SUI
Real EstateSun Communities, Inc. · REIT - Residential · $16B
What is Sun Communities, Inc.?
Sun Communities is a real estate investment trust specializing in manufactured housing communities, RV parks, and marina properties across North America and the UK. The company owns and operates one of the largest portfolios of its kind among publicly traded REITs.
Sun Communities generates revenue by leasing developed sites within its manufactured housing, RV, and marina properties to residents and seasonal guests. Tenants pay site rents, and in some cases the company also sells or leases homes on-site. The marina segment adds wet slip and dry storage rentals to the income mix. This diversified real estate model provides recurring, largely rent-based cash flows across a broad geographic footprint spanning 39 states, Canada, Puerto Rico, and the United Kingdom.
Sun Communities was founded in 1993 and is headquartered in Southfield, Michigan.
- Manufactured housing community sites for long-term residents
- RV park sites for seasonal and annual guests
- Marina wet slips and dry storage spaces
- On-site home sales and leasing programs
- Property management across a multi-country portfolio
Is SUI a Good Stock to Buy?
UQS Score rates SUI as Below Average overall, reflecting meaningful headwinds across several key pillars.
The Quality pillar stands out as the clearest positive — Sun Communities demonstrates the kind of operational consistency and asset-base stability that long-term REIT investors tend to value. That foundation helps the company sustain its dividend program even when other metrics are under pressure.
The Moat, Growth, and Risk pillars all register as Weak, suggesting limited competitive differentiation, subdued expansion prospects, and elevated balance-sheet or macro sensitivity relative to peers. Valuation sits at Neutral, offering little cushion for those concerns.
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Past performance does not guarantee future results. UQS Score is based on fundamental data and is not a buy/sell recommendation.
Does SUI pay dividends?
Yes — Sun Communities, Inc. pays a dividend.
Sun Communities pays a regular dividend, consistent with its REIT structure, which requires distributing the majority of taxable income to shareholders. The dividend is a core part of the investment case for income-oriented investors. Because the payout is tied to rental income across a large, diversified property base, it tends to be relatively stable — though the Weak Risk pillar rating is worth keeping in mind when assessing sustainability.
When does SUI report earnings?
Sun Communities reports earnings on a quarterly cadence, typical for US-listed REITs.
Results in recent periods have reflected the broader pressures facing the real estate sector, including higher financing costs and moderating demand in some segments. The manufactured housing and marina businesses have historically provided more defensive revenue streams than traditional apartment REITs, though growth has been constrained.
For the most recent quarter's results and guidance updates, visit Sun Communities' investor relations page directly.
SUI Price History
-8.7% over 5Y
Monthly close, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment.
What if I invested in Sun Communities, Inc.?
Based on Sun Communities, Inc.'s historical closing prices, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is for informational purposes only and is not financial advice.
SUI Long-term Outlook
The UQS Growth and Risk pillar labels both register as Weak for SUI, pointing to a fundamental outlook that favors capital preservation over expansion. Rent-based income from manufactured housing and marina assets provides a degree of stability, but meaningful portfolio growth appears limited in the near term. The Neutral Valuation label suggests the market has already priced in much of this muted trajectory, leaving little room for upside surprise without a material improvement in the operating environment.
Growth drivers
- Stable, recurring site-rent income from long-term manufactured housing residents
- Marina and RV segment diversification providing seasonal revenue support
- Potential for selective acquisitions in undersupplied niche real estate categories
Key risks
- Elevated interest rate sensitivity given REIT capital structure and refinancing needs
- Weak Moat rating signals limited pricing power relative to alternative housing options
- Subdued growth outlook constrains the ability to grow distributions over time
SUI vs Peers
Sun Communities operates in the broader residential REIT space, where it competes for capital allocation against apartment-focused and single-family rental peers.
Essex focuses exclusively on multifamily apartment communities along the West Coast, giving it a geographically concentrated but supply-constrained market position.
