Core Insights - Investing in dividend-paying stocks is an effective way to generate passive income, with Healthpeak Properties, Realty Income, and Stag Industrial highlighted as top choices for monthly dividends [1] Group 1: Healthpeak Properties - Healthpeak Properties is a REIT focused on the healthcare sector, leasing properties such as outpatient medical buildings and senior housing, providing stable rental income [3] - The company switched to a monthly dividend schedule in April, currently paying $0.10167 per share monthly, equating to an annual payout of $1.22, resulting in a yield of over 7% [4] - Healthpeak's latest dividend rate is 2% higher than in 2024, with an estimated financial flexibility of $500 million to $1 billion for future investments or share repurchases [5] Group 2: Realty Income - Realty Income, known as "The Monthly Dividend Company," declared its 659th consecutive monthly dividend in May, with a payout of $0.2685 per share in mid-June, yielding nearly 6% [6][7] - The company has raised its dividend 130 times since its public listing in 1994, maintaining a consistent increase for the past 110 quarters [8] - Realty Income plans to invest around $4 billion this year, supported by a low payout ratio of 75% of adjusted FFO, allowing for continued portfolio and payout growth [9] Group 3: Stag Industrial - Stag Industrial owns a diversified portfolio of industrial properties, paying about two-thirds of its cash flow in dividends, which allows for over $100 million annually for new investments [10] - The next monthly dividend of $0.12167 per share will be paid on July 15, providing a yield of over 4% at the current share price [10] - Stag Industrial plans to invest between $350 million and $650 million into new properties this year, focusing on stabilized properties and those with redevelopment potential [11] Group 4: Summary of Investment Opportunities - Healthpeak Properties, Realty Income, and Stag Industrial are identified as high-yielding monthly dividend stocks with potential for future growth, making them attractive options for passive income seekers [12]

Group 1 - STAG Industrial (NYSE: STAG) is an industrial REIT that offers monthly dividends, making it attractive to individual investors [1] - The author has previously expressed a bullish thesis on STAG Industrial and holds a personal investment in the company [1] - The focus of the author's investment strategy is on dividend investing, which is viewed as a straightforward path to financial freedom [2] Group 2 - The author has extensive experience in M&A and business valuation, having evaluated numerous businesses and participated in key transactions [2] - The sectors of focus for the author's investment and advisory work include technology, real estate, software, finance, and consumer staples [2] - The motivation for sharing insights on dividend investing is to help others navigate the process and build long-term wealth [2]

Group 1 - STAG Industrial, Inc. (NYSE: STAG) is rated a Buy for income-focused investors interested in real estate investment trusts (REITs) [1] - The market price of STAG was negatively impacted during the post-April tariff war but has been on the rise since then [1] Group 2 - The author, David A. Johnson, has over 30 years of investment experience and holds advanced degrees in finance and business administration [1]

Core Points - Moody's Investor Services upgraded STAG Industrial, Inc.'s corporate credit rating to Baa2 with a stable outlook from Baa3 with a positive outlook, citing strong leverage, fixed charge coverage metrics, excellent liquidity, a diversified portfolio, and access to unsecured debt capital as reasons for the upgrade [1] - The CFO of the company stated that this upgrade reflects the quality of STAG's operating platform and strong balance sheet, which will enhance the company's cost of debt and access to a broader base of debt investors and products [2] - As of March 31, 2025, STAG Industrial's portfolio includes 597 buildings across 41 states, totaling approximately 117.6 million rentable square feet [2]

Stag Industrial (STAG) could be a solid choice for investors given its recent upgrade to a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). This upgrade primarily reflects an upward trend in earnings estimates, which is one of the most powerful forces impacting stock prices.The Zacks rating relies solely on a company's changing earnings picture. It tracks EPS estimates for the current and following years from the sell-side analysts covering the stock through a consensus measure -- the Zacks Consensus Estimate.The power of a changing e ...

