Better Dividend Stock: Annaly Capital vs. Realty Income

Core Insights - Dividend stocks can provide passive income and stability, but their reliability varies significantly among different companies [1] - Annaly Capital (NYSE: NLY) offers a high dividend yield of 13.3%, while Realty Income (NYSE: O) provides a more stable yield of 5.7% with a history of consistent dividend increases [2][8] Group 1: Company Overview - Annaly Capital is a mortgage real estate investment trust (mREIT) that invests in mortgage-backed securities (MBS) and uses leverage to enhance returns [7][8] - Realty Income focuses on commercial properties, primarily single-tenant buildings, and earns rental income that supports its growing dividend payout [9] Group 2: Dividend Characteristics - REITs like Annaly and Realty Income are required to distribute at least 90% of taxable income as dividends, making them attractive for dividend investors [4] - Realty Income has a track record of raising its dividend for 31 consecutive years, indicating a stable income stream for investors [9]