Image source: The White House.
Realty Income — 5.5%
The real estate investment trust (REIT) Realty Income (O -0.12%) is regularly touted as one of the most reliable dividend stocks around. After all, the company calls itself “The Monthly Dividend Company.”
Realty Income is a triple-net lease operator, meaning it purchases real estate with the intention of leasing it to businesses that pay for property taxes, insurance, and maintenance costs. In turn, tenants may be able to negotiate longer-term leases at better rates, while having more flexibility over the space they use for their businesses.
Realty Income focuses on leasing to non-discretionary, service-oriented businesses that can be more resilient throughout the business cycle, such as Dollar General and 7-Eleven. Realty Income also leases industrial properties and data centers.
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NYSE: O
Realty Income
Premium Feature
Moneyball Superscore
85/100
Today’s Change
(-0.12%) $-0.07
Current Price
$59.50
Key Data Points
Market Cap
$56BMarket cap calculated using publicly traded s outstanding only. Does not include unlisted, private, or dual-class non-traded s. Implied market cap may vary.
Day’s Range
$59.18 – $59.85
52wk Range
$55.86 – $67.94
Volume
6.4M
Avg Vol
5.6M
Gross Margin
50.82%
Dividend Yield
5.45%
Realty Income began paying a dividend in 1994 and has raised it every year since, at a compound annual growth rate of 4.1%. Not only is the dividend yield quite strong, but Realty Income’s business appears robust enough to sustain this trend.
Through the first half of the year, Realty Income generated adjusted funds from operations (AFFO) per of $2.22, a metric similar to free cash flow for REITs.
Realty Income paid dividends of roughly $1.63 per in that period, or 73% of AFFO, leaving a nice buffer to continue raising the dividend for the foreseeable future.
AT&T — 4.3%
The multinational telecommunications company AT&T (T +2.00%) is another strong dividend payer, with a trailing yield of 4.3%.
AT&T provides fiber-optic high-speed internet and fixed wireless, which is internet delivered via radio signals from a transmission tower, as well as mobile wireless phone and data services. AT&T’s wireless network is the largest in North America, covering more than 300 million people.
Up until 2020, AT&T had increased its annual dividend for 36 straight years, according to Barrons. However, the company ended up cutting its dividend after it spun off its WarnerMedia assets in 2022.
Since then, AT&T has held its quarterly dividend unchanged at $0.2775 per .
Although some dividend investors may want to see the dividend grow every year, the dividend at current levels does feel quite safe. Through the first half of the year, AT&T paid nearly $4 billion of dividends, while generating free cash flow of nearly $7.2 billion.
Additionally, AT&T continues to pay down debt and buy back stock, which also benefits the stock.
Chevron — 3.3%
Last but not least is the large U.S. oil and gas producer Chevron (CVX +0.61%).
Chevron has raised its annual dividend every year since 2002, but it’s been paying solid dividends since 1990, although it didn’t always raise the dividend each year between then and 2002.
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NYSE: CVX
Chevron
Premium Feature
Moneyball Superscore
68/100
Today’s Change
(0.61%) $1.30
Current Price
$214.06
Key Data Points
Market Cap
$423BMarket cap calculated using publicly traded s outstanding only. Does not include unlisted, private, or dual-class non-traded s. Implied market cap may vary.
Day’s Range
$212.02 – $215.55
52wk Range
$146.49 – $217.40
Volume
6.6M
Avg Vol
8.4M
Gross Margin
18.48%
Dividend Yield
3.29%
The dividend also looks to be in particularly good shape, as free cash flow has soared thanks to higher oil prices, cost efficiencies, and record production. Free cash flow of more than $16.5 billion through the first half of 2026 easily covers the roughly $7 billion in common dividends paid in that time frame.
Free cash flow through the first half of 2025 was only about $6.1 billion, although it still covered dividends at the time.
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Here’s How Many s of Realty Income You’d Need for $2,000 in Monthly Dividends
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3 Best Safe REITs for 2026 and How to Invest
•By Selena Maranjian
How Much Would You Need in Realty Income (O) Stock to Collect $500 a Month in Dividends?
About the Author
Bram Berkowitz is a contributing Motley Fool stock market analyst covering financials, technology, consumer goods, and macroeconomic trends. Before The Motley Fool, Bram worked in equity research covering bank stocks and as a reporter for local publications. He holds FINRA Series 7 and 66 licenses, as well as a bachelor’s degree in business with a minor in economics from Syracuse University.
Stocks Mentioned
Realty Income
NYSE: O
$59.50
(-0.12%)-$0.07
Motley Fool Stock Advisor’s Latest Pick
—% Avg Return
AT&T
NYSE: T
$26.06
(+2.00%)+$0.51
Chevron
NYSE: CVX
$214.06
(+0.61%)+$1.30
Dollar General
NYSE: DG
$124.58
(+1.29%)+$1.59
*Average returns of all recommendations since inception. Cost basis and return based on previous market day close.
Sumber Artikel:
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