SeekingAlpha reports the manufactured housing industry sub-sector is the smallest sector in the FTSE NAREIT Index. MHProNews.com says the Index has different methods to rate the performance of commercial real estate investment and property sectors. It notes as of the end of Feb. 2012, there were 126 equity REITs (real estate investment trusts) with a $454.48 billion market capitalization. Three MHC REITs that are part of the sub-sector—Equity Lifestyle Partners (ELS), Sun Communities (SUI), and UMH Properties (UMH)—have a combined market capitalization total of $3.96 billion, less than one percent of the total equity REIT capitalization. But as noted in a recent Wall Street Journal article, these three MHC operators, as tracked by the Dow Jones All Equity REIT Index, posted 20.5 percent returns, compared to the 3.9 percent drop as recorded by the Dow Jones US Home Construction Index.
