Essex Property Trust, Inc.

ESS30 yrs growth

Real Estate · REIT - Residential · Stock · quarterly payer

$269.43

Fairly valued · -3% Add to Portfolio

Forward Yield

3.85%

Annual Dividend

$10.36

Payout Ratio

161%

5-Yr Growth

4.1%

Ex-Date

Sep 30, 2026

Frequency

Quarterly

Key facts about ESS's dividend

Data as of Oct 19, 2026 · Source: SmarterDividends data

As of Oct 19, 2026, Essex Property Trust, Inc. (ESS) has a forward dividend yield of 3.85%, based on an annual dividend of $10.36 per share and a share price of $269.43.
As of Oct 19, 2026, ESS's dividend safety grade from SmarterDividends is A (83 out of 100), which rates the dividend as very safe.
By SmarterDividends' count, Essex Property Trust, Inc. (ESS) has raised its dividend for 30 consecutive years as of Oct 19, 2026, which makes it a Dividend Aristocrat by the 25-year definition.
ESS has never cut its regular dividend in the payment history SmarterDividends has on record.
ESS's most recent ex-dividend date was Sep 30, 2026, for a dividend of $2.59 per share.
As of Oct 19, 2026, ESS pays out 161% of its trailing 12-month earnings as dividends (its payout ratio).
ESS's dividend has grown at an average rate of 4.1% a year over the past five years.
As of Oct 19, 2026, ESS's 3.85% yield is 17% above its five-year average yield of 3.28%.
As of Oct 19, 2026, SmarterDividends' blended fair-value estimate for ESS is $262.32 per share, 3% below the $269.43 share price, so ESS screens as fairly valued.
Essex Property Trust, Inc. (ESS) pays its dividend quarterly, 4 times a year.
Essex Property Trust, Inc. (ESS) has raised its regular dividend 31 times and cut it 0 times across the 125 payments on record since 1995. Its most recent change was a 0.8% increase to $2.59 per share, going ex-dividend on Mar 31, 2026.

Cite this page

SmarterDividends, "ESS Dividend: Yield, Safety Grade & Next Ex-Date," updated Oct 19, 2026, https://smarterdividends.com/stocks/ESS

Summary

As of Oct 19, 2026, Essex Property Trust, Inc. (ESS) yields 3.85% ($10.36 a year per share), has a dividend safety grade of A (83/100) and has 30 consecutive years of dividend increases on record.

Is ESS a good dividend stock?

Yes

Essex Property Trust, Inc. (ESS) pays a quarterly dividend yielding 3.85% ($10.36/yr), with 30 years of growth and a dividend-safety grade of A. It scores well across payout coverage, growth history and safety — a dependable income holding.

Advantages

Dividend Aristocrat — 30 consecutive years of growth
Never cut its dividend on record
Top-tier dividend safety score

Risks

Elevated payout ratio (161%)
Share price is down over the past 5 years

Key Data

Dividend Yield: 3.85%
Payout Ratio: 161%
Annual Dividend: $10.36
5-Yr Avg Growth: 4.1%
Ex-Dividend Date: Sep 30, 2026
Years of Growth: 30
Frequency: quarterly
Beta: 0.71
Market Cap: $18.6B
P/E Ratio: 41.9
5-Yr Total Return: -21%
52-Week Range: $238.46 – $303.35
Dividend Safety: A · 83/100
Ever Cut?: No

ESS dividend raises and cuts

Essex Property Trust, Inc. (ESS) has raised its regular dividend 31 times and cut it 0 times across the 125 payments on record since 1995. Its most recent change was a 0.8% increase to $2.59 per share, going ex-dividend on Mar 31, 2026.

Ex-date	Change	Old → new	Move
Mar 31, 2026	Raise	$2.57 → $2.59	+0.8%
Mar 31, 2025	Raise	$2.45 → $2.57	+4.9%
Mar 27, 2024	Raise	$2.31 → $2.45	+6.1%
Mar 30, 2023	Raise	$2.20 → $2.31	+5.0%
Mar 30, 2022	Raise	$2.09 → $2.20	+5.3%
Mar 30, 2021	Raise	$2.08 → $2.09	+0.6%
Mar 30, 2020	Raise	$1.95 → $2.08	+6.6%
Mar 28, 2019	Raise	$1.86 → $1.95	+4.8%
Mar 28, 2018	Raise	$1.75 → $1.86	+6.3%
Mar 29, 2017	Raise	$1.60 → $1.75	+9.4%
Mar 29, 2016	Raise	$1.44 → $1.60	+11.1%
Mar 27, 2015	Raise	$1.30 → $1.44	+10.8%

