Morgan Stanley analysts led by Richard Hill upgraded their sector view for North American REITs to In-Line from Cautious, noting that REIT growth is stabilizing and more appropriately priced, the setup for the sector relative to the broader market is favorable and the defensive characteristics of the group in a slowing economy. Calling the sector upgrade a "relative, not an absolute call," the analyst team identified CyrusOne (CONE), Essex Property Trust (ESS), Gaming and Leisure Properties (GLPI), Hudson Pacific (HPP), Prologis (PLD), Regency Centers (REG), SBA Communications (SBAC) and Store Capital (STOR) as their top picks.