Invitation Homes operates a large portfolio of single-family rental homes, targeting a different tenant demographic than manufactured housing or marina residents.
MAA concentrates on Sun Belt apartment markets, benefiting from strong regional population growth dynamics distinct from Sun Communities' niche property types.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Sun Communities do?
Sun Communities owns and operates manufactured housing communities, RV parks, and marina properties across the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, and the United Kingdom. The company earns revenue primarily through site rents paid by long-term residents and seasonal guests, supplemented by marina slip and storage fees.
Does SUI pay dividends?
Yes, Sun Communities pays a regular dividend. As a REIT, the company is required to distribute the majority of its taxable income to shareholders, making dividend payments a structural feature of the investment. Income-focused investors should review the Weak Risk pillar rating when evaluating dividend sustainability.
When does SUI report earnings?
Sun Communities reports financial results on a quarterly basis, in line with standard practice for US-listed REITs. For the exact timing of upcoming earnings releases and management commentary, check the investor relations section of the company's official website.
Is SUI a good stock to buy?
UQS Score rates SUI as Below Average, driven by Weak scores across the Moat, Growth, and Risk pillars. The Quality pillar is a relative strength. Whether SUI fits a portfolio depends on individual goals — the full pillar breakdown available to Pro members provides a more complete picture.
Is SUI overvalued?
The UQS Valuation pillar for SUI is rated Neutral, suggesting the current price is neither clearly cheap nor obviously expensive relative to the company's fundamentals. Given the Weak Growth and Risk ratings, a Neutral valuation offers limited margin of safety. Pro members can view the detailed valuation metrics behind this label.
How does SUI compare to its competitors?
Sun Communities occupies a distinct niche within residential real estate — manufactured housing, RV parks, and marinas — that differs meaningfully from apartment-focused peers like Essex Property Trust and Mid-America Apartment Communities. That niche provides some differentiation but the Weak Moat rating suggests limited structural pricing advantages over time.
What is SUI's market cap bracket?
Sun Communities is classified as a large-cap stock, placing it among the more substantial publicly traded REITs by market value. Large-cap REITs typically offer greater liquidity and more established dividend track records than smaller peers in the sector.
Who founded Sun Communities?
Sun Communities was founded in 1993. Detailed founding history and executive background are publicly available through the company's official investor relations materials and SEC filings.
Is SUI a long-term quality investment?
As a long-term quality indicator, SUI's UQS profile is mixed. The Strong Quality pillar reflects operational consistency, but the Weak Moat and Growth ratings raise questions about the company's ability to compound value over time. Long-term investors should weigh the stable dividend income against limited growth prospects.
What is the main competitive advantage of Sun Communities?
Sun Communities benefits from owning a large, geographically diversified portfolio of niche real estate assets — manufactured housing, RV parks, and marinas — that are difficult and expensive to replicate. However, the UQS Moat pillar rates this advantage as Weak, indicating that competitive barriers may be less durable than they appear at first glance.
What sector does SUI belong to?
Sun Communities operates in the Real Estate sector, specifically as a REIT. Within real estate, it sits in a specialty niche covering manufactured housing communities, recreational vehicle parks, and marina properties rather than traditional office, retail, or apartment assets.
Is SUI a growth stock or value stock?
Based on UQS pillar labels, SUI leans toward neither category cleanly. The Weak Growth rating rules out a growth-stock classification, while the Neutral Valuation label means it does not screen as a deep-value opportunity either. It is best characterized as an income-oriented REIT with limited near-term growth catalysts.
