Realty Income currently offers a 5.6% annual dividend yield, paid monthly, which stands well above the 1.1% average of the S&P 500 and the 3.9% average among REITs. The company has increased its dividend 665 times over more than 30 consecutive years and has lifted its payout quarterly for 112 straight quarters. On a $12,000 investment, income investors would receive approximately $670 in dividends in a full year, underscoring Realty Income’s reliability as a dividend growth leader.

With over 1,600 tenants spanning 92 distinct industries, Realty Income’s net-lease portfolio boasts an average occupancy rate near 99%. Retail properties comprise roughly 80% of its holdings, with industrial assets such as warehouses making up 15% and the remainder in specialized segments like data centers, casinos and vineyards. This wide tenant and sector diversification mitigates vacancy risk and supports stable rental cash flows.

Carrying an investment-grade credit rating, Realty Income maintains an AFFO (Adjusted Funds From Operations) payout ratio of about 75%, a conservative level for a net-lease REIT where tenants cover most property-level expenses. The company’s total market capitalization sits around $53 billion, and it has recently expanded beyond the U.S., with approximately 18% of rents now generated in European markets. In addition, Realty Income is leveraging its platform by offering lending solutions and building an institutional asset-management business to drive future fee-based revenue.