Property is more profitable, keeping 37.2 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus 25.9 cents for Lamar Advertising.
About Essex Property
ESS stock →Essex Property Trust, Inc., an S&P 500 company, is a fully integrated real estate investment trust. The firm acquires, develops, redevelops, and manages multifamily residential properties in selected West Coast markets.
Real Estate · Real Estate Investment Trusts · 1,686 employees
About Lamar Advertising
LAMR stock →Lamar Advertising Company is one of the largest outdoor advertising companies in North America, with over 362,000 displays across the United States and Canada. Lamar offers advertisers a variety of billboards, interstate logo, transit and airport advertising formats, helping both local businesses and national brands reach broad audiences every day.
Real Estate · Real Estate Investment Trusts · 3,500 employees
ESS vs LAMR FAQ
Which is bigger, Essex Property or Lamar Advertising?
Essex Property (ESS) is larger, with a market capitalization of $18.48B compared with $14.55B for Lamar Advertising (LAMR).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, ESS or LAMR?
LAMR returned +17.92% over the past 12 months, compared with +2.28% for ESS (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, ESS or LAMR?
LAMR has the lower trailing P/E at 26.4, versus 42.3 for ESS. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, Essex Property or Lamar Advertising?
Lamar Advertising has the higher yield at 4.40%, compared with 3.85% for Essex Property.
Are Essex Property and Lamar Advertising in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Real Estate Investment Trusts industry within the Real Estate sector.