HOUSTON, July 9, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Whitestone REIT (NYSE:WSR) ("Whitestone"), a fully integrated real estate company that owns, operates and redevelops Community Centered Properties^TM was ranked first in earnings-per-share growth for 2013 on the Houston Chronicle's list of top 100 Houston publicly traded companies. Whitestone has also risen from ranking 89^th in 2012 to its current position of 71^st on the list.

With Houston being the fourth largest and one of the fastest growing cities in America, Whitestone REIT's significant progression is the direct result of their dedicated professional team executing on Whitestone's value-add business model and focusing on developing properties that cater to the direct needs of the surrounding communities.

Data for the Houston Chronicle 100, an independent report collected and analyzed by S&P Capital IQ, is based on financial results of publicly traded Houston-area companies. Scores are based on four categories: total revenue, earnings-per-share growth, annual revenue growth and one-year total return to shareholders on a dividend-reinvested basis.

About Whitestone REIT

Whitestone REIT (NYSE:WSR) is a fully integrated real estate investment trust ("REIT") that owns, operates and redevelops Community Centered Properties^TM. Whitestone focuses on value creation in its community centers, concentrating on local service-oriented tenants that comprise approximately 70% of its tenants. Whitestone's diversified tenant base provides service offerings including medical, education, casual dining, and convenience services. The largest of its 1,225 tenants comprised less than 1.9% of its annualized base rental revenues as of March 31, 2014. Founded in 1998, the Company is internally managed with a portfolio of 61 commercial properties in Texas, Arizona, and Illinois. For additional information about the Company, please visit www.WhitestoneREIT.com.

CONTACT: Whitestone REIT:
         Robin Oloyede - Director of Marketing
         (713) 435-2256 ROloyede@WhitestoneREIT.com
         
         Suzy Taylor, Director of Investor Relations
         (713) 435-2219 STaylor@WhitestoneREIT.com