3 Small Caps for Income Investors
ZACKS·2026-01-15 19:51

Core Insights - The article discusses the preferences of investors regarding dividend income, highlighting the trade-off between higher yields from individual companies and the stability of instruments like CDs and ETFs [1] Group 1: Company Profiles - CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. (CBL) is a self-managed REIT focused on regional shopping malls and commercial properties, with a forward dividend yield of 4.5% and a 5-year CAGR of 14.76% [2][4] - Universal Health Realty Income Trust (UHT) offers a higher dividend yield of 7.5% and focuses on healthcare facilities, but has a lower 5-year dividend CAGR of 1.39% [7][12] - Oil-Dri Corporation of America (ODC) is not a REIT and offers a dividend yield of 1.34% with a 5-year CAGR of around 5%, while its stock has appreciated over 200% in the past 5 years [13][15] Group 2: Dividend Characteristics - CBL is legally required to pay out at least 90% of its taxable income as dividends, reducing the risk of abrupt changes in capital allocation strategies [5] - UHT's focus on the healthcare sector may attract investors seeking stability, but its lower growth rate may appeal more to short-term income investors [12] - ODC's dividend payout ratio is 20%, indicating a healthy cushion for funding dividends alongside other needs, though it carries a risk of dividend cuts due to its non-REIT status [16][17]