Essex Property (ESS) vs Sun Communities (SUI)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Essex Property (ESS) has outperformed Sun Communities (SUI) over the past year, gaining 2.3% versus a loss of 12.2%. Over five years, ESS leads with a -19.5% price change compared with -43.1% for SUI. Essex Property is the larger company by market cap ($18.43 billion vs $14.02 billion), about 1.3 times the size.
On valuation, Sun Communities trades at a lower forward P/E (34.6x vs 42.4x for Essex Property). Sun Communities offers the higher dividend yield (3.89% vs 3.86%). Sun Communities converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 61.3% versus 37.2%.
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 | SUI |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $267.35 | $110.99 |
| Market cap | $18.43B | $14.02B |
| 1-day change | -0.26% | +0.18% |
| YTD return | +2.43% | -10.59% |
| 1-year return | +2.28% | -12.18% |
| 5-year return | -19.53% | -43.11% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 41.58 | 84.08 |
| Forward P/E | 42.44 | 34.64 |
| EPS (TTM) | $6.43 | $1.32 |
| Dividend yield | 3.86% | 3.89% |
| Annual dividend | $10.32 | $4.32 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $1.89B | $2.31B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +6.36% | +2.02% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $702.77M | $1.41B |
| Gross margin | 69.89% | — |
| Operating margin | 47.65% | — |
| Net margin | 37.24% | 61.31% |
| 52-week high | $303.35 | $137.85 |
| 52-week low | $238.46 | $109.77 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -11.87% | -19.48% |
| Analyst consensus | hold | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +13.74% | +24.15% |
| Average volume | 496.81K | 1.68M |
| Shares outstanding | 64.27M | 121.80M |
| Employees | 1,686 | 3,607 |
| 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
- ESS has outperformed SUI by 14.5 percentage points over the past year.
- Sun Communities trades at a higher earnings multiple (84.1x vs 41.6x trailing P/E).
- Sun Communities is more profitable, keeping 61.3 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus 37.2 cents for Essex Property.
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 Sun Communities
SUI stock →Sun Communities, Inc. became a publicly owned corporation in December 1993.
Real Estate · Real Estate Investment Trusts · 3,607 employees
ESS vs SUI FAQ
Which is bigger, Essex Property or Sun Communities?
Essex Property (ESS) is larger, with a market capitalization of $18.43B compared with $14.02B for Sun Communities (SUI).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, ESS or SUI?
ESS returned +2.28% over the past 12 months, compared with -12.18% for SUI (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, ESS or SUI?
ESS has the lower trailing P/E at 41.6, versus 84.1 for SUI. 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 Sun Communities?
Sun Communities has the higher yield at 3.89%, compared with 3.86% for Essex Property.
Are Essex Property and Sun Communities in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Real Estate Investment Trusts industry within the Real Estate sector.