3.5 Reasons to Buy High-Yield Realty Income Stock Like There's No Tomorrow

Core Viewpoint - Realty Income is positioned as a reliable dividend stock with an attractive yield, appealing to conservative investors [2] Group 1: Dividend Yield - Realty Income's current dividend yield is approximately 5.5%, which is significantly higher than the S&P 500's yield of about 1.2% and the average REIT yield of 3.9% [3][5] - The stock's average yield over the past decade was around 4.5%, indicating that the current yield is high relative to its historical performance [6] Group 2: Dividend Reliability - Realty Income has a strong track record of paying dividends, having increased its annual dividend for over 30 years, including 111 consecutive quarterly hikes [8][9] - The annualized average dividend growth over the past 30 years is 4.2%, which surpasses the historical inflation rate, thus preserving the buying power of the dividend [9] Group 3: Growth Opportunities - Realty Income is actively seeking growth opportunities despite its size, which is over three times larger than its closest peer in the net lease REIT sector [10] - The company has expanded its investment scope by entering European markets, diversifying into new property types such as casinos and data centers, and offering debt investments [11] Group 4: Dividend Payment Frequency - Realty Income pays dividends monthly, which can simplify budgeting for retirees compared to the more common quarterly payment schedule [12][13] Group 5: Overall Investment Appeal - Realty Income is recommended for dividend stock investors due to its high yield, proven reliability, and proactive strategies for future growth, along with the convenience of monthly dividend payments [14]