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Pro Analysis
SUI — Score History
| Date | UQS | Quality | Moat | Growth | Risk | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 7, 2026 | 47.1 | 81.9 | 37.0 | 22.6 | 39.4 | 46.4 | -0.1 |
| May 5, 2026 | 47.2 | 81.9 | 37.0 | 22.6 | 39.4 | 46.9 | +0.5 |
| May 3, 2026 | 46.7 | 81.9 | 37.0 | 20.0 | 39.4 | 47.0 | +0.1 |
| May 2, 2026 | 46.6 | 81.9 | 37.0 | 20.0 | 39.4 | 46.5 | 0.0 |
| Apr 26, 2026 | 46.6 | 81.9 | 37.0 | 19.8 | 39.4 | 46.5 | +0.3 |
| Apr 19, 2026 | 46.3 | 81.9 | 37.0 | 19.8 | 39.4 | 45.0 | -0.2 |
| Apr 18, 2026 | 46.5 | 81.9 | 37.0 | 20.0 | 39.4 | 46.0 | -0.7 |
| Apr 14, 2026 | 47.2 | 81.9 | 37.0 | 20.0 | 39.4 | 50.7 | 0.0 |
| Apr 10, 2026 | 47.2 | 81.9 | 37.0 | 20.0 | 39.4 | 50.6 | 0.0 |
| Apr 5, 2026 | 47.2 | 81.9 | 37.0 | 19.5 | 39.4 | 50.8 | +2.6 |
SUI — Pillar Breakdown
Quality
— 82.4/100 (25%)Sun Communities, Inc. demonstrates outstanding capital efficiency and profitability, placing it among the highest-quality businesses in the market.
Profitability relative to shareholders' equity.
Ability to convert revenue into operating profit.
Bottom-line profit as a share of revenue.
Free cash flow relative to market value.
Growth
— 23.2/100 (20%)Sun Communities, Inc. faces growth headwinds with declining or stagnant revenue trends.
Revenue trajectory over the last twelve months.
Compound annual revenue growth rate over 3 years.
Year-over-year earnings per share growth.
Analyst consensus for future revenue growth.
Analyst consensus for future earnings growth.
Risk
— 53.9/100 (15%)Sun Communities, Inc. has some risk factors including moderate leverage or solvency concerns.
Total debt relative to shareholder equity.
Short-term liquidity — ability to pay near-term obligations.
Earnings capacity relative to interest payments.
Valuation
— 42.3/100 (15%)Sun Communities, Inc. has a mixed valuation — some metrics suggest fair value while others appear stretched.
Inverse of forward P/E — higher yield means cheaper stock.
How many years of FCF the market cap represents.
Enterprise value multiple relative to sector median.
Moat
— 37/100 (25%)Sun Communities, Inc. possesses some competitive advantages but faces meaningful competition. The Moat pillar evaluates competitive advantages across five dimensions: Switching Costs, Network Effects, Cost Advantage, Intangible Assets, and Scale & Ecosystem. Sign in to customize moat ratings for SUI.
Score Composition
Financial Data
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How is the SUI UQS Score Calculated?
The UQS (Unified Quality Score) for Sun Communities, Inc. is calculated using a proprietary 6-pillar framework with 29 financial metrics. Each pillar evaluates a different dimension on a 0–100 scale, then combines into a single weighted score. Scoring thresholds are calibrated per sector. Momentum is an optional Pro toggle — without it, you get the 5-pillar / 25-metric core shown below.
Quality (25%) measures profitability and capital efficiency — ROIC, ROE, margins, GP/Assets, and FCF Yield.
Moat (25%) assesses Sun Communities, Inc.'s competitive advantages across switching costs, network effects, cost advantages, intangible assets, and ecosystem scale.
Growth (20%) tracks revenue trajectory and earnings momentum, combining historical results with analyst forward estimates.
Risk (15%) is inversely scored — lower leverage and strong balance sheet health result in higher scores.
Valuation (15%) measures whether Sun Communities, Inc. is fairly priced using earnings yield, price-to-FCF, PEG ratio, and EV/EBITDA relative to sector peers.
Six investor-inspired presets are available, each with different pillar weights: Balanced, Buffett, Munger, Lynch, Cathie Wood, and Graham. The public score shown here uses the Balanced preset. Learn more in our FAQ.