Equity Residential (EQR)

Over the past six months, Equity Residential's stock price has experienced some fluctuations and as of January 13, 2026, the stock traded at $60.19. Key events impacting the stock include the Q3 2025 earnings release where Equity Residential reported strong third-quarter revenue growth and repurchased approximately 1.5 million common shares for about $99.1 million. The Q2 2025 earnings release showed the company reported sustained demand and a financially resilient customer base. In Q3 2025, EQR acquired a 375-unit property in Arlington, TX, and sold two properties in suburban Boston and Arlington, VA. In Q2 2025, the company acquired a portfolio of eight properties in Atlanta and sold one property in Seattle. Analyst ratings in January 2026 included BMO Capital downgrading Equity Residential to Market Perform from Outperform, while UBS raised its price target to $71 from $68. The company is scheduled to release its fourth-quarter 2025 operating results on February 5, 2026.

Demand for Equity Residential's apartment rentals exhibits seasonal patterns, with leasing activity tending to accelerate as the spring leasing season approaches. Management noted earlier-than-usual seasonal leasing patterns in Q3 2025, which led to a slight adjustment in their annual same-store revenue guidance. Physical occupancy rates have remained high, supported by strong resident retention. The company's strategy focuses on markets with strong demand drivers, high-wage job growth, and high single-family housing prices, which contribute to consistent demand for rentals. Demographic shifts also contribute to healthy demand for multifamily rental housing.

Equity Residential (EQR) is a publicly traded real estate investment trust (REIT) that specializes in the acquisition, development, and management of multifamily residential properties, primarily apartments. The company generates rental income from its portfolio of high-quality apartment communities and operates within the Real Estate sector, specifically in the Apartments industry. As of October 2025, the company held 86,320 apartment units across 318 rental properties. Its major products are Class-A apartment rentals and related property management and leasing services, targeting affluent, long-term renters.

Equity Residential's geographic footprint is primarily concentrated in major coastal markets across the U.S., including Boston, New York City, Washington, D.C., Seattle, San Francisco, and Southern California. The company also has a targeted and expanding presence in high-growth metro areas, referred to as "Expansion Markets," which include Denver, Atlanta, Dallas/Ft. Worth, and Austin. As of December 31, 2024, Equity Residential owned or had investments in 311 properties consisting of 84,249 apartment units across these regions.

Within the past year, the provided search results do not highlight any specific negative events that have significantly impacted Equity Residential's brand reputation. The company's corporate purpose is "to create communities where people thrive," and Equity Residential published its 11th annual Corporate Responsibility report in Q3 2024, highlighting its goals and accomplishments. In earlier periods (2017, 2022, and 2023), Equity Residential faced legal issues, including a class-action lawsuit regarding late payment fees in California, a settlement with the Attorney General for the District of Columbia over misleading rent discounts, and inclusion in antitrust lawsuits alleging "collusion-by-algorithm" to inflate rent prices; however, these events fall outside the requested one-year timeframe.

Equity Residential's ownership structure is heavily weighted toward institutional investors, which hold approximately 75.60% of the company's stock. Public companies and individual investors own about 24.26%, and insiders hold 0.14%. Major institutional owners include Vanguard Group Inc., BlackRock Inc., State Street Corp, Norges Bank, Price T Rowe Associates Inc /md/, APG Asset Management US Inc., and Geode Capital Management, Llc. The largest individual shareholder is Samuel Zell, who owns 5.56 million shares, representing 1.46% of the company.