Why Phillips Edison & Company, Inc. (PECO) is a Top Dividend Stock for Your Portfolio

Company Overview - Phillips Edison & Company, Inc. (PECO) is headquartered in Cincinnati and has experienced a price change of 6.33% this year [3] - The company currently pays a dividend of $0.33 per share, resulting in a dividend yield of 3.44%, which is lower than the REIT and Equity Trust - Retail industry's yield of 4.25% and higher than the S&P 500's yield of 1.36% [3] Dividend Performance - The current annualized dividend of PECO is $1.30, reflecting a 3.8% increase from the previous year [4] - Over the past 5 years, PECO has increased its dividend 5 times, achieving an average annual increase of 4.79% [4] - The company's current payout ratio is 51%, indicating that it pays out 51% of its trailing 12-month earnings per share as dividends [4] Earnings Expectations - PECO is projected to see earnings growth this fiscal year, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 at $2.74 per share, representing a year-over-year growth rate of 5.38% [5] Investment Appeal - PECO is considered an attractive dividend play and a compelling investment opportunity, holding a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) [6]