This REIT should have no trouble continuing to increase its dividend in the decades ahead.Realty Income (O 1.60%) has one of the most reliable records of paying dividends in the real estate investment trust (REIT) sector. It has increased its monthly dividend 131 times since its public market listing in 1994, including the past 111 quarters in a row. That's more than three decades of annual dividend increases. With shares currently about 9% below their 52-week high, the dividend yield sits around 5.5%. That ...

Core Insights - Investing in real estate investment trusts (REITs) is an effective strategy for generating consistent dividend income due to their dependable rental income and capital reinvestment for portfolio expansion [1] Group 1: EPR Properties - EPR Properties focuses on experiential real estate, leasing properties under long-term net leases that require tenants to cover all operating costs, providing stable rental income [4] - The REIT expects to generate between $5.00 and $5.16 per share of funds from operations (FFO) this year, covering its monthly dividend payments of $0.295 per share, resulting in a dividend yield of over 6% [5][6] - EPR Properties reinvests excess cash into additional experiential properties, with plans for $148 million in development and redevelopment projects over the next two years, aiming for 3%-4% annual FFO per share growth [6] Group 2: Realty Income - Realty Income owns a diversified portfolio leased to leading companies, generating durable rental income that supports its monthly dividend [7] - The REIT has declared 661 consecutive monthly dividends and raised its payment 131 times since its public listing in 1994, currently yielding more than 5.5% [8] - Realty Income maintains a strong balance sheet and substantial free cash flow, with a market opportunity of over $14 trillion in core markets suitable for net leases [9] Group 3: Healthpeak Properties - Healthpeak Properties holds a diversified portfolio of healthcare real estate, benefiting from steady demand and producing consistent rental income, with a dividend yield of nearly 6.5% [10] - The existing portfolio is expected to grow rental income by around 3% per year due to contractual rental escalations, with potential for higher rents as long-term leases expire [11] - Healthpeak's strong balance sheet and excess cash flow provide flexibility for new investments, including acquisitions and development projects, supporting further dividend growth [12] Group 4: Investment Summary - EPR Properties, Realty Income, and Healthpeak Properties are identified as top REITs for reliable rental income and high-yielding monthly dividends, with strong financial positions enabling continued investments for income and dividend growth [13]