
Core Insights - Realty Income has significantly outperformed the S&P 500 since the turn of the century, with a $10,000 investment growing to approximately $56,000 compared to $43,000 for the S&P 500 [1][4] - The inclusion of REITs in larger investment portfolios has contributed to their growth and acceptance in the financial sector since 2014 [2] - Realty Income's high dividend yield and consistent annual increases over 30 years make it a reliable dividend stock for income-focused investors [7][8] Performance Comparison - The total return for Realty Income, including dividend reinvestment, would have exceeded $230,000, while the S&P 500 would have reached nearly $68,000 [4][6] - Realty Income's yield is currently around 5.6%, significantly higher than the S&P 500's yield of approximately 1.2% [8] Future Outlook - Realty Income's stock price has declined about 30% from pre-pandemic highs, indicating potential for recovery alongside its high dividend yield [9] - The REIT is characterized as a slow-growth investment that can complement higher-growth assets in a diversified portfolio [10]