UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 SCHEDULE 13G Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Sunstone Hotel Investors Inc. (Name of Issuer) Common Stock (Title and Class of Securities) 867892101 (CUSIP Number) December 31, 2016 (Date of Event which Requires Filing of this Statement) Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this Schedule is filed: [X] Rule 13d-1(b) [_] Rule 13d-1(c) [_] Rule 13d-1(d) *The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person's initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter disclosures provided in a prior cover page. The information required on the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes). CUSIP No. 867892101 Page 2 1 NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS Principal Real Estate Investors, LLC 2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (See Instructions) (a) (b) 3 SEC USE ONLY 4 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION Delaware NUMBER OF 5 SOLE VOTING POWER 0 SHARES BENEFICIALLY 6 SHARED VOTING POWER 11,289,126 OWNED BY EACH 7 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER 0 REPORTING PERSON WITH 8 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 11,289,126 9 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 11,289,126 10 CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES (See Instructions) 11 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9) 5.2 12 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (See Instructions) IA CUSIP No. 867892101 Page 3 Item 1(a). Name of Issuer: Sunstone Hotel Investors Inc. Item 1(b). Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices: 120 Vantis Suite 350 Aliso Viejo, California 92656 Item 2(a). Name of Person Filing: Principal Real Estate Investors, LLC Item 2(b). Address of Principal Business Office, or, if None, Residence: Principal Real Estate Investors, LLC 801 Grand Avenue Des Moines, IA 50392 Item 2(c). Citizenship: Principal Real Estate Investors, LLC - State of Delaware Item 2(d). Title of Class of Securities: Common Stock Item 2(e). CUSIP Numbers: 867892101 Item 3. If this statement is filed pursuant to section 240.13d-1(b) or 240.13d 2(b) or (c), check whether the person filing is a: (e) [X] An investment adviser in accordance with section 240.13d 1(b)(1)(ii)(E) Item 4. Ownership: (a) Amount Beneficially Owned 11,289,126 Shares Common Stock presently held by Principal Real Estate Investors, LLC CUSIP No. 867892101 Page 4 (b) Percent of Class 5.2 Principal Real Estate Investors, LLC (c) Number of shares as to which the person has: (i) Sole Power to Vote or Direct the Vote 0 Shares Common Stock Principal Global Investors, LLC (ii) Shared Power to Vote or Direct the Vote 11,289,126 Shares Common Stock presently held by Principal Real Estate Investors, LLC (iii) Sole Power to Dispose or to Direct the Disposition of 0 Shares Common Stock Principal Global Investors, LLC (iv) Shared Power to Dispose or to Direct the Disposition of 11,289,126 Shares Common Stock presently held by Principal Real Estate Investors, LLC Item 5. Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class: [] Item 6. Ownership of More than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person Persons other than the reporting persons have a right to receive or the power to direct the receipt of dividends from or the proceeds from the sale of such securities. The interest of no such person having such an interest relates to more than five percent of the class. Item 7. See Exhibit attached CUSIP No. 867892101 Page 5 Item 8. Identification and Classification of Members of the Group Not applicable Item 9. Notice of Dissolution of Group Not applicable Item 10(a). Certification By signing below I certify, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the securities referred to above were acquired and are held in the ordinary course of business and were not acquired and are not held for the purpose of or with the effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of the securities and were not acquired and are not held in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having that purpose or effect. Signature After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct. Principal Real Estate Investors, LLC By /s/ Jill Hittner Jill Hittner, Chief Financial Officer Dated February 14, 2017 EXHIBIT 99.1 Principal Real Estate Investors, LLC Item 3 Classification: (e) Investment Adviser in accordance with Section 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E)