Core Insights - The article estimates the investment spread generated by a selected group of investment-grade net-lease REITs in Q1 2025 and ranks them accordingly [1] Group 1: Investment Analysis - The REITs discussed have all declared their Q1 results, indicating a focus on recent performance metrics [1] - The analysis is sector agnostic, allowing for a broad evaluation of various companies as long as their business models are understood [1] Group 2: Personal Background of the Analyst - The analyst has a background in finance, having earned a CFA charter and CIPM certificate, which adds credibility to the analysis [1] - The analyst's experience includes assisting firms in complying with Global Investment Performance Standards (GIPS), highlighting a strong foundation in investment performance evaluation [1]

Core Viewpoint - Investing in monthly dividend stocks, particularly real estate investment trusts (REITs), provides a reliable source of passive income, making them attractive options for investors seeking regular cash flow [3][12]. Group 1: Monthly Dividend Stocks - Several REITs, including Agree Realty, EPR Properties, and Stag Industrial, offer monthly dividend payments, making them suitable for investors looking for consistent income [3][12]. - Agree Realty has a dividend yield of approximately 4%, significantly higher than the S&P 500's yield of less than 1.5% [4]. - EPR Properties boasts a higher dividend yield of over 7%, focusing on experiential properties like movie theaters and attractions [7]. Group 2: Financial Performance and Stability - Agree Realty maintains a low dividend payout ratio of 72% of its adjusted funds from operations (FFO), allowing for cash retention to invest in additional properties [6]. - EPR Properties expects its payout ratio to be between 69% and 72% of its adjusted FFO, providing a cushion for new investments while covering high-yield payouts [8]. - Stag Industrial has a 74% dividend payout ratio, generating about $95 million in annual free cash flow after dividends, which supports new investments [10]. Group 3: Growth Potential - Agree Realty has demonstrated a 5.5% compound annual dividend growth over the past decade, supported by a stable income from its retail property portfolio [6]. - EPR Properties anticipates annual FFO per share growth of 3% to 4%, aligning with its investment capacity of $200 million to $300 million each year [8]. - Stag Industrial has consistently increased its dividend since going public in 2011, driven by rental increases and value-enhancing acquisitions [11]. Group 4: Investment Strategy - The REITs mentioned are characterized by their ability to generate sufficient cash flow to cover dividends while also investing in portfolio expansion, which contributes to rental income growth [12]. - Agree Realty focuses on single-tenant properties with strong retailers, while Stag Industrial targets industrial properties with potential for higher returns through lease escalations and expansions [5][11].

