Realty Income Announces 130th Dividend Hike: Is It Sustainable?

Core Viewpoint - Realty Income Corporation has increased its monthly cash dividend to 26.85 cents per share, marking its 130th dividend hike since its NYSE listing in 1994 [1][3] Dividend Announcement - The new dividend will be paid on April 15 to shareholders on record as of April 1, 2025, resulting in an annualized amount of $3.222 per share compared to the previous $3.216 [2] - The latest dividend hike yields 5.72% based on the company's share price of $56.37 as of March 12 [2] Dividend Growth History - Realty Income has a history of solid dividend payouts, with 110 consecutive quarterly dividend hikes and a compound average annual dividend growth of 4.3% since its NYSE listing [3] - The company has increased its dividend 23 times in the past five years [3] Business Model and Portfolio - Realty Income maintains a resilient portfolio, characterized by a diverse asset base across multiple sectors and geographies, which supports sustainable dividend payments [4] - The company achieved a high occupancy rate of 98.7% as of December 31, 2024, with expectations to remain above 98% in 2025 [4] Revenue Stability - The majority of annualized retail contractual rental revenues come from clients with non-discretionary and low-price-point businesses, providing reliable income streams [5] Growth Strategy - Realty Income's growth strategy includes expanding its global footprint, particularly in Europe, and diversifying into emerging asset classes like gaming and data centers [6] - The company allocated $3.9 billion for investments in 2024, expecting a full-year investment volume of approximately $4 billion in 2025 [6] Financial Position - As of December 31, 2024, Realty Income had strong cash flows from 15,621 properties and a solid balance sheet, with $3.7 billion in liquidity and a fixed charge coverage ratio of 4.7 [7] - The company has a well-laddered debt-maturity schedule with a weighted average maturity of 6.6 years [7] Market Performance - Realty Income's shares have risen 5.5% year-to-date, contrasting with a 4.9% decline in the retail REIT and equity trust industry [9]