ESS
Essex Property Trust, Inc. Real Estate - REIT - Residential Investor Relations →
Essex Property Trust, Inc. (ESS) closed at $240.19 as of 2026-03-20, trading 0.5% above its 200-week moving average of $239.08. The stock is currently moving closer to the line, down from 4.5% last week. The 14-week RSI sits at 37, indicating neutral momentum.
Trading volume is running at 1.2x of its 14-week average, which is in the normal range. The balance between buying and selling volume (0.88 ratio) is neutral — neither side is clearly dominating.
Over the past 1610 weeks of data, ESS has crossed below its 200-week moving average 11 times. On average, these episodes lasted 19 weeks. Historically, investors who bought ESS at the start of these episodes saw an average one-year return of +21.2%.
With a market cap of $16.6 billion, ESS is a large-cap stock. The company generates a free cash flow yield of 5.9%, which is healthy. Return on equity stands at 12.2%. The stock trades at 2.8x book value.
ESS is a Dividend Aristocrat, having increased its dividend for 25 or more consecutive years. The current yield is 429.00%.
Over the past 30.9 years, a hypothetical investment of $100 in ESS would have grown to $4850, compared to $2077 for the S&P 500. That represents an annualized return of 13.4% vs 10.3% for the index — confirming ESS as a market-beating investment and the kind of quality company where buying during 200-week moving average touches has historically been rewarded.
Free cash flow has been growing at a 4.8% compound annual rate, with 4 consecutive years of positive cash generation.
Business Health
Annual financials — how the underlying business has performed over the past several years.
Cash Flow Free cash flow & net income ($M)
Revenue Annual revenue ($M) — business growth proxy
Total Debt Balance sheet debt ($M)
ROIC Return on invested capital (%)
FCF Yield Free cash flow / market cap (%) — Yartseva signal
Gross Margin Pricing power & competitive moat (%)
Shares Outstanding Buybacks vs dilution (millions)
Growth of $100: ESS vs S&P 500
Monthly data normalized to $100 at start. Vertical dashed lines mark 200-week MA touches.
What Happens After ESS Crosses Below the Line?
Across 11 historical episodes, buying ESS when it crossed below its 200-week moving average produced an average return of +21.7% after 12 months (median +27.0%), compared to +22.0% for the S&P 500 over the same periods. 64% of those episodes were profitable after one year. After 24 months, the average return was +42.7% vs +41.1% for the index.
Each line shows $100 invested at the moment ESS crossed below its 200-week MA. Bold blue = stock average. Gray dashed = S&P 500 average over same periods.
Historical Touches
ESS has crossed below its 200-week MA 11 times with an average 1-year return of +21.2% after recovery.
| Crossed Below | Recovered | Weeks | Max Depth | 1-Year Return | Return Since Touch |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 1995 | Jul 1995 | 1 | 1.3% | +45.2% | +5037.0% |
| Aug 1995 | Aug 1995 | 1 | 0.7% | +45.7% | +4999.3% |
| Dec 2007 | Jan 2008 | 3 | 5.4% | -12.2% | +406.2% |
| Oct 2008 | Apr 2010 | 77 | 45.5% | -9.7% | +373.5% |
| Mar 2020 | Apr 2020 | 3 | 22.4% | +45.6% | +51.4% |
| Apr 2020 | Jun 2020 | 6 | 7.6% | +27.5% | +21.9% |
| Jun 2020 | Nov 2020 | 21 | 17.0% | +33.5% | +26.0% |
| Dec 2020 | Feb 2021 | 8 | 4.4% | +46.0% | +18.4% |
| Jun 2022 | Jul 2022 | 5 | 5.1% | -3.8% | +8.2% |
| Aug 2022 | Dec 2023 | 69 | 23.6% | -7.0% | +3.3% |
| Jan 2024 | Apr 2024 | 14 | 5.9% | +22.0% | +7.3% |
| Average | 19 | — | +21.2% | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is ESS below its 200-week moving average?
No. Essex Property Trust, Inc. (ESS) is currently 0.5% above its 200-week moving average of $239.08. It would need to fall to $239.08 to cross below the line.
What is ESS's 200-week moving average price?
Essex Property Trust, Inc.'s 200-week moving average is $239.08 as of 2026-03-20. This is the average weekly closing price over roughly the last 4 years, and it acts as a long-term trend line. When a stock drops below this level, it can signal that the price has fallen far enough from the long-term trend to attract value-oriented investors.
What happens when ESS drops below its 200-week moving average?
ESS has crossed below its 200-week moving average 11 times in our data. On average, buying at that moment produced a one-year return of +21.2%. These dips have historically been decent entry points. These episodes lasted 19 weeks on average.
Is ESS a good value right now?
Here's what our data says about ESS as of 2026-03-20: The stock is above its 200-week moving average, so it doesn't currently meet our primary signal. The 14-week RSI is 37. Free cash flow yield is 5.9%. Return on equity is 12.2%. Price-to-book is 2.8x. This is not a buy or sell recommendation — always do your own research.
How does ESS compare to the S&P 500?
Over the past 30.9 years, $100 invested in ESS would have grown to $4850, compared to $2077 for the S&P 500. That's 13.4% annualized vs 10.3% for the index. ESS has outperformed the broader market over this period.
Does ESS pay a dividend?
Yes. Essex Property Trust, Inc. currently pays a dividend yield of 429.00%. It is also a Dividend Aristocrat, meaning it has raised its dividend for 25 or more consecutive years.
Not financial advice. This is an educational tool. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Do your own research before making investment decisions.
Data as of week of 2026-03-20