Core Insights - Realty Income is recognized for its strong track record in growing shareholder value and is considered a quintessential passive income investment for long-term wealth building [2][12] - The REIT focuses on delivering reliable monthly dividends through investments in high-quality commercial properties secured by long-term net leases [3][4] Company Overview - Realty Income currently owns over 15,500 properties across various sectors, including retail, industrial, and gaming, leased to over 1,600 clients in 92 industries [4] - More than 90% of its rental income is derived from tenants in industries that are resilient to economic downturns, such as grocery stores and automotive service locations [4] Financial Performance - The REIT has a market capitalization of $53 billion and a current price of $57.61, with a dividend yield of 6.04% [6] - Realty Income pays out approximately 75% of its adjusted funds from operations (FFO) in dividends, maintaining a conservative financial profile [6][7] - Since its public listing in 1994, Realty Income has increased its dividend payment 132 times, maintaining a streak of 112 consecutive quarters of dividend increases [7] Growth Metrics - The REIT has achieved an annual growth rate of over 5% in adjusted FFO per share since 1996, with only one down year in 2009 [9] - Realty Income has produced a total annual return of 13.7% since going public, showcasing its ability to generate consistent returns for investors [10] Investment Case - An example investor who purchased 1,000 shares at the end of 2014 would have seen their investment grow from $47,710 to $60,790 by the end of September, alongside receiving $31,772 in cumulative dividend income [11] - The investor's annual dividend income would have increased to $3,234, reflecting a 47% rise compared to the first year, resulting in a yield on cost basis of 6.8% [11]