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Core FFO per share was $0.61 for the first quarter, an increase of 3.4% compared to the previous year [15] - Cash available for distribution totaled $106.5 million, an increase of 8.5% compared to the prior period [15] - Leverage remains low with net debt to annualized run rate adjusted EBITDA equal to 5.2 times [15] - Same store cash NOI growth was 3.4% for the quarter, driven by leasing spreads of 27.3% and annual escalators of 2.8% [17] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company signed 36 leases totaling 5 million square feet during the quarter, generating cash and straight line leasing spreads of 27.3% and 42.1% respectively [16] - Retention for the quarter was 85.3%, with 78.5% of the operating portfolio square feet expected to lease in 2025 already leased [16][19] - The company achieved cash leasing spreads of 25.1% for the leases commencing in 2025 [8][16] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The national under construction pipeline decreased more than 16% sequentially since the fourth quarter [11] - The company noted healthy tenant activity in various markets, with strong demand in the Midwest and Sunbelt regions, while some weakness was observed in Atlanta and San Diego [9][28] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to benefit from geographic diversity and focus on CBRE Tier one markets, viewing tenant supply chain diversification as a net positive [9] - The company has a strong balance sheet and ample liquidity, positioning itself for sustainable growth in 2025 [20] - The company is evaluating a broad mix of assets for acquisition, including long-term and short-term leases, and is open to opportunities in the current market environment [58] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about leasing activity despite macroeconomic uncertainties, noting that tenants are still making decisions albeit at a slower pace [27][36] - The company maintains its 2025 credit loss guidance of 75 basis points, with minimal credit loss experienced in the first quarter [19][60] - Management highlighted ongoing discussions with tenants for early lease renewals, indicating strong demand in the system [29][34] Other Important Information - The company completed acquisitions totaling $43 million in the first quarter, with cash cap rates averaging 6.87% [11] - A significant lease of 500,000 square feet was executed in the Savannah market with zero downtime and a 25% cash leasing spread [10] - The company has approximately 2.5 million square feet of development activity across 11 buildings, with 50% under construction and 16% pre-leased [14] Q&A Session Summary Question: Clarification on new leasing activity - Management confirmed that 1 million square feet of new leases were signed in the last 30 to 60 days, with a mix of new and renewal leases [25][26] Question: Demand across different submarkets - Management noted healthy demand in Midwest markets and the Sunbelt, with some weakness in Atlanta and San Diego, but overall tenant activity remains strong [27][28] Question: Trends in the private transactions market - Management observed that while the private market remains strong, some portfolios have been pulled from the market due to pricing volatility [42][44] Question: Update on credit loss and American Tire - Management stated that American Tire is current on rent, and the guidance for credit loss remains unchanged at 75 basis points [60][61] Question: Insights into leasing activity and concessions - Management indicated that while some concessions may be offered, they are generally holding out for the best net effective rent [106] Question: Update on development pipeline demand - Management reported good activity in development projects, although new leasing for new developments is slower due to macroeconomic factors [72][74]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Core FFO per share was $0.61 for the quarter, an increase of 3.4% compared to last year [13] - Cash available for distribution totaled $106.5 million, an increase of 8.5% compared to the prior period [13] - Leverage remains low with net debt to annualized run rate adjusted EBITDA equal to 5.2 times [13] - Liquidity stood at $1 billion at quarter end [13] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - 36 leases totaling 5 million square feet were commenced during the quarter, generating cash and straight line leasing spreads of 27.3% and 42.1% respectively [14] - Retention for the quarter was 85.3% [14] - The company has signed 3.6 million square feet of leases commencing in the second quarter, with 1 million being new leasing [21][22] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The national under construction pipeline decreased more than 16% sequentially since the fourth quarter [9] - Weaker economic growth may negatively impact warehouse space demand, but this would be partially offset by increased near shoring and on shoring activity [9] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company views the diversification of supply chains by tenants as a net positive due to its geographic diversity and focus on CBRE Tier one markets [7] - The company is maintaining its acquisition guidance, which is back-end weighted, with minimal impact to core FFO from acquisitions [46] - The company is focused on a broad mix of assets for acquisitions, evaluating both long-term and short-term leases [56] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted that while tenant activity was healthy, the escalation of the global trade war continues to create uncertainty [7] - The company is optimistic about the demand for new leasing, with a strong start in the second quarter [34] - Management is cautious about the macroeconomic environment but remains confident in achieving its leasing targets for 2025 [78] Other Important Information - The company sold one building in Nashua, New Hampshire for gross proceeds of $67 million, representing a cash cap rate of 4.9% [11] - The company has approximately 2.5 million square feet of activity across 11 buildings in the U.S., with 50% under construction and 16% pre-leased [12] Q&A Session Summary Question: Clarification on new leasing activity - Management confirmed that 1 million square feet of new leases were signed in the last 30 to 60 days, with a mix of new and renewal leases [21][23] Question: Demand across different submarkets - Management noted healthy demand in Midwest markets and the Sunbelt, with some weakness in Atlanta and San Diego [25][26] Question: Trends in the private transactions market - Management observed that while there is still buyer interest, some portfolios have been pulled from the market due to pricing volatility [42][43] Question: Insights on credit loss - Management indicated minimal credit loss in the first quarter, with American Tire Distributors current on their 2025 rents [60][61] Question: Update on leasing activity and concessions - Management stated that while they are holding out for the best net effective rent, some markets may see increased free rent offers [108]

Financial Performance - Net income attributable to common stockholders increased by 149.7% to $91340 thousand, compared to $36580 thousand in Q1 2024[113] - Core FFO per diluted share increased by 3.4% to $061, compared to $059 in Q1 2024[113] - Cash NOI increased by 8.1% to $157197 thousand, compared to $145472 thousand in Q1 2024[113] - Same Store Cash NOI increased by 3.4% to $144620 thousand, compared to $139922 thousand in Q1 2024[113] - Cash Available for Distribution increased by 8.5% to $106486 thousand, compared to $98133 thousand in Q1 2024[113] Portfolio and Leasing Activity - The company acquired three buildings totaling 393564 square feet for $43285 thousand, with a Cash Capitalization Rate of 6.8% and a Straight-Line Capitalization Rate of 7.0%[28, 116] - One building was sold, consisting of 337391 square feet, for $67000 thousand, resulting in a net gain of $49913 thousand[34, 16] - The total portfolio Occupancy Rate was 95.9%, and the Operating Portfolio Occupancy Rate was 96.8% as of March 31, 2025[9] - Operating Portfolio leases commenced for 4962628 square feet, resulting in a Cash Rent Change of 27.3% and a Straight-Line Rent Change of 42.1%[37, 121] - Retention was 85.3% for 55 million square feet of leases expiring in the quarter[37, 121]