West Coast multifamily REIT Essex Property Trust, Inc. (NYSE: ESS) joined the S&P 500 Index on April 1, making it the 18th REIT to be included in the index.
Previously, Essex Property Trust was included in the S&P MidCap 400 Index.
Essex Property Trust is the first REIT to be added to the S&P 500 Index this year. Two apartment REITs, General Growth Properties, Inc. (NYSE: GGP) and Macerich (NYSE: MAC), were added last year.