Show all 31 changes since 1996

Ex-date	Change	Old → new	Move
Jun 26, 2014	Raise	$1.21 → $1.30	+7.4%
Mar 26, 2013	Raise	$1.10 → $1.21	+10.0%
Mar 28, 2012	Raise	$1.04 → $1.10	+5.8%
Mar 29, 2011	Raise	$1.03 → $1.04	+0.7%
Mar 29, 2010	Raise	$1.03 → $1.03	+0.3%
Mar 27, 2009	Raise	$1.02 → $1.03	+1.0%
Mar 27, 2008	Raise	$0.930 → $1.02	+9.7%
Mar 28, 2007	Raise	$0.840 → $0.930	+10.7%
Mar 29, 2006	Raise	$0.810 → $0.840	+3.7%
Mar 29, 2005	Raise	$0.790 → $0.810	+2.5%
Mar 29, 2004	Raise	$0.780 → $0.790	+1.3%
Mar 27, 2003	Raise	$0.770 → $0.780	+1.3%
Mar 26, 2002	Raise	$0.700 → $0.770	+10.0%
Mar 28, 2001	Raise	$0.610 → $0.700	+14.8%
Jun 28, 2000	Raise	$0.550 → $0.610	+10.9%
Jun 28, 1999	Raise	$0.500 → $0.550	+10.0%
Jun 26, 1998	Raise	$0.450 → $0.500	+11.1%
Sep 26, 1997	Raise	$0.435 → $0.450	+3.4%
Sep 26, 1996	Raise	$0.420 → $0.435	+3.6%

Every ESS payment →Download every raise and cut (CSV)

ESS ex-dividend date & scheduleNext ex-date Sep 30, 2026 · full ex-dividend historyView →ESS dividend historyEvery payment, totals by year, raises and cutsView →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is ESS a good dividend stock?

Yes. Essex Property Trust, Inc. (ESS) pays a quarterly dividend yielding 3.85% ($10.36/yr), with 30 years of growth and a dividend-safety grade of A. It scores well across payout coverage, growth history and safety — a dependable income holding.

Is ESS undervalued?

Based on a blend of discounted cash flow, a dividend-discount model and an earnings-multiple estimate, ESS's fair value is about $262.32 versus a $269.43 share price — so it looks fairly valued (-3% vs. fair value).

Is ESS's dividend safe?

ESS has a dividend-safety grade of A (83/100), based on its payout coverage, free-cash-flow, 30-year growth streak, a clean no-cut history, debt and yield-versus-history.

What is ESS's fair value?

Our blended fair-value estimate for ESS is about $262.32 per share, about 3% below the current $269.43 price — combining a discounted cash flow, a dividend-discount model and an earnings multiple.

Is ESS a buy, hold, or sell?

We don't issue formal ratings, but on the data ESS screens as "yes" and fairly valued. Essex Property Trust, Inc. (ESS) pays a quarterly dividend yielding 3.85% ($10.36/yr), with 30 years of growth and a dividend-safety grade of A. It scores well across payout coverage, growth history and safety — a dependable income holding. This is research for your own analysis, not investment advice.

Will ESS cut its dividend?

ESS earns a dividend-safety grade of A (83/100), with no dividend cut on record. A higher score means lower cut risk based on payout coverage, cash flow and history — but no score guarantees a dividend.

Does ESS pay a dividend?

Yes. Essex Property Trust, Inc. pays a quarterly dividend of about $10.36 per share annually, a forward yield of roughly 3.85%.

What is ESS's dividend yield?

As of Oct 19, 2026, ESS's forward dividend yield is 3.85%, based on a $10.36 annual dividend and a $269.43 share price.

What is ESS's dividend per share?

As of Oct 19, 2026, ESS pays $10.36 per share per year, distributed on a quarterly basis.

What is ESS's dividend payout ratio?

As of Oct 19, 2026, ESS's payout ratio is 161% of trailing 12-month earnings — an elevated level worth watching, as it leaves less cushion if earnings dip.

How many years has ESS grown its dividend?

As of Oct 19, 2026, ESS has increased its dividend for 30 consecutive years.

When is the next ESS ex-dividend date?

As of Oct 19, 2026, ESS's next ex-dividend date hasn't been announced. The most recent was Sep 30, 2026, for $2.59 per share.

Dividend Growth

Total dividends per share by year

Dividend History

Full ESS dividend history →

Ex-Date	Pay Date	Amount	Type
Sep 30, 2026	Oct 15, 2026	$2.5900	regular
Jun 30, 2026	Jul 15, 2026	$2.5900	regular
Mar 31, 2026	Apr 15, 2026	$2.5900	regular
Jan 2, 2026	Jan 15, 2026	$2.5700	regular
Sep 30, 2025	Oct 15, 2025	$2.5700	regular
Jun 30, 2025	Jul 15, 2025	$2.5700	regular
Mar 31, 2025	Apr 15, 2025	$2.5700	regular
Jan 2, 2025	Jan 15, 2025	$2.4500	regular
Sep 30, 2024	Oct 11, 2024	$2.4500	regular
Jun 28, 2024	Jul 12, 2024	$2.4500	regular
Mar 27, 2024	Apr 12, 2024	$2.4500	regular
Dec 29, 2023	Jan 12, 2024	$2.3100	regular
Sep 28, 2023	Oct 13, 2023	$2.3100	regular
Jun 29, 2023	Jul 14, 2023	$2.3100	regular