Essex Property Trust, Inc. (ESS) Intrinsic Value

DCF-based fair value calculation with Bear, Base, and Bull scenarios

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Essex Property Trust, Inc. (ESS)

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Intrinsic Value (DCF)

Current$253.52
Intrinsic$499.71
+97%
$307.84$499.71$863.97
Market implies 7% growth for 5 years
DCF analysis suggests ESS could have 97% upside at 20% growth — verify assumptions match your view.
At $254, the market prices in only 7% growth — below historical 20%, suggesting low expectations.
Range: Bear $308 → Bull $864. Current price implies expectations below the bear case — very conservative expectations.
Discount ↓Growth →16%18%20%22%
8%$631$693$758$827
10%$413$455$500$547
12%$292$324$357$392
14%$216$241$267$295

Bull Case

  • Bull case ($864) offers 241% upside at 24% growth, 9% discount
  • Price below even worst-case scenario — strong margin of safety
  • Market-implied growth (7%) ≤ historical CAGR (20%)

Bear Case

  • Bear case ($308) with 16% growth, 12% discount rate
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5-Year FFO Projection

Year 1$1.59B
Year 2$1.90B
Year 3$2.28B
Year 4$2.74B
Year 5$3.29B
Terminal$48.39B

📐 Model Inputs

Growth Rate20.0%5Y CAGR (cascade: 5Y→3Y→TTM)
Discount Rate10.0%WACC estimate
Terminal Growth3.0%Perpetuity rate
Base FFO$1.32BTTM actual
Bear g×0.8, r+2%
Base Historical CAGR
Bull g×1.2, r−1.5%
ℹ️

DCF estimates based on historical growth rates extrapolated forward. Uses FFO per NAREIT standards. See FAQ below for full methodology.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is ESS stock undervalued or overvalued?
🟢 UNDERVALUED

ESS trades at $253.52 vs. our DCF-derived intrinsic value of $499.71, implying +95% upside. At a 10.0% WACC and 20.0% projected FCF growth, the market appears to be underpricing the present value of ESS's future cash flows. The bear case ($292.48) still suggests upside, providing margin of safety.

What is ESS's intrinsic value?

Using a 5-year DCF model: Base FCF of $1.32B, projected at 20.0% 5Y CAGR (best of revenue, EPS, or FCF growth), discounted at 10.0% WACC, with 3.0% terminal growth. Terminal value calculated via Gordon Growth Model: TV = FCF₅ × (1+g) / (WACC−g). After deducting $6.59B net debt and dividing by 0.06B shares: Bear $292.48 | Base $499.71 | Bull $804.87. Current price $253.52 implies +95% to base case.

How is ESS's fair value calculated?

DCF Methodology:

① Project FCF years 1-5 using 20.0% growth derived from 5-year historical CAGR (best of revenue, EPS, or FCF growth, with 8% floor and 25% cap).

② Calculate terminal value at year 5 using perpetuity growth model with g=3.0%.

③ Discount all cash flows to PV using WACC=10.0%.

④ Sum PV of explicit period + PV of terminal value = Enterprise Value ($38.69B).

⑤ Subtract net debt, divide by shares outstanding.

Sensitivity analysis available above—adjust WACC ±2% or growth ±3% to stress-test the valuation. Implied EV/FCF multiple: 29.3x.