** Barclays raises price target on U.S. REIT cos Essex Property Trust ESS.N, Equity Residential EQR.N, and Camden Property Trust CPT.N

** Research firm hikes price target on ESS to $328 from $303, EQR to $83 from $79, and CPT to $136 from $127

** Says across the broad earnings beat in Q1 and accelerating leasing in April-May raise FY25 core funds from operations (FFO) for residential REIT co by nearly 1%

** Adds second half of 2025 is off to a solid start, driven by growing leasing spreads, mainly in multifamily and single-family rental

** "Supply and demand trends continue to point to sustained rent growth in all but a handful of the top REIT-centric markets"- Barclays

** EQR, CPT rating unchanged at 'overweight', and ESS unchanged at 'equal weight'

** As of last close, S&P 500 Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) Index (Industry Group).SPLRCREC has risen 1.4% YTD

(Reporting by Apratim Sarkar)

((Apratim.Sarkar@thomsonreuters.com))