Essex Dividend Growth

Essex Property Trust Dividend History

Last updated: November 15, 2026

This article was generated with AI assistance.

Yes, Essex Property Trust is a Dividend Aristocrat. Essex Property Trust, Inc. (NYSE: ESS) is a member of the S&P 500 and of the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats, the group of S&P 500 companies that have increased their regular dividends every year for at least 25 consecutive years. Official February 19, 2026 wording said the latest action “represents the Company’s 32nd consecutive annual dividend increase.”

A long increase record is useful context. It is not a guarantee of future increases or of investment performance. Companies can reduce, suspend, or eliminate their dividends.

About Essex Property Trust

Essex is a real estate investment trust focused on West Coast apartment communities. The company’s history dates to 1971, when George M. Marcus formed Essex Property Corporation. Essex came public in June 1994. In April 2014 it merged with BRE Properties, which became a wholly owned subsidiary. The company’s principal executive offices are in San Mateo, California, not Palo Alto as the prior version of this page stated. The common stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker ESS.

The older version of this page also cited mid-2010s community and home counts. Those figures are outdated and are not restated here as current.

Essex Property Trust’s dividend history

On February 19, 2026, Essex announced that its board had approved a 0.8% increase to its annual cash dividend and declared a first-quarter dividend of $2.59 per share, payable April 15, 2026, to shareholders of record as of March 31, 2026. Official wording said this was the company’s 32nd consecutive annual dividend increase. On an annualized basis, the dividend is $10.36 per common share.

From the official $2.09 quarterly rate paid through 2021, to the current $2.59 rate, the dividend has compounded at about 4.4% a year. From the official $1.60 quarterly rate in effect throughout 2016, to $2.59, the 10-year compounded rate is about 4.9%. Those figures replace the outdated growth rates on the prior version of this page.

Essex Property Trust’s stock-split history

The prior version of this page said Essex has not split its stock since its 1994 IPO. No later split was identified in the official sources reviewed for this update.

Risks and other considerations

Results depend on West Coast apartment demand and rents, occupancy, interest rates, and the cost of capital. A 32-year increase streak is not a promise that the dividend will be raised again.

FAQ

Is Essex Property Trust a Dividend Aristocrat? Yes. ESS is a current member of the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats. Official February 19, 2026 wording said the latest action is the company’s 32nd consecutive annual dividend increase.

What is Essex Property Trust’s current dividend? The current quarterly cash dividend is $2.59 per share, or $10.36 annualized, following the 0.8% increase announced on February 19, 2026.

When does Essex Property Trust usually raise its dividend? The 2026 increase was announced in February and applied to the first-quarter dividend, consistent with an early-year increase calendar.

How fast has the dividend been growing? From the official $2.09 quarterly rate in 2021 to $2.59, the 5-year compounded rate is about 4.4%. From the official $1.60 quarterly rate in 2016 to $2.59, the 10-year compounded rate is about 4.9%.

Where can I find more information? Start with Essex’s investor relations site and the links below. None of this is a recommendation to buy or sell the stock.

Helpful links

Sources

Disclosure: As of the date of this article, I do not currently own shares of ESS, but that may change at any time.