What’s the largest light-industrial properties investor from Massachusetts?

The well-known thousandinvestors research team has identified that AEW is the largest light-industrial real estate investor from Massachusetts, with more than $82B assets under management.

What is the investment focus of AEW Capital Management?

AEW Capital Management is a global real estate investment manager with approximately $82 billion in assets under management. AEW was founded in 1981 and is headquartered in Boston. The company operates across North America, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific region, with a team of over 860 professionals in 19 offices worldwide. AEW’s investment strategy encompasses a range of asset classes, including core, core-plus/value-add, opportunistic, real estate securities, and debt and capital markets. The core platform, which prioritizes income-generating assets, oversees approximately $55 billion in assets under management. In contrast, the core-plus and value-add segment, which is engaged in proactive repositioning and renovation initiatives, manages around $19.5 billion. Industrial and logistics real estate comprise a substantial portion of their portfolio, emphasizing resilient assets that support supply chain infrastructure.

AEW has a proven track record of acquiring and managing substantial industrial portfolios, encompassing multi-million-square-foot logistics centers and distribution facilities in key markets. Their global presence and extensive market expertise enable them to deliver risk-adjusted returns through strategic investments in industrial parks, distribution hubs, and other supply chain–critical properties.

Alternative candidates for the AUM-based ranking of light-industrial real estate investors in Massachusetts

The most prominent alternative candidate in our ranking is STAG Industrial, Inc., a publicly traded real estate investment trust (REIT) that specializes in the acquisition, development, ownership, and operation of industrial properties across the United States. As of March 31, 2025, STAG’s portfolio encompassed approximately 117.6 million square feet, distributed across 597 buildings in 41 states, with an enterprise value of $9.9 billion. STAG places significant emphasis on diversification by geography and tenant base, with the objective of ensuring stable cash flow and long-term appreciation. The company’s investment portfolio is predominantly composed of warehouse and distribution facilities, which play a pivotal role in the supply chain of multiple sectors.

Another prominent real estate investor specializing in light-industrial properties is TA Realty, a private real estate investment firm founded in 1982 that focuses exclusively on real estate investing. In the industrial sector, TA Realty seeks to acquire logistics, warehouse, and distribution properties that are strategically situated and of paramount importance to the efficient functioning of supply chains. The company’s acquisitions focus on assets that generate stable cash flow and possess the potential for enhancement through strategic operational improvements.

Both investors are part of the thousandinvestors database of the largest light-industrial real estate investors from the US.

Image source: Sahaj Bedi via Unsplash (June 29, 2025)

You might also be interested in this post: Ranking: Top Real Estate Investors from Massachusetts